Issue no. 413 - 20 February 2011

• Domain name provider forces Wikileaks offline (BBC)
  The website of whistle-blowing organisation Wikileaks has been shut down by the company providing it with domain name services. EveryDNS.net said it had terminated services because Wikileaks.org had come under massive cyber attacks. It said the attacks threatened its infrastructure and endangered access to thousands of other websites. Wikileaks says it has faced disruption since it began publishing thousands of secret US diplomatic cables. The memos, which discuss US diplomatic relations and military activities, have been causing controversy across the world. In a post on Twitter, Wikileaks acknowledged that its domain had been "killed" by EveryDNS.net. It was not clear how long disruption to the site would last for. In a statement on its website, EveryDNS.net said it had issued a 24-hour termination notice to Wikileaks which ended at 0300 GMT on 2 December.

• UK - Nominet proposes pulling websites on police suspicions of criminality (OUT-LAW News)
  Nominet, the body responsible for running the .uk domain, is considering changing its terms and conditions to give police more power to demand that domain names be cut off from the internet.The non-profit body will consult on changes to its terms and conditions that would allow it to suspend domain names when it has "reasonable grounds" to believe that they are involved in criminal activity.

Issue no. 411 - 3 October 2010

• Adult industry remains "deeply concerned" about .XXX application (David Goldstein)
  The adult industry remains concerned about the introduction of the .XXX Top Level Domain and in particular, the ICM Registry application. In a letter to ICANN, the Free Speech Coalition say they remain "deeply concerned about the application by ICM Registry (ICM) for a .XXX sTLD. The FSC, an adult industry lobby group in the US urges "the Board to make sure it has the full and accurate information necessary to make a sound decision on ICM's application." The FSC says the decision while having some effect on the domain name space will also "have more far reaching effects on the regulation of internet content and on ICANN's potential role as a direct or indirect content regulator."

Issue no. 410 - 6 August 2010

• ".eu" : securing Europe's identity on the Internet (RAPDI)
  Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, EURid dinner European Parliament, Brussels, 2 June 2010.

Issue no. 407 - 28 March 2010

• ICANN - ICM Registry wins review of .XXX application (David Goldstein)
  ICM Registry, the applicant for .XXX generic Top Level Domain, hopes to begin offering .XXX domain names in 2010 following an independent review of its application to, and subsequent refusal by, ICANN. The rejection of ICM Registry's application was always controversial, however the first ICANN Independent Review Process decision since the process was introduced six years ago voted two to one to advise the ICANN Board to reconsider the .XXX gTLD at its next meeting. The review panel found that ICANN's handling of ICM Registry's application to run the .XXX top level domain violated ICANN's Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, as well as international and California law. It should be noted that the holdings of the Independent Review Panel are advisory in nature and that they do not constitute a binding arbitral award.

• ICANN defer decision on .xxx (AP)
  A global Internet oversight agency odeferred a decision until June on whether to create a ".xxx" Internet suffix as an online red-light district. The board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, initiated a 70-day process of consultations on a domain that could help parents block access to porn sites. Use of the ".xxx" suffix would be voluntary, though, and would not keep such content entirely away from minors.

Issue no. 405 - 24 January 2010

• AU - Net filter satire site back after domain deletion (Ars Technica)
  Stephen Conroy is Australia's Communications Minister and, in that role, has been instrumental in pushing for ISP-level traffic filters that will block access to illegal content by his nation's citizens. A site that was combination parody and protest, stephenconroy.com.au, saw its domain registration deleted late last month since they had no business relationship with anyone or thing by that name. Its creators, however, registered stephenconroy as a business in Victoria, simply waited for it to reappear in the pool of available domains, and grabbed it again.

• UK - Why Nominet disconnected more than 1,000 sites with no court oversight (OUT-LAW News)
  The body responsible for the .uk internet addresses disconnected over 1,200 websites without any oversight from a court. The much-publicised action last month was based only on police assertions about criminal activity on the sites. Two Nominet executives have told technology law podcast OUT-LAW Radio that it severed the connection between 1,219 domain names and the sites that lay behind them without the kind of court order that web hosting companies would usually demand.

Issue no. 403 - 24 November 2009

• EU / IGF - Why the Internet must be open, global and multilingual (RAPID)
  Opening speech by Viviane Reding Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media at the Internet Governance Forum Sharm El Sheikh, 15 November 2009.

• IGF - Commission welcomes landmark step towards a truly global internet (RAPID)
  At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), the European Commission has s welcomed a landmark step towards a truly global (and local) internet: the announcement that "Internationalised Domain Names" will be introduced at the top level. Until now, internet domain names were either fully or partly in the Latin "a to z" alphabet. ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which manages the internet's core directory, has announced that a fast track process would be launched today to open up country code top level domains (like ".eu" of europa.eu) to non Latin characters. This means that Europeans, especially in Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus, will be able to see domain names in their own alphabets. Viviane Reding, the EU's telecoms and internet Commissioner, heralded this major multilingual development. She also called for the timeframe of the Internet Governance Forum - a unique multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for the global internet community - to be extended. See also Why the Internet must be open, global and multilingual Opening speech by Viviane Reding Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media at the Internet Governance Forum Sharm El Sheikh, 15 November 2009.

Issue no. 402 - 18 October 2009

• European Commission welcomes US move on internet governance (RAPID)
  Viviane Reding, the EU's Commissioner for Information Society and Media, today welcomed news that ICANN, the body primarily responsible for managing internet domain names, will become more open and accountable to billions of internet users worldwide. As of 30 September, ICANN, the US-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, will no longer be subject to unilateral review by the US Department of Commerce, but by independent review panels appointed by ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and ICANN itself with the involvement of governments around the world. Since 2005, the European Commission has repeatedly called for reform of the governance of the internet's key global resources.

• Regulating the internet - ICANN be independent (Economist)
  America is poised to loosen its control over cyberspace. For the past decade America has delegated some of its authority over the internet to a non-profit organisation called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN's latest mandate is due to expire on September 30th. The day before, a new accord is planned to come into effect, whereby America will pass some of its authority over ICANN to the "internet community" of businesses, individual users and other governments.

Issue no. 401 - 26 July 2009

• EU - European ICANN Reform Proposal Draws Industry Ire (IDG News Service)
  Europe's efforts to internationalize the running of the Internet's governance body were criticized by three leading trade groups - ETNO, EuroISPA and GSMA Europe - for failing to take account of the needs of the private sector. Oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) by an intergovernmental body, as the European Commission proposed in May, "would contradict the goal to move ICANN responsibilities to the private sector and would not appropriately take into account all stakeholders," said groups representing former telecommunication monopolies, ISPs and mobile phone companies in a joint statement. The trade groups said that instead of more governmental involvement in ICANN, there should be less, with full control eventually handed over to the private sector.

Issue no. 400 - 5 July 2009

• European Commission calls for an open, independent and accountable governance of the internet (RAPID)
  The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, has called for more transparency and multilateral accountability in the governance of the internet. At present, a private US-based body, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ( ICANN ), is responsible for coordinating key elements of the internet. The Commission agrees that private companies should continue to take the lead in the day-to-day management of the operation of the internet, as long as they are accountable and independent. The Commission also believes that decisions about the internet, especially those about openness and security, should be taken in a transparent and accountable manner because they affect everyone around the globe. ICANN currently operates under a Joint Project Agreement with the US Department of Commerce which expires on 30 September 2009. In the view of the European Commission, future internet governance arrangements should reflect the key role that the global network has come to play for all countries. Commission Communication "Internet governance: the next steps" COM(2009) 2007.

Issue no. 395 - 27 December 2008

• ICANN - US questions net overhaul plans (BBC)
  Plans to offer hundreds of new web addresses as alternatives to .com have been criticised by the US government.The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which oversees net addresses has floated plans for the radical change to the existing system. But the US Commerce department has questioned both the benefits and the costs of such a scheme. Officials have also raised concerns about whether the plans will destabilise the current system.

Issue no. 391 - 31 August 2008

• ICANN backs auction of disputed domains (OUT-LAW News)
  The body behind the internet's addressing systems has said that it will settle disputes over who wins the right to new generic top level domains (gTLDs) by auction. ICANN has said that auctions will be used if two organisations vying for the right to a gTLD are tied on other grounds.

Issue no. 390 - 20 July 2008

• ICANN - Work remains for new Top Level Internet Domains (Intellectual Property Watch)
  by Monika Ermert. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the "biggest extension of the DNS [domain name system] in 40 years" after its decision last week to finish implementation of a new policy for introducing new top-level domains (TLDs). One problem is a procedure to allow anyone to file objections against new TLD proposals on the bases of existing rights of others (like those holding trademarks), confusing similarity, economic concerns or concerns of ethnic communities about a new domain. Governments also reiterated that geographical names, including place names, must be avoided or only be granted in case of endorsement by the respective local authorities. But the most discussed and criticised reason for an objection clearly is "morality and public order."

• ICANN adopts new Web site naming rules (CNET)
  The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has voted to relax rules for naming Web sites. At its meeting in Paris, ICANN, a not-for-profit organization that oversees the naming scheme for Web sites, voted to accept a proposal that will allow companies to purchase new top-level domain names ending in whatever they like. See also ICANN go-ahead on gTLDs - with "string criteria" (LINX Public Affairs blog, posred by Malcolm Hutty).

