Registry

A Registry is the database of all domain names registered under a certain TLD. A registry operator, also known asNIC or Network Information Center, refers to the person(s) or entity(ies) responsible in providing registry services. These services include customer database administration, zone file publication, DNS operation, marketing and policy determination. A Registry may outsource some, all, or none of these services. Different registries exist for each TLD.

See registry companies

ICANN's Primary Policies on Registry Services

ICANN has two primary requirements regarding the registry services:

1. First, registries of unsponsored top level domains TLDs can only charge registrars to register new domain names with the initial maximum price established by ICANN. For .com, .info, .biz, .org and .name, price cap for new domain name registration or renewals is $6.00. They are allowed to increase the price annually based on the set percentage; 7% for .com and 10% to other unsponsored TLDs. The price cap for .net is $3.50 and the authorized percentage increase per year is 10% while the initial maximum price for new registrations of third-level domain names .pro is $6.00 and $6.50 for second-level domain names. ICANN has no price restrictions for sponsored TLDs (sTLDs).
2. Second, registry operators are not allowed to own more than 15% of registrars within the TLD.

Registries & Registrars

Vertical Separation

The National Science Foundation signed a Cooperative Agreement with Network Solutions (NSI) as Registry Operator and Registrar for the .com, .net and .org TLDs form 1993-1999. The registry agreement was renewed by ICANN on November 1999. Under the new agreement, NSI agreed to create a multiple registrar system also known as the Shared Registration System (SRS), which allows independent registrar to access the system. Independent registrars will also pay NSI $6.00 for every registered or renewed domain names.

In addition, ICANN encouraged registry and registrar business separation to promote competition by stipulating in the agreement that NSI will only be allowed to renew its registry agreement with ICANN for 4 to 8 years if it will sell its registrar business. In 2000, Verisign purchased NSI and re-negotiated its registry agreement for the .com, .net and .org TLDs with ICANN. ICANN did not require ownership separation but implemented structural separation.ICANN explained, "there is little if any additional competitive value under today's market circumstances in forbidding the registry operator from also being a registrar, so long as it is done is such a way so as not to discriminate against other competitive registrars."

In 2000, ICANN introduced new generic top level domain names, which include .biz, .info, .name and .pro. On February 26, 2001, ICANN proposed a new registry agreement stipulating the legal separation between registry and registrar under section 3.5 Fair Treatment of ICANN-Accredited Registrars, wherein Registry Operators are not allowed to act as registrars with respect to the Registry TLD.

In 2005, ICANN implemented the registry-registrar separation of ownership in the registry agreement for .jobs and .travel sponsored TLDs. Under Section 7.1 clause b and c in the registry agreement states the following provisions: (b) Registry Operator Shall Not Act as Own Registrar. Registry Operator shall not act as a registrar with respect to the TLD. This shall not preclude Registry Operator from registering names within the TLD to itself through a request made to an ICANN-accredited registrar. (c) Restrictions on Acquisition of Ownership or Controlling Interest in Registrar. Registry Operator shall not acquire, directly or indirectly, control of, or a greater than fifteen percent ownership interest in, any ICANN-accredited registrar.

At present, these provisions are included in the registry agreements for all sponsored and unsponsored TLDs.

Top-Level Domain