IP Insights: Domains And Domain Names (Podcast)

Read the German Chapter on Domains and Domain names of the 2022 Getting the Deal Through: https://www.bardehle.com/en/ip-news-knowledge/publication/detail/getting-the-deal-through-domains-and-domain-names-germany-2022

Pascal: Let's start with a very general question: Can you sell and buy .de domain names?

Yes, as a matter of principle, you can, although, technically, it's a bit different, because domain names, here in Germany, are not treated as a property, or as an intellectual property right, that can be transferred. What you actually do is assign the contractual relationship that you have with the Registry – the DENIC is, in Germany, responsible for the .de domain names – and that contract is then assigned to your buyer of the domain name.