Changes

The first operator of the .name gTLD was delegated to the [[GNR|Global Name Registry]] (GNR), a British company, in November, 2000.The company launched .name in 2002, and offered second level (''jane.name'') and third level (''jane.smith.name'') registration for domain names, which facilitated personalized e-mail addresses.<ref>[http://www.crunchbase.com/company/globalnameregistry www.crunchbase.com]</ref> The company was acquired by [[Verisign]] in 2008, which is the current registry of the .name gTLD.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/name/assignment-assumption-agreement-28feb09-en.pdf Assignment and Assumption of .name Registry Agreement]</ref>

The first operator of the .name gTLD was delegated to the [[GNR|Global Name Registry]] (GNR), a British company, in November, 2000.The company launched .name in 2002, and offered second level (''jane.name'') and third level (''jane.smith.name'') registration for domain names, which facilitated personalized e-mail addresses.<ref>[http://www.crunchbase.com/company/globalnameregistry www.crunchbase.com]</ref> The company was acquired by [[Verisign]] in 2008, which is the current registry of the .name gTLD.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/name/assignment-assumption-agreement-28feb09-en.pdf Assignment and Assumption of .name Registry Agreement]</ref>

==.name Registry Criticism==

==Global Name Registry Criticism==

In 2007, the Global Name Registry was criticized by Internet security researchers because access to the [[Whois]] relied on payment. According to Internet security researchers, the practice limited their ability to police the Internet, and GNR created a ''haven for hackers'' who conduct Internet scams.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/09/dot_name Dot-Name Becomes Cybercrime Haven]</ref>  

In 2007, the Global Name Registry was criticized by Internet security researchers because access to its Whois]] database relied on payment. According to Internet security researchers, the practice limited their ability to police the Internet, and GNR created a ''haven for hackers'' who conduct Internet scams.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/09/dot_name Dot-Name Becomes Cybercrime Haven]</ref>  

On the other hand, ICANN domain registrar liaison [[Karen Lentz]] explained that ICANN's contract with GNR allowed the Whois database be kept behind a paid firewall in compliance with the British government's privacy law. Lentz further explained, "There is certain data that is minimal data that is free, and there is tiered access to more detailed information. One level involves paying a fee to get you access to more data for a limited period of time". <ref>[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/09/dot_name Dot-Name Becomes Cybercrime Haven]</ref>

On the other hand, ICANN domain registrar liaison [[Karen Lentz]] explained that ICANN's contract with GNR allowed the Whois database be kept behind a paid firewall in compliance with the British government's privacy law. Lentz further explained, "There is certain data, that is minimal data, that is free, and there is tiered access to more detailed information. One level involves paying a fee to get you access to more data for a limited period of time".<ref>[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/09/dot_name Dot-Name Becomes Cybercrime Haven]</ref>

==References==

==References==