Authorised recipient
for .de domains
You hold .de domains but are not based in Germany? Then DENIC can ask you to name an authorised recipient in Germany. ELITEDOMAINS takes on that role for you.
We are named as your authorised recipient, accept documents on your behalf and send them to you right away as a scan. If it comes to a legal dispute, we put you in touch with an experienced German domain lawyer.
- For customers abroad
- Address in Germany
- Documents as a scan
- Domain lawyer on request
Why DENIC
asks for one
If the owner of a .de domain is based abroad, nobody can serve documents on them formally in Germany. That is why the DENIC domain terms provide for an authorised recipient:
The trigger
Usually a third party sees their trademark or name infringed by your domain. They ask DENIC to have an authorised recipient named, often together with a DISPUTE entry (article in German).
Two-week deadline
Under § 3 (4) of the DENIC domain terms, you must name an authorised recipient based in Germany within two weeks of being asked.
Otherwise: termination
If you still name nobody after a reminder and a deadline, DENIC may terminate the domain contract for good cause (§ 7 (2) of the domain terms). The domain would be gone.
We take on the role
ELITEDOMAINS in Hamburg becomes your authorised recipient. When a document arrives for you, we scan it and send it to you right away, so you do not miss a deadline.
What the service
costs
The price depends on the number of your .de domains at ELITEDOMAINS. We only charge for deliveries when one actually arrives.
| Service | Pricenet |
|---|---|
| From 1,000 .de domains | free |
| 250 to 999 .de domains | on request |
| Below 250 .de domains | €99 per year |
| Per delivery (scan and forwarding), only if one arrives | €49 |
All prices net plus VAT. Only for active customers based outside Germany. A lawyer’s fees come on top if needed and are set by the RVG.
How it
works
From DENIC’s request to the first delivery.
The service is for active ELITEDOMAINS customers based outside Germany. Not a customer yet? Create a free account and move your .de domains to us by transfer, also in connection with a request from DENIC.
Write to us in the support chat or through the contact form. We check your terms based on the number of your .de domains and confirm the service.
You name ELITEDOMAINS to DENIC as your authorised recipient, within the two-week deadline. We give you our name and street address in Hamburg, exactly as DENIC needs them.
When a document for you reaches us, we scan it and send it to you right away. Deadlines can start with the delivery. If you need a German lawyer, we put you in touch with our domain lawyer.
Become a customer
The service is for active ELITEDOMAINS customers based outside Germany. Not a customer yet? Create a free account and move your .de domains to us by transfer, also in connection with a request from DENIC.
Domain owner abroad,
address in Germany
Create your free account, move your .de domains to ELITEDOMAINS and request the service in the support chat.
Free account, no base fee
Frequently asked questions
about the authorised recipient
What owners of .de domains outside Germany should know.
A person or company based in Germany that accepts formal service of documents for you, so that nobody has to serve them on you abroad. They have the powers of an authorised recipient under § 184 of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO). Which documents can be served this way, for example a statement of claim, depends on the scope of the power of attorney. We agree that with you before you name us.
When the owner of a .de domain is not based in Germany and DENIC asks them to name one. This usually happens when a third party claims a right to the name, such as a trademark. From the request you have two weeks (§ 3 (4) DENIC domain terms).
DENIC may then terminate the domain contract for good cause after a reminder and a deadline. The same applies if the details of the authorised recipient are wrong or delivery to them fails twice in a row. A name and a street address in Germany are required; a PO box is not enough. That is why the authorised recipient should be reliably reachable.
Active ELITEDOMAINS customers based outside Germany. If you are not a customer yet, you are welcome to become one in this context and move your .de domains to us.
From 1,000 .de domains in your portfolio it is free. For 250 to 999 .de domains, talk to us and we will find a solution. Below 250 .de domains the service costs €99 per year. For every delivery that actually takes place, we charge €49 for scanning and forwarding. All prices net plus VAT.
Then you will usually need a lawyer in Germany. We work with a very good domain lawyer who can take over your case completely. In Germany, lawyers’ fees are set by the Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG), a statutory fee table based on the amount in dispute.
No. As your authorised recipient we accept documents for you and forward them. That is not legal advice. For that, we put you in touch with our domain lawyer on request.
Still have questions?