GoDaddy reintroduces China’s .Cn domain name

6 years after dropping extension, GoDaddy begins selling .cn domain names again.

GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY) has started selling China’s .cn domain names again as part of its push into the Asia market.

The company stopped selling .cn domain names in 2010 after the Chinese government cracked down on usage of the domains. It required companies that wanted to sell .cn domain names to collect a color headshot photo identification, business identification (including a Chinese business registration number), and physical signed registration forms from the registrant.

While this made it difficult logistically to sell the domains, Christine Jones, who was General Counsel for the company at the time, said the decision to stop selling .Cn domain names was mostly about handing sensitive personal information to the Chinese.

Like many registries and registrars catering to the Chinese market, GoDaddy is now agreeing to collect additional registrant information. If you want to actually use a .cn domain name you purchase at GoDaddy, you’ll have to provide one of the following:

• A valid resident ID, temporary resident ID, business license or organization code certificate from China
• A valid driver’s license, passport or business license from Hong Kong, Singapore or Taiwan
• A valid driver’s license or passport from Australia, Canada, or the United States

This information is forwarded to China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).

GoDaddy, like all non-Chinese domain name registrars, largely missed out on the Chinese domain registration boom that occurred toward the end of 2015.