Terms of Service

This is the plain-language gist. It is not a substitute for the full terms below, but it is honest about how GhostNames works:

• We register domains on your behalf and act as the public owner-of-record. You are the real, beneficial owner.
• We don't ask for your name, email, or phone number. Your account is a random handle plus a one-time recovery key.
• You can request a formal transfer of your domain out to your own name at any time.
• Don't use our service for illegal activity. If you do, we may suspend the domain.
• Registrations are prepaid and generally non-refundable once we send them upstream to the registry.

1.1 These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) govern the relationship between GhostNames (“GhostNames,” “we,” “us”) and you, the user of our services (the “Services”).

1.2 By creating an account, redeeming an access code, or purchasing a domain through GhostNames, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

1.3 You confirm that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement.

1.4 Each top-level domain is also governed by the rules of its registry operator and of ICANN. By registering a domain you agree to those rules as well. Where they conflict with these Terms, the registry/ICANN rules prevail to the extent required.

2.1 GhostNames provides anonymous domain-name registration, renewal, DNS management, and related privacy features. We register domains through accredited upstream registrars and act as your owner-of-record proxy.

2.2 Access is invite-only. A valid access code is required to purchase a new domain. Access codes are personal to your use and may be limited in number of uses or expiry.

2.3 Registrations are sold on an annual term beginning on the date we confirm the registration, and renew annually subject to timely payment. We may change the scope of the Services at any time; your remedy if you disagree is to stop using them.

2.4 We are not responsible for renewing a domain if you fail to pay the renewal fee on time. Expired domains may enter a redemption period with additional fees, or be released, in line with registry rules.

3.1 Domains you register through GhostNames are recorded publicly under GhostNames as the registrant of record, not under your name. This is the core of how we protect your privacy — your identity never appears in public WHOIS.

3.2 You are the beneficial owner. Although we are the public registrant, as between you and us the domain belongs to you from the moment of registration. We act solely as a custodian and privacy proxy and claim no ownership interest against you.

3.3 You may at any time request that we transfer the domain into your own name with the relevant registrar. The only precondition is that you agree in writing to be bound by the registry and registrar agreements that apply once you become the registrant of record.

3.4 We do not guarantee that any requested domain will be successfully registered, even if a search indicated availability, as final acceptance rests with the registry operator.

3.5 Once payment is confirmed we begin registration immediately. Where a statutory right of withdrawal would otherwise apply, you acknowledge that by asking us to begin the Services immediately you waive that withdrawal right once registration has started.

4.1 GhostNames accounts are intentionally anonymous. We assign a random handle and you choose a password; we issue a single one-time recovery key. We do not require or request your name, email address, or phone number.

4.2 You are solely responsible for safeguarding your password and recovery key. Because we hold no email or identity on file, we cannot perform identity-based account recovery. If you lose both your password and your recovery key, we may be unable to restore access to your account or domains.

4.3 You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

5.1 Privacy is not a shield for abuse. The anonymity we provide does not give you a licence to break the law. You agree that you will not use the Services, your account, or any domain, subdomain, DNS record, or content registered or hosted through them, for any of the following — this list is illustrative, not exhaustive:

Absolutely prohibited (zero tolerance — immediate suspension and, where required by law, reporting to authorities):

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), child pornography, or any content that sexualizes, exploits, grooms, or endangers minors, in any form.
• Violence-for-hire — hiring, soliciting, advertising, or facilitating hitmen, contract killings, kidnapping, torture, or any service intended to physically harm or kill a person.
• Terrorism and violent extremism — supporting, financing, recruiting for, or inciting terrorism, mass violence, or genocide.
• Human trafficking and exploitation — sexual exploitation, forced labour, or the sale or trafficking of people.
• Trafficking in illegal weapons, explosives, or other instruments whose primary purpose is to cause death or serious harm.

