Why do you have such strict requirements for iCop membership?

All requirements for iCop membership are to support professionalism in online business. We consider online business to be as important as off-line business and expect it to be run accordingly. Please read our complete iCop™ Guidelines.

I work from home, and I don't want my address on my web site.

ALL businesses have an address, and it isn't a domain location. If you don't want your address on the web site, either get a postal mail box and label it "Mailing Address," or don't expect to display the iCop™ seal. As an iCop™ member, you are expected to run your business in a professional manner.

I don't want my private telephone number on my web site.

You're NOT expected to have your personal phone number on the site. As a business, we expect a BUSINESS number to be on the site.

For about $4 to $6 per month, most phone companies will give you what they call a "personalized ring" or "distinctive ringing." It's a separate number that uses the same phone line (no extra charges or installation there) but it rings with two short rings that tell you it's a business call, so you can answer it appropriately. You can answer the two short rings calls during whatever you have stated are "business hours" on the site.

Most cell phone services (even pre-paid services) have an answering device, allowing you to return calls, at your convenience.

If I sell my business, can the new owner continue to display the iCop Seal for the remainder of my membership?

iCop memberships DO NOT TRANSFER to new owners. If you sell your business or web site, the iCop seal cannot be part of the deal. We have no way of knowing how new owners will conduct business, or what they might do with the site. It is only YOUR company that has been registered to display the seal.

How do I get my site(s) listed in the iCop™ categorized Business Directory?

After you are accepted for membership in iCop ...

Your site(s) MUST be reviewed for compliance with the iCop™ Guidelines. Second, you MUST have the seal displayed on the home page of your site(s).

No "Stealth" domains may be submitted! All domain listings MUST be the primary domain, be hosted online and have their own DNS assignment. No sub-domains or directories within a domain may be submitted. ALL of your domain listings MUST carry the SAME company name! You may NOT have a different company name for each URL!

Do not stick an "A" or a "1" in front of your company name, unless you can send us a copy of your business registration showing the company is legally registered with the name containing that "A" or "1"

May a member web site be registered to someone other than the iCop member?

The member MUST be the registrant (owner) of any domain name displaying the iCop seal. Registered web sites may NOT have an anonymous registration. Yours, or your company's name, address and telephone number MUST show in the whois database. We expect our members to run transparent companies.

Since iCop is an international association, why do you require all members' web sites to be published in English?

English is considered the universal language and is spoken in nearly all countries. It wouldn't be possible to review web sites for membership if published in all the many languages of our planet.

What laws are used to govern the businesses of iCop members?

All iCop™ members displaying the iCop™ seal on their web sites must operate their businesses within the guidelines of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), since anyone doing business in the USA must adhere to these regulations.

Please feel free to send us your questions, and we'll add them to this list.  Click to Send Questions