Registry/zh
注册局是包含注册在一个特定顶级域下的所有域名的数据库。注册局运营者,也称为网络信息中心(NIC),指的是负责提供注册局服务的人或实体。这些服务包括管理客户数据库、发表区域文件、运作域名系统(DNS)和域名系统安全扩展(DNSSEC)、制定营销方案和政策。注册局可以将这些服务中的全部或部分外包,或不外包这些服务中的任何一种。不同的 顶级域由不同的注册局管理。
- 查看我们的注册局公司名册。
注册局和注册商[edit | edit source]
纵向分离[edit | edit source]
国家科学基金会与网络解决方案公司(Network Solutions)(NSI)签署了一份作为注册局运营者和注册商从1993年-1999年管理顶级域.com、.net 和.org的合作协议。该注册局协议在1999年11月被互联网名称与数字地址分配机构(ICANN)更新。新协议中规定,NSI同意创建一个多元化的注册商系统,也称为共享注册系统(SRS),独立注册商拥有使用该系统的权力。独立注册商需要为每个注册或续费的域名向NSI支付6美元的费用。[1]
此外,ICANN还鼓励注册局和注册商业务分离,在协议中规定如果NSI出售其注册商业务,则其与ICANN的注册局协议只能续约四年,以此鼓励竞争。.[2] 2000年,威瑞信收购了NSI,并且与ICANN重新商定了关于顶级域 .com、.net和 .org的注册局协议。ICANN不要求所有权分离,但是却要求执行结构性分离。ICANN为此解释道: "在当今市场环境下,禁止注册局运营者同时成为一个注册商的附加竞争价值是微乎其微的,只要它没有排斥其他注册商的竞争。" [3] [4]
2000年,ICANN引入了新的通用类顶级域名,包括 .biz、.info、.name 和 .pro。2001年2月26日,ICANN草拟了一份新的注册局协议,规定了注册局和注册商的法定分离关系,详见第3.5节公平对待ICANN委任注册商(Fair Treatment of ICANN-Accredited Registrars),其中规定注册局运营者不得充当注册局顶级域的注册商的角色。[5]
2005年,ICANN根据赞助类顶级域 .jobs和.travel注册局协议执行了注册局和注册商的所有权分离。在注册局协议第7.1节的条款b和c中做出了以下规定:[6]
- (b)注册局运营者不得作为自己的注册商。注册局运营者不得充当自己顶级域注册商的角色。此规定不应妨碍注册局运营者通过向一个由ICANN委任的注册商请求注册其自身顶级域中的域名。
- (c)注册商所有权取得或控股权益的限制条件。注册局运营者不应直接或间接完全控制或取得任何ICANN委任注册商百分之十五以上的所有者权益。
At present, these provisions are included in the registry agreements for all sponsored and unsponsored TLDs.
ICANN's Changing Position on Vertical Separation for New gTLDs[edit | edit source]
Some believe that vertical separation is one of the most important methods used by ICANN to maintain its commitment to promote competition, which is one of the founding principles of the organization. On March 12, 2002, the ICANN Board passed a resolution stating the organization's strong position for the implementation of "strict separation" of registries and registrars for new gTLDs. The ICANN Board also stated that co-ownership will be prohibited. However, the ICANN Board also indicated, "if a policy becomes available from the GNSO, and approved by the Board prior to the launch of the new gTLD program, that policy will be considered by the Board for adoption as part of the New gTLD Program."[7]
During a Special Meeting on Novemer 5, 2010, the ICANN Board changed its position regarding the vertical separation of registries and registrars. The Board removed the restriction on cross ownership on the Registry Agreements and replaced it with "requirements and restrictions on any inappropriate or abusive conduct arising out of registry-registrar cross ownership..." These abusive conducts are not limited to misuse of data and violations of a registry code of conduct. In addition, ICANN also stated that it will include additional enforcement mechanisms such as self-auditing requirements, contractual termination and punitive damages. Moreover, it also emphasized that "it will have the ability to refer issues to relevant competition authorities."[8]
ICANN's Reasons for Policy Change on Vertical Separation[edit | edit source]
The ICANN Board enumerated ten reasons to support its policy change on vertical separation:[9]
- None of the proposals submitted by the GNSO reflected a consensus opinion; as a result, the Board supported a model based on its own factual investigation, expert analysis, and concerns expressed by stakeholders and community.