Also prohibited:

• Hacking and unauthorized access — intrusion, credential theft, distribution or operation of malware, ransomware, spyware, exploit kits, or command-and-control (C2) infrastructure; phishing or other attempts to fraudulently obtain credentials or data.
• Bot traffic and automated abuse — botnets, DDoS or other denial-of-service attacks, credential stuffing, click/ad/impression fraud, fake-traffic or artificial-engagement generation, abusive scraping or crawling, spam relays, and any automated scripts that unduly burden networks or infrastructure or that run unauthorized mining software.
• Fraud and financial crime — scams, carding, trafficking in stolen financial data or credentials, money laundering, Ponzi or pyramid schemes, and counterfeit goods or documents.
• Illegal goods and services — trafficking in illegal drugs or controlled substances, illegal firearms, counterfeit currency, forged identity documents, or other goods or services unlawful under applicable law.
• Harassment and personal harm — doxxing, stalking, threats, targeted harassment, or distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery.
• Sending spam or unsolicited bulk messaging in violation of law.
• Infringing the intellectual-property, privacy, or other rights of third parties, including distribution of pirated or counterfeit material.
• Any other content or activity that is illegal under the laws applicable to you, GhostNames, or the relevant registry.

5.2 We operate a zero-tolerance policy for the “absolutely prohibited” categories above. Where we become aware of such use, we may suspend or cancel the domain and account immediately, without notice or refund, and we will cooperate with and report to law enforcement and relevant authorities as required by law (see Sections 7.3 and 11).

5.3 You are responsible for all DNS records, nameservers, and content associated with your domains, including anything hosted by third parties you point them at.

6.1 Fees are those displayed at the time of purchase. We may change fees at any time, but changes take effect only for subsequent subscription periods.

6.2 We accept cryptocurrency (via GhostPay) and card payments (via TagadaPay), among any other methods we may offer. Payment is taken in advance, before a domain is registered or renewed.

6.3 Some payments are processed by third-party providers embedded into GhostNames. Delays or failures attributable to those providers, and not to us, are not our responsibility.

6.4 Payments are final and non-refundable once a registration or renewal has been submitted upstream, except where we decide otherwise at our discretion or where a refund is required by mandatory law. Cryptocurrency payments in particular cannot be reversed.

7.1 We practice data minimization. To provide the Services we store only your account handle, a securely hashed password, your one-time recovery key (hashed), your domains and their DNS records, and the payment records necessary to fulfil and account for your orders.

7.2 We do not run third-party trackers, advertising pixels, or analytics that profile you, and we do not sell your data. Ever.

7.3 We use no more information than is necessary. That said, we are the public registrant of record, and we may be legally compelled to act on or disclose the limited information we hold in response to a valid, binding legal order, or where necessary to comply with ICANN or registry obligations, or to stop the abuse described in Section 5. We will resist overbroad requests to the extent the law allows.

8.1 You control your domain's DNS records and nameservers through your dashboard. You are responsible for keeping any hardware, software, and external services you point those records at secure and lawful.

8.2 We are not responsible for downtime, misconfiguration, or loss arising from DNS changes you make.

9.1 The Services are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including reliability, suitability, quality, or availability. We are not responsible for errors in the registration or renewal process or for loss of data or content.

9.2 We rely on third-party upstream registrars and payment providers and do not warrant their performance. You release us from claims arising out of their acts or omissions.

9.3 To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid us for the Services in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages.

9.4 Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you have as a consumer that cannot be excluded under mandatory law.

You agree to indemnify and hold GhostNames and its operators harmless from any claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising out of your use of the Services, your breach of these Terms, or your violation of any third party's rights.

11.1 These Terms apply from your first use of the Services until terminated. Either party may terminate on the other's material breach.

11.2 We may suspend or terminate the Services, and keep, suspend, or cancel a domain registration, if: you breach Section 5 (acceptable use); you fail to pay on time; it is required by ICANN, a registry operator, applicable law, a court, or law enforcement; it is necessary to comply with a dispute-resolution process; or it is necessary to avoid liability or harm to the Services.

11.3 We may also suspend the Services temporarily where necessary for technical reasons.

12.1 Assignment. You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent.

12.2 Force majeure. Neither party is liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond its reasonable control.

12.3 Entire agreement. These Terms are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Services and supersede prior understandings.

12.4 Changes. We may amend these Terms at any time by posting the updated version here. Continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

12.5 Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which GhostNames is established, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules.

Questions about these Terms? Reach us through the support channel listed in your dashboard. Because we are privacy-first, support is handled without requiring you to reveal your identity.