domains

.ch domain registration

Pricing (US Dollars)

Period	Registration Fee	Renewal Fee	Transfer Fee
1	$229.79	$119.05	-

General information for .ch names

.ch is the official top level country code ending for Switzerland.

You can register a .ch domain name without needing to have local residency or business incorporation in Switzerland.

Special requirements for .ch name registration

No specific requirements; a local presence in Switzerland is not required.

Formal policies for ch names

Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 1 - 
 
Domain name registration contract  
Valid from 1 September 2007 (Version 1.0) 
 
 
 
1 DEFINITIONS 2 
2 CONCLUSION AND CONSTITUENT PARTS OF THE DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION CONTRACT 2 
2.1 Subject of and contracting parties to this domain name registration contract.........................................................................2 
2.2 Conclusion of the contract.........................................................................................................................................................2 
2.3 Constituent parts of the domain name registration contract and statutory boundary conditions............................................3 
2.4 Right of withdrawal of the applicant/holder...............................................................................................................................3 
3 USER ACCOUNT FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF DOMAIN NAMES 3 
3.1 Opening a user account.............................................................................................................................................................3 
3.2 Passwords..................................................................................................................................................................................4 
3.3 Use of the account.....................................................................................................................................................................4 
4 COMMUNICATION 4 
4.1 Communication by SWITCH to the contact persons................................................................................................................4 
4.2 Communication from the contact persons to SWITCH.............................................................................................................4 
5 REQUEST AUTHORISATIONS ACCORDING TO DOMAIN NAME TYPE 5 
5.1 SWITCHbasic domain names....................................................................................................................................................5 
5.2 SWITCHguard domain names...................................................................................................................................................5 
6 CHANGE OF DOMAIN NAME TYPE 6 
7 TRANSFER OF DOMAIN NAMES 6 
8 FEES, BILLING AND TERMS OF PAYMENT 6 
8.1 Fees............................................................................................................................................................................................6 
8.2 Billing on registration (1st subscription period)..........................................................................................................................7 
8.3 Billing for the 2nd subscription period and subsequent years....................................................................................................7 
8.4 Obligation to pay........................................................................................................................................................................7 
8.5 Part payment..............................................................................................................................................................................7 
8.6 Payment period..........................................................................................................................................................................8 
8.7 Currency and forms of payment................................................................................................................................................8 
8.8 Credit card payment in particular...............................................................................................................................................8 
8.9 Default and reminder..................................................................................................................................................................8 
8.10 Consequences of default.........................................................................................................................................................8 
9 TERM OF THE CONTRACT 8 
10 CONCLUDING PROVISIONS 9 
10.1 Enactment of contract amendments........................................................................................................................................9 
10.2 Notification and coming into force of contract amendments...................................................................................................9 
10.3 Transfer of contractual rights and obligations.........................................................................................................................9 
10.4 Severability...............................................................................................................................................................................9 
10.5 Applicable law and jurisdiction.................................................................................................................................................9 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 2 - 
 
 
1 Definitions 
 
Changes Changes made directly by the holder in his user account, which 
are processed immediately unless confirmations by other 
contacts persons or trusted third parties are necessary. 
Subscription period The period, generally of 12 months, starting from the day of 
registration or any subsequent period of 12 months during which 
the domain name is registered for the holder.  
Transfer Change in the administration of the domain name by SWITCH to 
a partner and vice versa or from one partner to another. 
Transfer code A code which the holder requires for the transfer of his domain 
name, in order to transfer the domain name from SWITCH to a 
partner, from a partner to another partner or back to SWITCH. 
Trusted third party A natural person who is designated by the holder of a 
SWITCHguard domain name to accept changes in accordance 
with the principle of joint decision-making. The provisions for 
contact persons apply mutatis mutandis.  
User account The area on the SWITCH website where contact persons and 
trusted third parties access available services in connection with 
the administration of domain names.  
User ID User ID assigned to a contact person by SWITCH in connection 
with their user account. 
 
