1. Purpose & Scope
This Abuse Policy explains how Atom Registrar (“Atom”, “we”, “our”) handles reports of abuse connected to domain name registrations under our management.
We are an ICANN-accredited registrar and are committed to maintaining a safe and lawful Internet environment consistent with ICANN policies, applicable laws, and registry rules.
This policy applies only to registration-related activity. Atom does not provide web hosting, email hosting, or content hosting services.
2. What Constitutes Abuse
“Abuse” means any illegal, harmful, or policy-violating use of a domain name or registration service.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
-
Technical / DNS Abuse
- Phishing or deceptive sites intended to harvest data
- Malware, ransomware, or virus distribution
- Botnets or command-and-control infrastructure
- DNS abuse (e.g., fast-flux hosting, DNS tunneling, hijacking)
- Spam or unsolicited bulk messages (when domain is used in email headers or URLs)
- Denial-of-service or network attacks launched via a domain
-
Legal / Harmful Use
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child exploitation
- Terrorism, human trafficking, or violent extremism
- Fraudulent or deceptive schemes (investment scams, fake escrow, identity theft)
- Trademark or copyright infringement
- Sale or promotion of illegal or regulated goods or services
-
Policy Violations
- Providing false or misleading WHOIS/RDAP contact data
- Misusing privacy/proxy services to conceal abusive activity
- Abuse of domain transfer or redemption processes
3. How to Report Abuse
- Primary Contact
- Law Enforcement or Government Agencies
- Email: legal@atom.com ** (restricted channel for verified law-enforcement/government use)
- What to Include
To help us investigate efficiently, please include:
- The domain name(s) involved
- A clear description of the abuse
- Supporting evidence (screenshots, URLs, timestamps, full email headers, etc.)
- Your contact information for follow-up
Reports involving child exploitation or threats to life or safety are treated as emergencies.
Atom will immediately report and cooperate with appropriate law-enforcement authorities and recognized hotlines (such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the U.S. or equivalent agencies in other jurisdictions).
We may suspend or disable the associated domain without prior notice and preserve relevant registration and DNS data for investigative purposes.
4. Evidence Guidelines
Providing relevant details helps ensure timely review.
| Abuse Type |
ReqPreferred Evidenceuired |
| Phishing / Fraud |
URLs, screenshots, email with full headers |
| Malware / Hacking |
Logs, URLs, IPs, detection reports, timestamps |
| Spam / Email Abuse |
Full email headers and message samples |
| Trademark / Copyright |
Formal legal notice (e.g., DMCA-style request) |
| WHOIS / RDAP Inaccuracy |
Domain name, inaccurate field(s), returned-mail evidence |
5. Our Response Process
Acknowledgment
We typically acknowledge abuse reports within 24 hours of receipt
Verification & Review
Our Abuse Team verifies evidence, checks domain registration data, and evaluates whether the activity constitutes abuse under ICANN and registry policy.
Possible Registrar Actions
Depending on severity and verification:
- Temporarily suspend, lock, or place hold on the domain
- Cancel or terminate a domain registration for confirmed serious abuse
- Deny transfers while an abuse case is active
- Revoke privacy/proxy service shielding abusive data
- Report or escalate to ICANN, registry operators, or law-enforcement agencies
For confirmed high-risk cases (e.g., phishing, CSAM, malware), we may act without prior notice to the registrant.
When possible, we’ll notify the registrant after action is taken and provide information about appeal or reinstatement.
6. Registrant Responsibilities
As a domain registrant, you agree to:
- Provide accurate and current contact data
- Respond promptly to abuse-related communications
- Cease any abusive or illegal activity immediately
- Cooperate with Atom’s investigation when contacted
Failure to comply may result in suspension or cancellation of your domain without refund.
7. Privacy & Disclosure
Atom will not release registrant contact data except as required or permitted by law (e.g., valid court order, subpoena, or ICANN/registry compliance request).
Requests for disclosure should follow our Registration Data Disclosure Policy.
8. Cooperation with Authorities
Atom cooperates with law-enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies within the United States, as well as international authorities acting through recognized and lawful channels (such as treaties, mutual legal-assistance requests, or official ICANN/registry compliance processes).
- For cases involving child exploitation, fraud, or threats to life or safety, Atom promptly reports and cooperates with U.S. law enforcement, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or equivalent authorities.
- For international requests, Atom responds only to valid legal process (e.g., subpoenas, court orders, or properly submitted MLAT requests).
- We also coordinate with ICANN and relevant registry operators in accordance with our Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA).
- Atom may share registration or DNS data when required to support verified investigations, consistent with applicable U.S. law and ICANN policy.
9. Appeals & Reinstatement
If you believe your domain was suspended or cancelled in error, submit an appeal to compliance@atom.com with justification and any supporting evidence.
We review appeals in good faith and respond with our determination.
10. Updates to This Policy
This policy may change from time to time. Updates will be posted on our website with a new “Last updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated to affected registrants.
Summary
Atom takes abuse seriously. We investigate all valid reports and act quickly to protect Internet users. Serious abuse can result in domain suspension or cancellation without prior notice.
