1. Introduction and acceptance
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern access to and use of the Dot.st network platform operated by Raffled UK Limited (company number: [insert Companies House number]), a private limited company registered in England and Wales with registered office at [insert registered address] ("Raffled UK", "we", "us", "our").
The Dot.st network comprises:
- Dot.st — .st domain registrar, search, registration, renewal, transfer, and portfolio management;
- DropCatch.st — backorder, droplist, and drop-window services for .st domain names;
- Premium.st — marketplace listings, Buy-Now sales, negotiations, and unified live auctions.
By creating an account, placing a backorder, registering or renewing a domain, listing a name for sale, bidding in an auction, submitting a Buy-Now offer, topping up your wallet, or otherwise using any part of the network (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy, Sales Policy, Payment & Payout Policy, Registrar Agreement (where applicable), and Abuse Policy, each as published at /p/{slug} on our sites and as updated from time to time.
If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
2. Eligibility and account responsibilities
2.1 You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction) and have legal capacity to enter binding contracts.
2.2 You must provide accurate, current, and complete registration, billing, and registry contact information and keep it updated. You are responsible for all activity under your account credentials.
2.3 We may require identity verification, payment-method verification, registry contact verification, email verification, and additional checks before enabling transactions, bidding, backorders, or payouts.
2.4 One natural or legal person may not maintain multiple accounts to evade suspensions, fees, auction rules, or abuse controls. We may merge, restrict, or terminate duplicate or abusive accounts.
2.5 You must not share login credentials except through authorised SSO flows between our brands.
3. Network wallet and billing
3.1 The network uses a single master wallet and billing desk on Dot.st for spendable balance, top-ups, saved payment methods, invoices, and ledger history across all three brands.
3.2 Wallet funds are denominated and displayed in USD unless otherwise stated at checkout. Currency conversion, taxes, and card charges may apply as shown before you confirm payment.
3.3 Insufficient wallet balance or failed card authorisation may prevent backorders, bids, registrations, renewals, or invoice settlement.
3.4 We may place holds or authorisations on your wallet or payment method up to disclosed maximum amounts (for example, backorder maximum bids or auction proxy holds). Holds are not final charges until the relevant event completes according to our Sales and Payment policies.
3.5 Negative balance, chargebacks, and non-payment may result in account suspension, bidding blocks, backorder blocks, domain holds, listing removal, and recovery action as described in our Payment & Payout Policy.
4. Registry and registrar services (Dot.st)
4.1 Domain registration, renewal, transfer, nameserver updates, and related registry operations are subject to the Registrar Agreement, registry policies for the .st TLD, ICANN-style registrant obligations where applicable, and accurate WHOIS/registrant data requirements.
4.2 We do not guarantee that any domain name is available, will remain available, or will succeed in registration, renewal, or transfer. Registry outages, policy changes, disputes, and third-party actions are outside our control.
4.3 You are solely responsible for lawful use of domain names you register or control, including website content, email, DNS records, and sub-delegation.
5. DropCatch.st backorders
5.1 Backorders are requests, not guarantees. Catch success depends on registry timing, competing registrars, technical factors, and operational outcomes at drop time.
5.2 Submitting a backorder may require wallet funds, card authorisation, or both up to your stated maximum bid or disclosed deposit rules.
5.3 If multiple qualified parties seek the same name, we may resolve the outcome through a unified public auction on Premium.st. Auction rules apply to all eligible verified users.
5.4 Backorder fees, success charges, and refund treatment are governed by our Sales Policy and Payment & Payout Policy.
6. Premium.st marketplace, Buy-Now, and auctions
6.1 Listings, Buy-Now offers, negotiations, and auctions are subject to our Sales Policy, listing verification rules, reserve and commission disclosures, and escrow procedures where applicable.
6.2 All sales are final except where mandatory consumer law or an explicit written exception applies. See the Sales Policy for domain registrations, backorder outcomes, auction hammer prices, and Buy-Now settlements.
6.3 Sellers must have lawful authority to sell listed domains. Buyers must complete payment and, where required, escrow steps within disclosed deadlines.
6.4 We may remove listings, cancel auctions, or suspend participants for policy breaches, abuse, fraud, or operational risk.
7. Prohibited conduct
You must not:
- violate registry, registrar, or applicable law;
- register or trade domains primarily for cybersquatting, phishing, malware, spam, illegal content, or rights infringement;
- circumvent fees, bidding rules, listing cooldowns, or account restrictions;
- scrape, overload, or attack our systems or registry interfaces;
- submit false abuse reports or fraudulent chargebacks;
- use bots or automation except through documented APIs and rate limits we expressly permit.
8. Intellectual property
Our sites, software, branding, and content are owned by Raffled UK or licensors. You receive a limited, revocable licence to use the Services as intended. Domain names belong to registrants or sellers according to registry records and transaction outcomes—not to us, except for inventory we explicitly own.
9. Disclaimers
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
We do not warrant uninterrupted, error-free, or secure operation; registry accuracy; catch timing; auction participation by third parties; or suitability of any domain for your business.
10. Limitation of liability
10.1 Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
10.2 Subject to clause 10.1, Raffled UK shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunity.
10.3 Subject to clause 10.1, our aggregate liability arising out of or relating to the Services in any twelve-month period shall not exceed the greater of (a) GBP £100 or (b) the total fees you paid to us for the specific transaction giving rise to the claim.
10.4 Multiple claims do not enlarge this cap. These limits apply whether liability arises in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise.
11. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Raffled UK, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from claims, losses, and reasonable costs (including legal fees) arising from your use of the Services, your domains, your listings, your bids, your content, or your breach of these Terms or applicable law.
12. Suspension and termination
We may suspend or terminate access immediately for breach, risk, legal requirement, registry action, or non-payment. You may close your account by contacting support; outstanding invoices, escrow obligations, and registry renewals may survive closure.
13. Dispute resolution and governing law
13.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
13.2 The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except that consumers resident in the UK or EEA may also have mandatory rights in their home jurisdiction.
13.3 Before formal proceedings, parties should attempt good-faith resolution via support@dot.st (or the contact address in the footer) within 30 days.
13.4 If you are a consumer, nothing in these Terms removes statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or other mandatory protections.
14. Changes
We may update these Terms by publishing a revised version with a new effective date. Material changes may also be notified by email or in-account notice where appropriate. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.
15. Contact
Raffled UK Limited
Email: support@dot.st
Abuse: Report abuse
Effective date: June 2026
Version: 1.0
These Terms are provided for operational use on the Dot.st network. Raffled UK Limited should obtain review by qualified UK legal counsel before relying on them in regulated or high-volume production.