You can check whether a domain name is available using an Internet 'WHOIS' facility. The right one to use depends on the domain name ending you are interested in (for example, .co.uk).
- You can check most UK domain names (such as ourcompany.co.uk) on the UK domain name registry at www.nominet.org.uk.
- You can check domain names using generic endings (which do not relate to a particular country, for example .com) on the public information site www.internic.net.
- You can find information for other country codes (such as .fr) at www.iana.org.
- Many domain name registration companies offer a WHOIS facility on their website.
Even if you are only planning to register one domain name, such as ourcompany.co.uk, it's worth checking variations of this name such as those ending .com. .ltd.uk, .plc.uk and so on. If any of these have been registered, you may want to investigate further to see whether there is likely to be any conflict between you and the organisation that has registered them (see question 13).
