Summary
The Moroccan Government has initiated the registration of domain names since 1999. The registration can be in a Native form or a Virtual form. According to the regulations, a domain name registration should actively rent a space for the website and has IP numbers for a primary and secondary ISP.
The Moroccan ISP has no legal obligation to screen domain name registrations and operates a “1st come-1st register” body. Any legal disputes are forwarded to the courts and are governed by the Common Law. The court may request proof of ownership of the name, by a trademark registration or a company name. Proof that the name has an agent in the country has to be recorded.
Once a court order is issued to cancel the domain name, the ISP will abide by the order to cancel or amend the name. Domain names are non-transferable once registered to an entity, unless such entity is bought out or merged with another entity. If an entity is dissolved, the domain names owned by that entity will be reallocated.
Top-Level Domain
.ma: general use
Second-Level Domains
.co.ma: commercial use
.net.ma: Internet activities
.org.ma: non-for-profit organizations
.press.ma: media and press
.ac.ma: academic institutes