Ioannis Iglezakis Domain Names

The Domain Name System A domain name is an electronic address of a computer connected to the Internet. The actual address of each computer is an IP number consisting in four numbers in the range of separated by dots; e.g In order that surfing through the Internet would become more easier, numeric addresses are associated with easily remembered, ordinary names, e.g. The DNS provides a correspondence between a given name and an Internet Protocol address.

The Domain Name System Domain Names are registered with a number of country codes and generic top level domains (TLDs). Paradigms of generic TLDs :.com – for commercial entities.org – for non-commercial organisations.net – for network operators Paradigms of country code TLDs:.gr – Greece.fr – France.uk. – United Kingdom.de - Germany

Management of Domain Names Generic TLDs are managed by ICANN, i.e. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Headquartered in California, its is non-profit corporation, created in 1998, taken over the tasks previously performed by IANA on behalf of the US Government. The tasks of ICANN include managing the assignment of domain names and IP addresses. Nowadays, it concentrates on the introduction of new generic TLDs, e.g..biz etc.

Management of Domain Names Country TLDs are managed by national organisations: e.g. Denic (Germany), Afnic (France),Nominet (UK). Such organisations issue their own rules for the registration of domain names (e.g. France: Charte de nommage du.fr ). Registrants are obliged to enter into a contact with the registration authority.

Example: AFNIC (France)

Registration of domain names Domain names are registered on a first-to-file basis (first come, first served) However, domain names should not infringe existing trademarks or distinctive signs (labels, business names, titles, etc.) In case of a collision between a domain name and a distinctive sign, the dispute is solved according to the principle of temporal priority

Cybersquatting Cybersquatting is a specific problem concerning domain names Cybersquatting is the purchase of a domain name in bad faith, with the intention of reselling that domain name back to the legal copyright holder. Such a behaviour is regarded as a violation of the trademark and competition laws. An example of cybersquatting would be if someone purchased the domain name "mcdonalds.com" and then proceeded to attempt to sell it back to McDonalds.

The US Approach to Cybersquating US Congress passed the Truth in Domain Names Act. This act is an attempt to discourage the use of deceitful domain names for the purpose of attracting surfers mainly to pornographic sites.the Truth in Domain Names Act The legislative approach is a direct one. Those who use domain names in order to trick people into viewing obscenity will land up in the slammer; trick kids into viewing material harmful to minors and you end up in the slammer for longer

U.S. - Truth in Domain Names Act 2003 ( § 2252B. Misleading domain names on the Internet ) (a) Whoever knowingly uses a misleading domain name on the Internet with the intent to deceive a person into viewing material constituting obscenity shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. (b) Whoever knowingly uses a misleading domain name on the Internet with the intent to deceive a minor into viewing material that is harmful to minors on the Internet shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 4 years, or both. (c) For the purposes of this section, a domain name that includes a word or words to indicate the sexual content of the site, such as “sex” or “porn”, is not misleading.

U.S. - Truth in Domain Names Act 2003 ( § 2252B. Misleading domain names on the Internet ) (d) For the purposes of this section, the term “material that is harmful to minors” means any communication, consisting of nudity, sex, or excretion, that, taken as a whole and with reference to its context— (1) predominantly appeals to a prurient interest of minors; (2) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and (3) lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. (e) For the purposes of subsection (d), the term “sex” means acts of masturbation, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person’s genitals, or the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

The.eu Top Level Domain Name Regulation 733/2002 on implementation of the.eu top level domain name Regulation 874/2002 laying down public policy rules concerning the implementation and functions of the.eu top level domain name and the principles governing registration Regulation 1654/2005 amending Regulation 874/2004

The.eu Top Level Domain Name Registry – registers and manages the.eu domain names Registrars – natural or legal persons providing domain name registration services to registrants Registrants (domain name owners)