Unless otherwise set forth herein, the definitions according to the SWITCH General Terms 
and Conditions apply. 
2 Conclusion and constituent parts of the domain name registration contract 
2.1 Subject of and contracting parties to this domain name registration contract 
This contract contains the terms and conditions between SWITCH - Teleinformatikdienste für 
Lehre und Forschung, Werdstrasse 2, Postfach, 8021 Zurich (hereinafter referred to as 
SWITCH) and the holder for the registration and administration of a domain under the ".ch" 
or ".li" domain.  The domain name per se does not constitute any right in rem, but merely a 
claim to performance under this contract. 
The holder of a domain name may be a natural person or legal entity or general or a limited 
partnership. 
2.2 Conclusion of the contract 
In submitting a request for registration of a domain name or for transfer of a domain name 
from one partner to SWITCH or for the opening of a user account with SWITCH, the 
applicant recognises the terms and conditions of this domain name registration contract and 
the other constituent parts of the contract according to para. 2.3. However, the contract on 
the registration and administration of the domain name for which registration or transfer has 
been requested is only valid and binding on confirmation by SWITCH to the holder, stating 
that registration or transfer of the requested domain name has taken place for the holder.  
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 3 - 
 
2.3 Constituent parts of the domain name registration contract and statutory 
boundary conditions 
The following terms and conditions apply as constituent parts of the domain name 
registration contract:  
a) the SWITCH General Terms and Conditions (GTC) for the registration and 
administration of domain names under the domain �.ch� and �.li� in their current 
version, including annexes thereto. 
b) the respective current SWITCH fees for domain names, 
c) the Acceptable Use Policy for the use of the Whois service in their respective current 
version. 
d) the Rules of Procedure for the dispute resolution service in their current version. 
 
Furthermore, the following legal provisions of Swiss law apply in particular to domain names 
under the �.ch� domain: 
a) the Law on Telecommunications of 30 April 1997 (LTC, SR 784.10), 
b) the Decree on Addressing Resources in the Telecommunications Sector of 6 
October 1997 (DART, SR 784.104),  
c) the OFCOM Technical and Administrative Regulations on the assignment and 
administration of second-level domain names below the �.ch� domain (TAR, SR 
784.101.113/2.13),  
d) the Data Protection Law of 19 June 1992 (DSG, SR 235.1) with the corresponding 
decree of 14 June 1993 (VDSG, SR 235.11).  
 
Furthermore, the following legal provisions of the law of the principality of Liechtenstein apply 
in particular to domain names below the �.li� domain: 
a) the Communications Law of 17 March 2006 (ComL, LGBl 2006 Nr. 91),  
b) the Decree on identification methods and frequencies in the electronic 
communication sector (DIF, LGBl 2007 Nr. 118),  
c) the Data Protection Law of 14 March 2002 (DSG, LGBl 2002 Nr. 55). 
 
No GTC other than those of SWITCH apply. Other GTC, e.g. those of the applicant and/or 
holder, will not become part of the agreement, unless these have been expressly accepted in 
writing by SWITCH. 
2.4 Right of withdrawal of the applicant/holder 
The applicant can delete his application for registration of a domain name or for transfer from 
SWITCH to a partner through an entry to that effect in the user account, without cost 
implications, as long as the request is still displayed as pending. From the conclusion of the 
contract with SWITCH according to para. 2.2, the holder, if he has registered the domain 
name for private use and not for commercial use or other commercial purposes, has 14 days 
within which to relinquish the domain name via the user account or interface without cost 
implications, i.e. to delete it and thereby withdraw from the contract.   
3 User account for the registration and administration of domain names 
3.1 Opening a user account  
All contact persons and trusted third parties designated in relation to a domain name require 
a user account which can be opened via the SWITCH website. With the user account, 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 4 - 
 
domain names can be registered and administered and corresponding requests may be 
made. The details concerning the contact persons/trusted third parties in the user account 
must be correct and accurate at all times. On creation of a user account, the contact 
person/trusted third party receives a User ID. SWITCH may consolidate multiple user 
accounts of one contact person/trusted third party. 
3.2 Passwords 
After opening a user account, SWITCH sends a temporary password via the means of 
communication specified by the contact person/trusted third party for confidential messages. 
The contact person/trusted third party must immediately replace the temporary password by 
a new password chosen by himself. The password should not be a trivial password, must 
include a minimum number of characters specified by SWITCH and ideally should consist of 
a combination of figures, letters and special characters. The contact person/trusted third 
party is responsible for diligent custody of the password.  The contact person/trusted third 
party is responsible and liable for any misuse of the password. The contact person and in 
particular the holder have no liability claims or other claims against SWITCH if, owing to 
negligent keeping or management of the password or because of its disclosure to third 
parties, unauthorised changes are made and processed by SWITCH, particularly if the 
domain name is transferred to another holder, deleted or revoked or if name server 
assignments are deleted or changed. 
 