Issue no. 385 - 21 March 2008

• ICANN - Investigation finds no evidence of front running (OUT-LAW News)
  A committee of the body responsible for the internet's addressing system has found no evidence of front running, a form of deceptive domain name acquisition. Front running has long been rumoured to be in operation by unscrupulous domain name registration companies. They are alleged to monitor what addresses users search for but do not immediately buy. They then buy that domain to sell to the enquirer at a profit, according to reports. But a committee of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has investigated 120 supposed examples of the cheating and found no wrongdoing.

Issue no. 384 - 24 February 2008

• ICANN and Google thwart domain-name profiteers (ZDNet Australia)
  The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has formally announced a proposal to make "domain tasting" a thing of the past by changing the way it charges for domain names. Domain tasting is the use of the "add grace period" - a five-day period following registration where the domain name can be deleted at no cost to the registrar - to see how profitable a domain name is.

Issue no. 380 - 30 September 2007

• UK - Lawyers attack Nominet plan for domain name disputes (OUT-LAW News)
  The registry for .uk domain names has proposed a change in the way that name disputes are handled, but the proposed fast-track system faces criticism for not being radical enough.

Issue no. 376 - 10 June 2007

• ICANN pushes for public participation in top level domains (The Register)
  The Internet Corporation for the Assignment of Names and Numbers (ICANN) has taken what appears to be a welcome step toward increasing public participation in the controversial area of generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) approval. ICANN, which determines the technical standards that govern the internet, has long been criticized for its opaque and capricious approach to approving new gTLDs.

Issue no. 375 - 9 May 2007

• EU domain racks up 2.5 million registrations (CNET News)
  More than 2.5 million people and organizations have registered European Union domain names since .eu was opened to the public a year ago. According to the European Union, .eu is now Europe's third most popular top-level domain and the seventh most popular globally.

Issue no. 374 - 1 April 2007

• ICANN - Proposal for porn domain rejected (BBC)
  Plans to create an internet domain specifically for pornographic websites have been rejected. The proposal for the .xxx domain was voted out by the overseer of the net's addressing system, seven years after the ideas was first put forward. Board members said they were concerned that approval would put the agency into the position of a content regulator. See Board meeting resolution and transcript. GAC Communique: GAC expresses concern that ICANN could be moving towards assuming an ongoing management and oversight role regarding Internet content which would be inconsistent with its technical mandate. Government of Canada comments on the proposed ICM Registry Agreement. See also Why I Voted For XXX (Susan Crawford), Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) Press Release and .XXX ICANN comments - enormous opposition (Seth Finkelstein).

Issue no. 373 - 11 March 2007

• ICANN - Doubts over internet porn domain (CBRonline.com)
  The resurrected proposal to open an internet domain reserved for porn web sites is looking less likely to succeed, with ICANN's board of directors last week expressing 'serious concerns' about it. A majority of ICANN's directors are concerned that .xxx may not be wanted by the adult entertainment industry it would purport to serve, according to minutes of a February 12 ICANN board meeting.

Issue no. 372 - 25 February 2007

• ICANN - Doubts over internet porn domain (CBRonline.com)
  The resurrected proposal to open an internet domain reserved for porn web sites is looking less likely to succeed, with ICANN's board of directors last week expressing 'serious concerns' about it. A majority of ICANN's directors are concerned that .xxx may not be wanted by the adult entertainment industry it would purport to serve, according to minutes of a February 12 ICANN board meeting.

Issue no. 371 - 28 January 2007

• ICANN - Triple X, Internet Content Regulation and the ICANN Regime (Internet Governance Project)
  by Milton Mueller. The backers of the controversial .xxx domain have negotiated a new contract with ICANN. Final approval of the contract is still vehemently opposed by an amusing alliance of anti-pornography conservatives and pornographers with investments in existing adult domain names. Nevertheless, chances are now good that it will finally succeed in gaining the approval of the ICANN Board. What are the implications of this probable resolution of the .xxx drama for the Internet and Internet governance? They are major. But no one seems to be talking about them.

• ICANN publishes revised proposed agreement on .XXX (ICANN)
  A revised proposed agreement with ICM providing for designation of a .XXX sTLD registry is published for public comment. The public comment period will be open until 5 February 2007. See Summary of major changes to the previously posted agreement.

