| |
Internet Domain
Names
What are domain names?
Domain names are a
type of Internet address such as www.digital.org.au. They are an easy way
for people to find websites. It also describes the site to some degree: .au
means it is an Australian site, while .org means it is a non-profit
organisation. More information on domain names can be found
here or
here (and in many other places
across the Internet.)
Why are domain name issues
important?
The US Center for Democracy
and Technology puts it this way:
"Domain name management impacts not
only narrow technical questions and the interests of the trademark community,
but the privacy and free expression interests of Internet users. These comments
of CDT assume that it is necessary, in the course of DNS administration, to
collect, at one or more central repositories, some information about domain
names. But careful consideration must be given to how much information should
be collected about domain name holders: fair information practices dictate that
collection of personally-identifiable information should be kept to the minimum
necessary to achieve the immediate purpose. "
"The assignment of domain
names creates numerous possibilities for infringements on the international
human right to free expression. Will registrars have the authority to deny
registration to domain names that they find offensive or obscene? We expect
that registrars will face pressure to deny or revoke registration to domains
hosting unpopular content. In particular, we have already seen governments
pressure for denial of service to their critics."
" WIPO's proposed
trademark dispute resolution practices also have the potential to chill speech.
Professor Michael Froomkin notes in his comments on the WIPO Interim Report
that the "right of personality," when politicians, actors, and other famous
people are given the trademark rights over their names, can "constrain
expressive activity if, for example, politicians could claim that their critics
were not allowed to register their names as domains."
"Also under the
guise of trademark infringement, companies could prevent consumers from
criticizing their products. The threat of having personal contact information
revealed threatens the anonymity that makes Internet communication unique, and
might prevent domain name holders from publishing their opinions. Internet
users should not have to sacrifice their privacy to exercise their rights to
free speech."
The auDA
.au Domain Administration (.auDA) was
formed in April 1999 as the industry self-regulatory body for the .au domain
space (that is all website names that end in .au). Its constitution can be
found here.
The
.auDA has two advisory panels that advise the .auDA board on aspects of policy.
The first is the Name Policy
Advisory Panel which concerns the suitability of domain names and who is
eligible to hold them. Christine Page-Hanify of
Access Online is the ADA's
representative on this Panel.
The second panel is the
Competition Model Advisory
Panel which has yet to commence. Its brief is to advise on the
implementation of competition in the provision of domain name services. Alex
Byrne of the University of Technology, Sydney has been nominated by the ADA for
this panel.
|
|
