Information about .name

.name

dot name
Introduced	2001
TLD type	Generic top-level domain
Status	Active
Registry	Global Name Registry (operated by VeriSign)
Sponsor	None
Intended use	Personal sites of individuals
Actual use	Mostly used as intended, but has not grown as fast as .com/.biz/.info
Registration restrictions	No prior restriction on registration, but registrations can be challenged if not by or on behalf of individual with name similar to that of domain, or fictional character in which registrant has rights
Structure	Originally registrations had to be at third level, in form john.smith.name, but later direct second-level registrations were allowed
Documents	ICANN registry agreement
Dispute policies	UDRP, Disputes
Web site

.name is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) intended for the use of individuals' real names, nicknames, screen names, pseudonyms or other personal names. It was delegated to Global Name Registry in 2001, although it did not become fully operational until January 2002.

Domains can be registered on the second level (john.name) and the third level (john.doe.name). It is also possible to register an e-mail address on the form john@doe.name together with, or instead of, the domain john.doe.name. Such an e-mail address is a forwarding account, and requires another e-mail address to be delivered to.

When a domain is registered on the third level (john.doe.name), the second level (doe.name in this case) is shared, and may not be registered. Further third level objects like jane.doe.name or doe@doe.name may be registered. Other second level domains like johndoe.name remain unaffected.

When the .name domain was first launched, only third level registrations (and forwarded e-mail addresses) were available; it is only later, in January 2004, that second level registrations were made available as well. The original intended structure of names was first.last.name, so that an individual could get a domain corresponding to his or her actual name.

When a domain is registered on the second level (doe.name), third level domains or e-mail addresses under this second level (john.doe.name and jane@doe.name) are associated with the second level domain, and may not be registered with the .name registry. Other objects like janedoe.name and jane.johndoe.name remain unaffected.

The .name gTLD is intended for use by individuals and personalities, both fictional and real.

As a personal, unique and memorable identifier, .name addresses are increasingly being used as a natural address for Digital Identity applications.

The .name whois service is available at whois.nic.name, and there is a website where whois queries can be made at the .name whois website. Registrations are processed via ICANN accredited registrars.

The administrative and technical contacts for .name are the founders - Hakon Haugnes and Geir Rasmussen.

Controversy

In late September 2007 security researchers accused GNR of harboring hackers for a few dollars more, as the policy of selling detailed registration info on .name domains 2 dollars apiece hinders community efforts to locate and clean up malware spreading machines, trojanized zombies and botnet control servers located under the .name space.

Considering there are millions of malicious and/or hijacked systems spread all over the net, finding out about the .name population alone could cost thousands of dollars in fees, while the dot-com and dot-net spaces make their registration info freely available. [1]

External links

• IANA .name whois information
• .name operator website
• .name Registry Agreement
• List of .name accredited registrars

•  • [ e] Generic top-level domains
Unsponsored	.biz  .com  .edu  .gov  .info  .int  .mil  .name  .net  .org
Sponsored	.aero  .asia  .cat  .coop  .jobs  .mobi  .museum  .pro  .tel  .travel
Infrastructure	.arpa  .root
Proposed	.berlin  .bzh  .cym  .gal  .geo  .kid  .kids  .lat  .mail  .nyc  .post  .sco  .web  .xxx
Deleted/retired	.nato
Reserved	.example  .invalid  .localhost  .test
Pseudo-domains	.bitnet  .csnet  .ip  .local  .onion  .uucp
Unofficial	see Alternative DNS roots
See also: Country code top-level domains