Issue no. 370 - 3 December 2006

• EU - Price of .eu domains slashed (MIP)
  EURid, the registry for .eu domain names, is halving the costs of registering and renewing .eu domain names. As of January 1 2007, the price for registering a domain name and the annual renewal fee will be €5 as opposed to today's €10. The registry said the reduction was due to the high number of domains registered since the .eu domain name was launched at the end of 2005. There are now more than 2.34 million active .eu domain names.

Issue no. 368 - 15 October 2006

• A domain by any other name (Jonathan Zittrain)
  The public's dislike of Icann comes partly from the opinion that it exercises too much control over the internet, but that's not the case.

• Dot eu: Commissioner Reding pays first visit to managers of Europe's new internet domain (RAPID)
  Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding has visited EURid, the independent consortium managing the '.eu' domain name. Commissioner Reding was accompanied by several Members of the European Parliament. The purpose of the visit was to understand the way the new domain name registration system - that so far has attracted more than two million users - functions.

• ICANN - Commission welcomes move towards full private-sector management (RAPID)
  The United States government's decision to give more autonomy to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was welcomed by the European Commission. On 30 September, a highly prescriptive Memorandum of Understanding between the US Department of Commerce and ICANN expired. It has now been replaced by lighter arrangements intended to end definitely by 2009. The European Commission has been working for several years on a system of internet governance entrusted fully to the private sector without government interference in the internet's day-to-day management. see also ICANN : Internet control 'nears autonomy' (BBC).

• UK - British politician falls victim to cybersquatters (Reuters)
  The leader of Britain's Conservative Party has fallen victim to cybersquatters and some people trying to access his Internet blog have found themselves entering the world of a little-known Australian poet. David Cameron, modernizing leader of the opposition party, launched his blog www.webcameron.org.uk over the weekend in a bid to appeal to younger voters and revamp the image of his party. But the party did not take the precaution, common in such circumstances, of securing the domains of similar Web site names including www.webcameron.info and www.webcameron.co.uk.

Issue no. 366 - 3 September 2006

• ICANN - Net's ruling body renews US links (BBC)
  The US looks set to maintain its role as ultimate supervisor of the net's addressing systems until 2011. The US Department of Commerce has signed a five-year deal with administrative body Icann that renews the body's role overseeing net domains.

Issue no. 365 - 15 August 2006

• EU - Thousands of EU net names frozen (BBC)
  Thousands of website names ending in the .eu suffix have been suspended by the body that administers the domain. Brussels-based EURid froze 74,000 domain names which it believes have been stockpiled by a syndicate of registrars who intend to sell them on. The process, known as 'warehousing', is not permitted by EURid which is suing 400 registrars for breach of contract.

Issue no. 364 - 7 July 2006

• ICANN - New WHOIS definition survives Marrakech meeting (Internet Governance Project)
  For now, it appears that the new, more technically focused and privacy-friendly definition of the purpose of Whois survived the Marrakech meeting. The U.S. Government and the copyright and law enforcement interests mounted a major onslaught against the GNSO action, using the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) as their pressure point. But it became clear during a lively GAC-GNSO open meeting that there is no unity among goverments on this issue.

Issue no. 361 - 23 May 2006

• ICANN - A low point (Susan Crawford)
  The decision by ICANN's board, which voted 9-5 to reject the XXX contract, represents a low point for ICANN. I am a member of ICANN's board, and I voted in favor of the agreement. Policies as to the use of domain names, as opposed to the registration of domain names, are not appropriate subjects for ICANN decisionmaking. By keeping such a short leash on ICM's development of its policy organization, which will in turn make decisions about the use of names at the second level, ICANN may be getting into dangerous territory. We should not run the risk of turning ICANN into a convenient chokepoint for the content-related limitations desired by particular governments around the world. see also .XXX and Conservative Groups by Patrick Vande Walle.

• ICANN - Appeal and lawsuit over .xxx rejection (out-law.com)
  The company that called for a .xxx domain on the internet has asked ICANN to reconsider its decision to reject the bid. ICM Registry is also suing the US Government for access to documents that it hopes will prove political interference. ICANN's board rejected ICM's proposal by nine votes to five on 10th May. But ICM filed a request for reconsideration, arguing that the decision was 'based on inaccurate information about the written statements of various governments concerning .xxx'.

• ICANN - US Renews Contract for Oversight Of Internet (Washington Post)
  The Bush administration plans to renew its exclusive contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the U.S.-based nonprofit group that oversees key technical matters governing how computers communicate over the Internet.

• ICANN approves .tel domain (ZDNet UK)
  Internet regulator ICANN has approved the creation of the .tel domain, the company that proposed the domain announced. Telnic, which proposed .tel to ICANN in 2000, said the domain will give individuals and businesses a naming and navigation structure for the Internet communications space.

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