“Only by pursuing a policy of multilingualism in Internet access can we give effect to our policy of an Internet that is truly global, and truly accessible to all,” states European Commission Vice-President, Neelie Kroes, in the foreword of the IDN World Report 2014 produced by EURid with UNESCO in cooperation with Verisign and the country code Top Level Domain regional organisations (CENTR, LACTLD, APTLD and AFTLD). The annual report is being presented today during a workshop at the Internet Governance Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, which takes place from 2 to 5 September. Internationalised domain names (IDN) were first launched at the second level (eg παράδειγμα.eu) in 2000. From 2009, it became possible to register domain names entirely in non-Latin scripts (eg 例子.中国). At the end of 2013, there were 6 million IDNs (including second level names and IDN TLDs). Although this is a large number, it is just 2% of the world’s registered domain names (270 million). EURid, the registry manager of the .eu Top Level Domain, has been supporting IDNs at the second level since late 2009 and has applied for the .eu in Greek and Cyrillic to ensure that the EU citizens can enjoy a complete IDN experience when writing languages that are not based on the Latin alphabet. “We are proud to have supported multilingualism through IDNs since the very beginning and to offer an extended customer support in all 24 official EU languages and, hopefully in the near future, the .eu TLD in Greek and Cyrillic,” commented EURid’s External Relations manager Giovanni Seppia. The report contains evidence that shows that, far from being “internationalised”, IDNs are intensely localised. They are strongly linked to local language content, and although they occur in diverse writing systems, the location of such scripts is closely coupled to countries and regions where related languages are spoken. New gTLDs promised to fulfil unmet needs in the domain name system. One obvious need is for enhanced linguistic diversity. With 90% of new gTLD strings (eg .photogra- phy) either in English language, or understandable in English, that opportunity has been lost – for now. “The growth potential for Internet penetration is in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America where English is not the primary language. For IDNs to fulfill their potential, multiple actors need to make changes to hasten universal acceptance, so that IDNs can be used seamlessly in every environment,” concludes the report’s main author Emily Taylor. This EURid announcement was sourced from: www.eurid.eu/en/news/sep-2014/languages-move-internet-landscape
Category: News
With more than 3,300 participants choosing amongst more than 100 events, the Internet Governance Forum has gathered a diverse range of ideas and opinions on the issues that impact Internet users.
The various IGF sessions have hit upon a variety of subjects, including inequalities, youth, fragmentation of Internet through national policies, mobile technologies, broadband access, and privacy and surveillance.
Protection of privacy remains a key concern for most Internet users, and the IGF held several events considering privacy and the many issues that may impact Internet users if privacy rights are invaded or removed, such as freedoms of expression, identity theft, digital surveillance and much more.
As more people use mobile phones to access information and services, privacy and security has become increasingly challenging. A key ingredient for strengthening trust in a mobile-connected world is to ensure secure and trusted identities online whether in retail, healthcare, government, banking or other sectors.
At another workshop entitled, “Privacy, Surveillance and the Cloud: One year later,” participants examined how policy makers, regulators, businesses and users have responded to potential government access to user data in the cloud. Contemplating policy implications, private sector efforts to address concerns and what has worked and what hasn’t, participants tried to address how measures have affected cloud adoption and explored potential solutions.
More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, but many efforts are deployed to provide access to more people. Participants at a workshop entitled, “Technologies and Policies to the Connect the next Five Billion,” covered some promising ways to increase Internet access, such as installing wireless platforms in rural markets and creating demand for broadband.
Participants took up regional issues on how the Internet can have a positive impact on the development of societies at a session entitled, “Internet as an engine of growth and development.” For more than a decade, information and communication technologies (ICT) have been called a key driver to socio-economic transformation and play a catalytic role in attaining the Millennium Development Goals.
Workshop participants recommended that governments adopt and implement policies enabling affordable Internet access and services. The panel also emphasized that information sharing is important and greater access to information should be encouraged. Another point supported by participants was that governments and the private sector should increase investment in ICT infrastructure.
The workshop, “Clouds and mobile internet: benefiting developing countries,” highlighted the various opportunities that Internet and specifically mobile Internet and cloud computing may present developing countries. Panellists noted that more than 50 per cent of people in developing countries have access to mobile phones, and thus potentially to the Internet through their mobiles. Among other ways the development of Internet infrastructure and the promotion of the mobile Internet could improve people’s lives by providing high bit rate services such as high resolution TV, promoting the emergence of start-up companies and digital libraries, developing microfinance systems and creating personalized health care.
For more information on the IGF, visit: www.intgovforum.org
Consistent with the Name Collision Occurrence Management Framework approved on 30 July 2014, the Board New gTLD Program Committee directed staff to provide each registry operator a Name Collision Occurrence Assessment (“Name Collision Assessment”), issued on 4 August 2014. Per the Name Collision Occurrence Assessment, for names included on the SLD Block List of the registry’s Alternate Path to Delegation Report and recorded in the Trademark Clearinghouse that the registry withheld from allocation during its Sunrise Period or Claims Period, the registry must continue to withhold these names from allocation while ICANNconsults with the community. This paper examines operational and other considerations for several approaches regarding the appropriate Rights Protection Mechanisms for release of SLD Block List names.
The Name Collision Assessment requires certain measures to be implemented for each top-level domain. In particular, it provides that for gTLDs delegated prior to 18 August 2014 who have activated names, the registry must ensure that second-level domain names desired to be activated from its SLD Block List after the 90-day controlled interruption period have been subject to applicable Rights Protection Mechanisms as required under Specification 7 of the RegistryAgreement.
Based on feedback and discussion to date in the community regarding appropriate Rights Protection Mechanisms for names in the SLD Block list, several possible approaches are described in this paper for the handling of these names. ICANN is requesting community feedback on these alternatives, or proposals for additional measures.
Currently, names released from the SLD Block List after a TLD’s Sunrise period has occurred are subject to the Trademark Claims service on release. Various stakeholder groups have provided feedback suggesting alternatives, for example, a required Sunrise period, or a similar period incorporating some elements of the Sunrise process.
For more information, please visit www.icann.org
More than 2,500 participants representinggovernments, inter-governmental organisations, private sector, the technical community and civil society are expected to examine cross-border Internet governance issues at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Internet GovernanceForum (IGF), to take place from 2-5 September, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The theme for the Istanbul meeting will be ‘Connecting Continents for Enhanced Multistakeholder Internet Governance,’ and an emphasis will be placed on strengthening the evolving multistakeholder model for Internet governance. The IGF aims to provide a comprehensive dialogue among all stakeholders across a wide and diverse range of agendas.
The various main sessions and workshops included in the programme of the meeting will address a wide range of Internet governance issues, categorised under the following sub-themes: Policies Enabling Access; Content Creation, Dissemination and Use; Internet as an Engine for Growth & Development; IGF & The Future of the Internet Ecosystem; Enhancing Digital Trust; Internet and Human Rights; Critical Internet Resources; and Emerging Issues.
The IGF provides a platform for the involvement of all stakeholders, from developed as well as developing countries, in Internet governance debates needed for the future evolution of the Internet and its governance mechanisms.
By the end 2014, there will be nearly three billion Internet users, and two-thirds are from developing countries. However, this means that more than four billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and most people without Internet access live in developing countries. In Africa, only 20 per cent of the population is expected to be online by the end of 2014.
The IGF is expected to emphasize the need for increasing Internet access to those without it by raising awareness and initiating discussions to identify innovative ways to address the digital divide and inform policymakers.
For additional information, visit: www.intgovforum.org
Remote participation: Media and other stakeholders not present in Istanbul can participate remotely and send text questions and/or video/audio interventions using the remote participation platform (Webex). Further details about remote participations are available at: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/remote-participation-2014
Dominios.es, the spanish registry, has started an initiative with the aim to improve the quality of the database because the registry has detected a series of .ES domain names with incorrect data. Thus, we are obliged to implement the following changes as part of their data quality improvement strategy. The modifications will be introduced on August 11, 2014.
The following data must be submitted for every domain name contact:
- DNI and NIF (Spanish)
- NIE (not Spanish)
- Other ID
Furthermore, a new organization type will be implemented in order to qualify the type of organization. Please find a list of the valid organization forms and registry codes here:
- 1 Individual
- 39 Economic Interest Group
- 47 Association
- 59 Sports Association
- 68 Professional Association
- 124 Savings Bank
- 150 Community Property
- 152 Community of Owners
- 164 Order or Religious Institution
- 181 Consulate
- 197 Public Law Association
- 203 Embassy
- 229 Local Authority
- 269 Sports Federation
- 286 Foundation
- 365 Mutual Insurance Company
- 434 Regional Government Body
- 436 Central Government Body
- 439 Political Party
- 476 Trade Union
- 510 Farm Partnership
- 524 Public Limited Company
- 525 Sports Association
- 554 Civil Society
- 560 General Partnership
- 562 General and Limited Partnership
- 566 Cooperative
- 608 Worker-owned Company
- 612 Limited Company
- 713 Spanish Office
- 717 Temporary Alliance of Enterprises
- 744 Worker-owned Limited Company
- 745 Regional Public Entity
- 746 National Public Entity
- 747 Local Public Entity
- 877 Others
- 878 Designation of Origin Supervisory Council
- 879 Entity Managing Natural Areas
The new regulations will not apply for new domain contacts only but also for existing domain contacts.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that two other new TLDs were delegated, bringing the total number to 314. The two new gTLDs are : .nrw, .scb.
DNS.BE announces that ICANN has given the final approval to .vlaanderen and .brussels new gTLDs.
“After the delegation of .brussels and .vlaanderen, one more important step needed to be taken: the approval by ICANN of the start-up information. This contains the information on the different launch phases and their timings.
Wednesday, 9 July we received this final approval for both TLDs. Which means the long course with ICANN we started back in the spring of 2012 with the introduction of both applications, finally comes to an end. All steps with ICANN have now been finalised and from now on, we’re standing on our own two feet.
This also implies that the timings for the different phases are final. We like to share them with you once more:
- A phase for trademark holders: 01/09/2014 > 01/10/2014
- A phase for governments, organisations and companies: 02/10/2014 > 03/11/2014
- A phase for private individuals: 13/11/2014 > 15/12/2014
- A “landrush” phase: 16/12/2014 > 15/01/2015
Open registrations from 20/01/2015″
It’s probably already happened, but the 1,500,000th registration of a new gTLD domain name will happen today, 11 July.
According to nTLDstats.com, there were 1,499,880 registrations, or domains under management, across all new gTLDs at their end of 10 July. The top new gTLDs according to domains under management are .xyz with 290,811 and .berlin with 136,895. They are also the only two of the new gTLDs with more than 100,000 domains under management.
Nominet has had an open policy on domain registrations since 1996, which has played a key role in promoting a dynamic and open internet in the UK.
However, concerns over this approach have been raised by an internet safety commentator and subsequently reported in the media.
We wish to take the opportunity to ensure our own policies remain current and in the public interest. In light of this, we are planning to review our approach to registrations, to establish where policy could or should evolve.
We are launching an independently-chaired policy review and will call for contributions from stakeholders in September. We will share further details in due course.
In the meantime, we are looking closely at what further practical steps we can take to play our part in keeping the .uk internet safe. For example, in the last week, we have worked with the Internet Watch Foundation to check the key words they associate with illegal content against the domain names under our management.
It is important to take into account that the majority of concerns related to illegality online are related to a website’s content – something that is not known at the point of registration of a domain name.
Tackling this issue is a collaborative effort and we are committed to working with relevant authorities, and taking responsible action with regard to .uk domains associated with illegal activity. We already have a dedicated support team at Nominet to respond to instructions from the relevant authority, such as the police or, should the need arise, the IWF. We operate a rapid suspension process where necessary.
We have been contacted by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in relation to this issue and are keeping them informed of our actions.
About Nominet
Domain names are one of the key building blocks of the internet – an essential component of every email address and website. Millions of businesses and consumers now depend on Nominet’s services, which underpin a critical part of the UK Internet economy.
Nominet is a private, not-for-profit business, responsible for the smooth and secure running of the .uk internet infrastructure. We have over 2,800 members and are committed to acting in the public interest.
Nominet has also recently been chosen by several brands and communities to launch and manage new top level domains; wales, .cymru, .bbc .bentley, .comcast and .xfinity.
With the proceeds of their successful registry business, Nominet set up and supports the Nominet Trust, an independent charitable foundation focussed on increasing access, safety and education on internet issues.
As part of a commitment to making the internet a more trusted space, Nominet has also developed an information and advice portal – www.knowthenet.org.uk – which helps internet users to get the most of being online by staying safe, legal, and informed.
104 more new gTLD applications passed ICANN’s Initial Evaluation (IE), including .Google, .Site, .Vegas, .Book and .Casino.
According to ICANN, the total number of new gTLD applications with a passing score is 1,482. 331 applications remain in IE.
Here are the passed applications :
.xyz .irish .fairwinds .nextdirect .vegas .cookingchannel .baby .group .mopar .seek .mitsubishi .meet .nfl .baseball .art .eurovision .fish .brussels .healthcare .antivirus .team .partners .art .jeep .scholarships .osaka .final .northwesternmutual .pet .hdfcbank .yokohama .boots .rentals .chat .diet .luxe .hyatt .phone .family .merckmsd .weir .duck .kred .site .google .book .accountants .casino .coupons .verisign .bayern .store .pub .you .shop .music .barclays .cricket .now .piaget .community .piperlime .now .circle .app .vip .cancerresearch .lidl .diy .nissan .website .yun .style .moi .app .cleaning .date .taxi .mlb .cruise .stream .catering .dating .dot .theatre .reliance .hotel .black .jlc .construction .vision .shop .shell .cards .bank .azure .tech .dog .security .aigo .nationwide .metlife .vanish .indians
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