3.3 Use of the account 
The contact person and trusted third party may view and change their contact details 
according to the SWITCH data entry form on their own at any time via the user account. Via 
the user account, requests may also be made in respect of the amendment of contact details 
in the user accounts of other contact persons/trusted third parties. Such requests are subject 
to confirmation by the owner of the user account. If this confirmation does not take place, the 
request lapse. Generally, the request will be processed by SWITCH within 10 working days 
of confirmation by the owner of the user account. The owner of the user account will be 
informed of the receipt of such requests. The name of the natural person or legal entity 
corresponding to the User ID cannot be changed. 
 
In addition to the processing of contact details, the user account is also used to carry out or 
make other changes and requests concerning the administration of domain names. The 
relevant details are given in the GTC and this contract, particularly paras. 5.1 and 5.2 below. 
4 Communication 
4.1 Communication by SWITCH to the contact persons 
SWITCH is free to choose the means of communication. The password and transfer code 
are sent via the means of communication chosen by the contact person for confidential 
information (fax or e-mail) unless this means of communication is not (or is no longer) 
functioning.  
4.2 Communication from the contact persons to SWITCH 
Requests and changes may be made exclusively via the user account on the SWITCH 
website. SWITCH is not obliged to consider requests or changes which are not made via the 
user account.  
For contact persons who have a large number of domain names to administer, SWITCH may 
provide an electronic interface as an alternative to the website.  
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 5 - 
 
5 Request authorisations according to domain name type 
5.1 SWITCHbasic domain names 
In the case of a SWITCHbasic domain name, only the holder may effect changes directly 
relating to the administration of his domain name, e.g. transfer of the domain name or 
relinquishment. Other contact persons or third parties may, subject to explicit exceptions in 
this contract and the SWITCH GTC, only make requests, not effect direct changes relating to 
a domain name. These requests by third parties require the confirmation of the holder in his 
user account within 10 days of receipt of the information concerning the request. The holder 
will be informed of the receipt of such requests in the user account. These requests lapse in 
the absence of the holder�s agreement within this deadline.  
The holder of a domain name is entitled and obliged in particular to designate the necessary 
contacts (billing contact and technical contact) and name server or replace these 
designations by others.  
The billing contact and the technical contact may request that their data be removed, i.e. 
replaced by the holder contact, without the holder�s agreement if they demonstrate in writing 
that their contract with the holder has ended or if they deliver a non-liability declaration to 
SWITCH.  
5.2 SWITCHguard domain names  
 In the case of a SWITCHguard domain name, carrying out administrative actions in 
connection with a domain name always requires the domain name holder�s consent, subject 
to the exceptions provided for in this contract and in the GTC. In addition, however, in each 
case the consent of the trusted third parties is necessary in accordance with the following 
provisions. In the case of registration by the applicant, the SWITCHguard domain name 
requires the assignment of at least one and at most five trusted third parties. A user account 
must be opened beforehand for each trusted third party.   
 
The holder, trusted third party, contact person and third parties may make requests regarding 
the administration of the domain name but cannot effect changes themselves.  
 
A request must always be confirmed by the holder and by the majority or one half of the 
trusted third parties in their respective user account within 10 days of receipt of the 
information concerning the request. The request lapses in the absence of the above- 
mentioned confirmations within the specified deadline.  
 
The holder may make any changes without the agreement of the majority of trusted third 
parties by signing a non-liability declaration with a publicly notarised signature of the 
authorised signatory according to the commercial register and by presenting a copy of a 
current extract from the commercial register. 
  
 Optionally, the holder may provide an IP address range for each trusted third party. If a 
trusted third party wishes to confirm a request, SWITCH then verifies the sender�s IP 
address. If this does not coincide with the address range specified by the holder, the 
confirmation function is denied. 
  
 Otherwise, paragraphs 2 and 3 of section 5.1 apply in connection with SWITCHguard domain 
names. 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 6 - 
 
6 Change of domain name type 
 The holder may change the type of his domain name at any time, as long as the fees 
incurred by the holder for the previous type have been paid and in the case of changes from 
SWITCHguard to SWITCHbasic an application for a domain name type change as defined in 
para. 5.2 has been accepted. If the holder has already paid fees for the previous type in 
advance for the period after the type change has been made, the period for which the 
advance payment is valid (normally the remaining term of the subscription period) is credited 
to the new domain name type.  
 
7 Transfer of domain names  
 The holder may transfer his domain name from SWITCH to a partner at any time as long as 
the fees incurred are paid.  
 
 From February, 2, 2008, the holder must apply for a temporary transfer code on the SWITCH 
website in order to do this. The transfer code will be sent by SWITCH to the holder via the 
means of communication selected by the holder for confidential messages. The holder must 
treat the transfer code as diligently as passwords in accordance with para. 3.2 above. The 
holder communicates the transfer code to the partner so that the latter can then transfer the 
domain name from SWITCH to himself and thereby obtain the sole entitlement to administer 
the domain name in the relationship with SWITCH. A valid transfer request will generally be 
completed by SWITCH within 14 days. 
 
 The holder�s contract with SWITCH ends with the transfer. The holder loses the 
functionalities of the respective domain name type; in particular, he can no longer administer 
his domain name by means of his user account with SWITCH.  
 
 The holder remains fully liable for payment of any outstanding bills or for fees incurred up to 
the termination point.  
 
 If, for the domain name, the holder has already paid fees in advance for the period after the 
transfer has been made, (from 1.1.2008) the period for which the advance payment is valid 
(normally the remaining term of the subscription period) is credited to the partner. 
 
 If a holder transfers the domain name from a partner to SWITCH, he receives a 
SWITCHbasic domain name. If, for the domain name, the holder has already paid fees in 
advance for the period after the transfer has been made, the period for which the advance 
payment is valid (normally the remaining term of the subscription period for the registration 
carried out by the partner) is credited to the holder. 
 
8 Fees, billing and terms of payment 
8.1 Fees 
The respective valid fees in Swiss francs are shown on the SWITCH website. For holders 
domiciled in Switzerland, the fees are inclusive of any value-added taxes and for holders 
domiciled abroad they are exclusive of value-added tax.  
SWITCH may make the assignment, transfer or extension of the subscription period 
dependent on receipt of payment of the fees. 
SWITCH can combine different subscription periods for multiple domain names of the same 
holder into a uniform subscription start and thereby shorten annual subscription periods. 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 7 - 
 
Among other things, the fees cover the costs of an unlimited number of requests and 
changes during the subscription period. SWITCH reserves the right to charge costs for 
certain updates or additional services. The fees are payable in full for each commenced 
subscription period in which the domain name is registered.  
There is no pro rata reimbursement of fees to the previous holder for domain names which 
are transferred, deleted or revoked before expiry of the current subscription period. Nor is 
there any pro rata adjustment of fees in the event of changes in price. Particular legal 
requirements are excepted.  
If, for the domain name, the previous holder has already paid fees in advance for the period 
after the transfer has been made, the period for which the advance payment is valid 
(normally the remaining term of the subscription period) is credited to the new holder, i.e. the 
new holder is liable to SWITCH for the fees for the transferred domain name only after the 
creditable period has expired.  
If a deleted domain name falls within the transition period, in the case of a new registration 
for the previous holder the fees payable are as for a new registration. 
8.2 Billing on registration (1st subscription period) 
Once the entries have been made for a domain name in the database, the Whois service and 
where applicable in the zone file, a bill for the registration fee for the first subscription period 
is sent to the billing contact entered in the SWITCH database, unless payment in advance 
has been required. 
8.3 Billing for the 2nd subscription period and subsequent years 
SWITCH issues a bill to the billing contact for the next subscription period generally 30 days 
before the end of the current subscription period. Generally fourteen days before billing, 
SWITCH sends an advance notification to the holder and the billing contact respectively, 
listing the domain names for which fees are payable and the subscription period. If no bill has 
been received 20 days before the end of the subscription period, the holder and/or the billing 
contact should make enquiries to SWITCH about the billing. 
8.4 Obligation to pay 
The holder of the domain name is obliged to pay SWITCH the fees in full. Nomination of a 
third part as billing contact represents an agreement on the billing address and does not 
represent a transfer of the payment obligation of the fees payable to SWITCH to the billing 
contact which discharges the holder. 
If the holder relinquishes his domain name up to 30 days at the latest before the start of the 
new subscription period (the "period of notice"), he will no longer owe the fees for the 
following subscription period. 
 
