Partner Article

Nominet .net.uk Consultation

With Ward Hadaway Law FirmNominet, the Internet registry for .uk domain names, has announced that its Policy Advisory Board (PAB) has launched a consultation on the future of the net.uk Second Level Domain (SLD).

At present the SLD is reserved for domains used by Internet Service Providers (ISP). The consultation will focus on the possibility of opening up the SLD to other users and the rules which should govern such use.

The PAB consultation paper sets out the following possible options for the future of the SLD domain:• Close the SLD to any new registrations.• Only allow certain ISPs/network operators to use the domain when they satisfy strict criteria.• Open the SLD with a charter that would indicate that the suggested use of the domain is for ISPs/network operators. However, there would not be a strict enforcement of the charter.• Open the SLD to anyone that wishes to register.The paper also contains 13 consultation questions, seeking yes/no type answers wherever possible, on:• The function of a domain name.• The perception of the .net.uk SLD• Definitions of an ISP/Network Provider• Options for the SLD.The PAB seeks the views of wider stakeholder groups.

The consultation period will last from the 19 December 2005 to 19 March 2006. All consultation responses will be published on Nominet’s website. The consultation paper can be viewed at www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/2131_netuk_consultation_paper_version_2.pdfIf you have any queries relating to this or any other IT or intellectual property issues please contact Colin Hewitt at colin.hewitt@wardhadaway.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .