An internationalised domain name (IDN) in Greek characters launched on 10 July to complement Greece’s ccTLD .gr.
The registry, ICS-FORTH GR, who also manages Greece’s country code top level domain .gr, advised the registration of domain names under .ελ will be possible for every interested person or legal entity, as long as the domain name of choice (or any homographs) is not already registered under .gr.
During the initial 3 month Sunrise period, ICS-FORTH GR explains, the assignment of .ελ Domain Names will be carried out in accordance with the following provisions of the “Regulation on Management and Assignment of .gr and .ελ Domain Names” and under the following restrictions:
.ελ Domain Names in which the Variable Field is the same or a homograph of the Variable Field of already assigned second level .gr Domain Names are to be assigned only to the Registrant / Holder of the corresponding second level .gr Domain Name.
.ελ Domain Names in which the Variable Field is the same or a homograph of the Variable Field of already assigned third level .gr Domain Names in which the second level is Non-variable and assuming there is no assigned second level .gr Domain Name with the same or a homograph Variable Field are to be assigned to the Registrant / Holder of the corresponding third level .gr Domain Name who first submits a Registration Declaration.
In case there are homograph second level .gr Domain Names assigned to different Holders, then the corresponding .ελ Domain Names are not assigned.
These restrictions cease to exist following the end of the three-month period on 10 October. The complete terms and conditions for the registration of domain names under .ελ can be found at the Regulation on Management and Assignment of .gr and .ελ Domain Names here.