Pledging a domain name

What is pledging?

A domain name often has economic value. A business can take a .nl domain name as security: for a loan or credit, but just as well for a payment arrangement, supplier credit, a purchase or partnership agreement or any other obligation. That business is the pledgee; the owner of the domain name is the holder (pledgor). The holder remains the holder and keeps using the domain name as usual.

Knippin arranges pledges for businesses acting as pledgee. The domain name may be registered with any registrar, so also if it is not registered with Knippin. Only .nl domain names can be pledged. More background is available from SIDN.

How to arrange it

1. Go to the order form and open Pledge a domain name. Enter the domain name, the holder's details and the deed, and add the pledge to your selection.
2. Enter your company details and complete the order. If you do not have an account yet, we create one; you receive an email to set a password. Pledging is only possible as a business customer.
3. In the customer panel the domain name appears under Domains in Pledged domain names. The usual domain options are disabled there: the holder manages the domain name. For the deed you choose:
   • Knippin standard deed: we create the deed of pledge as a PDF;
   • Your own deed: you already have a deed, for example from a notary or your legal department.
4. Have the deed signed by the holder and by yourself, on paper or with your own electronic signature.
5. Upload the signed deed with the pledge.
6. We check the deed and send it to SIDN on behalf of both parties, with a copy to you. SIDN registers the pledge and sends the holder a confirmation. You can follow the progress in the customer panel.

What changes?

While the pledge is registered with SIDN:

• the holder can only be changed with the pledgee's consent;
• the domain name cannot be cancelled;
• the domain name can still be transferred to another registrar. The pledge remains in place.

Monitoring for the pledgee

While the pledge is in place, we check the domain name for you every day through SIDN's public register. You receive an email if:

• the domain name moves to another registrar;
• the status of the domain name at SIDN changes;
• the domain name disappears from the register.

If the domain name is registered with Knippin, we also report an upcoming expiry without automatic renewal, an unpaid renewal invoice and a requested transfer code. With another registrar, we cannot see expiry dates or the holder's payments.

If a pledged domain name does expire, SIDN gives the pledgee 30 days to take it over.

Ending the pledge

Has the obligation been fulfilled? Click End pledge on the pledge. We prepare a letter for the holder and you to sign. Upload the signed letter; we send it to SIDN.

Your own domain name with Knippin

Is your own domain name registered with Knippin and has your lender asked for a pledge? You can also start from the domain name: Services → Domains, open the domain name, Other options → Pledge domain name.