8.5 Part payment 
In the event of part-payment of fees for a domain name, the payment obligation is not 
fulfilled; paras. 8.9 and 8.10 apply.  
In the event of payment of a bill relating to multiple domain names, SWITCH has the right to 
decide for which of the domain names in question payment is deemed to have been made.  
If multiple invoices of the same holder are outstanding, a payment, if it is not clearly assigned 
to a specific invoice, will generally be credited by SWITCH to the oldest respective invoice.  
Any instructions from the holder or billing contact with wording other than that in the two 
preceding paragraphs cannot be considered in the framework of the automatic processes 
performed by SWITCH and are therefore not relevant for SWITCH, subject to para. 8.8. 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 8 - 
 
8.6 Payment period 
The fees must be paid in full without deduction within 30 days from the date of invoice. 
SWITCH has the right to offset the sums invoiced by it against any prepayments made and 
securities. 
8.7 Currency and forms of payment 
Valid payment is only possible in Swiss francs (CHF). Payment may be made by credit card 
or, for payments inside Switzerland, using a payment slip. Other forms of payment (e.g. 
cheques) are not permissible. An exception is made for payment from abroad, which can be 
made by bank transfer, provided that the payer accepts all expenses. If this is not the case, 
SWITCH is entitled to deduct charges incurred by SWITCH beforehand from payments and 
in such cases the fees incurred will only have been paid in part.   
8.8 Credit card payment in particular 
The fees can be settled by credit card both before receipt of a bill and after billing. On 
request, an online receipt identifying the payment is available immediately after making 
payment. The billing contact will receive confirmation of payment. As a variation from para. 
8.5 above, with a credit card payment partial payment with an instruction to book it to a 
corresponding domain name is possible via the website. By making the credit card payment, 
the owner of the credit card authorises SWITCH to request the fees from the specified credit 
card company. If the credit card organisation refuses to credit SWITCH, the payment is 
deemed not to have been made. If in the interim a transfer of the domain name has occurred, 
the new holder must subsequently pay the fees for the subscription period already credited to 
him. In the event of misuse, the domain name will be revoked by SWITCH. 
8.9 Default and reminder 
If no payment or only incomplete payment is received by the end of the ordinary payment 
period, the holder will automatically be in default. In this case, the holder incurs statutory 
interest on late payment. SWITCH will then send at least one payment reminder. The holder 
incurs cost-covering reminder charges, debt enforcement costs and, if applicable, collection 
costs, including court and lawyers' costs. Payment reminders and any warnings concerning 
impending revocation are sent to the holder and the billing contact listed in the database at 
the time in question. 
8.10 Consequences of default 
If payment of the fees due (including any interest on late payment, reminder charges, debt 
enforcement costs, collection and other costs) is not made in due time, in full, and in 
accordance with the terms of payment, this will lead to revocation of the domain name. 
9 Term of the contract 
This domain name registration contract is concluded for an indeterminate period. It ends with 
the transfer of the domain name to another holder, the transfer of the domain name to a 
partner or the deletion of the domain name due to relinquishment or revocation. 
 
The holder remains fully liable for any fees outstanding at the time of termination of the 
contract and up to the termination point. 
 
 
 
Registration contract, 1.9.2007 (Version 1.0) - 9 - 
 
10 Concluding provisions 
10.1 Enactment of contract amendments 
SWITCH is entitled at any time to amend this domain name registration contract as well as 
its constituent parts.  
If the holder does not agree on the new or amended provisions, he has the option of 
relinquishing his domain name up to the last day before the new provisions come into force; 
otherwise the amended provisions will become valid for the holder. The holder�s payment 
obligation in respect of any fees relating to the commenced subscription period concerned 
will not be affected by this. 
10.2 Notification and coming into force of contract amendments 
The contract amendment takes place by publication on the SWITCH website at least 30 days 
before it comes into force. Publication is agreed to be sufficient notification. The contract 
amendments come into force on a date published on the SWITCH website, with any 
necessary transitional provisions. The constituent parts of the contract are permanently 
available on the Switch website at www.switch.ch.  
10.3 Transfer of contractual rights and obligations  
SWITCH has the right to transfer the contract with the holder, and the resulting rights and 
obligations, without the latter�s consent to OFCOM or a third party which will take on the 
tasks and obligations of this contract. 
10.4 Severability 
If individual provisions of this contract including the GTC or other constituent parts of the 
contract should be wholly or partly invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the other 
provisions or parts of such provisions. The invalid provision will be replaced by a provision 
which comes as close as legally possible to the intention of the invalid provision. 
10.5 Applicable law and jurisdiction 
This agreement between SWITCH and the holder of the domain name, and in particular the 
registration and administration of domain names, is governed by and construed in 
accordance with Swiss law, to the exclusion of the provisions on the conflict of laws and the 
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.  The exclusive 
jurisdiction is Zurich.

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