- ICANN's position and mission must be focused on creating more competition as opposed to having rules that restrict competition and innovation.
- Rules permitting cross-ownership foster greater diversity in business models and enhance opportunities offered by new TLDs.
- Rules prohibiting cross-ownership require more enforcement and can easily be circumvented.
- Preventing cross-ownership would create more exposure to ICANN of lawsuits, including anti-trust lawsuits, which are costly to defend even if ICANN believes (as it does) that it has no proper exposure to such litigation.
- Rules permitting cross-ownership enhance efficiency and almost certainly will result in benefits to consumers in the form of lower prices and enhanced services.
- The Rules of Conduct, which is to be part of the base agreement for all new gTLDs include adequate protections designed to address behavior the Board wants to discourage, including abuses of data and market power...
- Case by case re-negotiation of existing contracts to reflect the new cross ownership rules will permit ICANN to address the risk of abuse of market power contractually.
- In the event ICANN has competition concerns, ICANN will have the ability to to refer those concerns to relevant antitrust authorities.
- ICANN can amend contracts to address harms that may arise as a direct or indirect result of the new cross-ownership rules.
EC Concerns Over the Full Removal of Vertical Separation[edit | edit source]
On June 17, 2011, the Information Society and Media Directorate General of the European Commission (EC) submitted a non-paper regarding ICANN's proposed full removal of the vertical separation to the ICANN Board. Copies were furnished to the U.S. NTIA Assistant Secretary Larry Strickling and to Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. The EC cited some issues and recommendations, which include:[10]
- Vertical separation provides a balanced playing field for competition between registrars. The absence of expert advice to remove vertical separation and stakeholders consensus shows that the move may be premature and might result in negative market output for consumers.
- Vertical Integration might harm competition. The European Commission cited the CRA International Report of 2008, which emphasized the risk of vertical integration wherein registries may discriminate independent registrars by lowering prices and providing better registry services to their affiliate registrars.
- ICANN does not have sufficient data to support the full removal of vertical separation.
- A consensus on the issue within the GNSO and internet stakeholders is lacking.
- The procedural approach of ICANN to refer an application to relevant antitrust authorities for "expert analysis and ante determination" overlooks the fact that competition authorities have limited powers in implementing rules, which is based on a case to case market analysis. ICANN did not clearly identify specific laws that will serve as basis of its jurisdiction to determine if there are concerns regarding competition. Referral to competition authorities depends on ICANN's discretion.
Thus, The EC encouraged ICANN to reconsider decision to implement the full removal of vertical separation of registries and registrars and to follow these suggestions:
- Conduct independent economic and legal expert studies regarding the present situation of the domain name market and evaluate the impact of the existing restrictions on vertical integration. The impact of partially or totally removing the restriction on innovation and to consumers.
- Provide new market data on the current degree of competition and cross-ownership at the registry and registrar level.
- Provide data and documents supporting ICANN's decision to fully remove vertical separation.
- Provide comments regarding the procedural concerns raised by EC.
Emergency Back-up Registry Operators (EBEROs)[edit | edit source]
In connection with the implementation of new gTLDs, ICANN designed a new program known as Emergency Back-up Registry Operators (EBEROs) to ensure the safety and security of the domain name system. EBEROs are to be activated in circumstances wherein a new registry operator needs help to maintain critical functions for a period or time or during transition from one registry operator to another. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued by ICANN to solicit applications from entities interested to serve as EBEROs on September 14, 2011.[11]
gTLD Registry Continuity Framework[edit | edit source]
ICANN partnered with expert gTLD & ccTLD registries as well as members of the technical community in developing a gTLD Registry Continuity Framework, which aims to protect existing registrants and to ensure confidence in the DNS. Core ICANN values served as guidelines in developing the framework, which aims to:[12]
- Maintain and develop the operational stability, reliability, security, and global interoperability of the Internet.
- Apply documented policies neutrally, objectively with integrity and fairness in decision making.
- Be responsive and speedy in taking actions to resolve the needs of the Internet community and obtain informed input from affected entities during the decision making process.
ICANN's Timeline for its Continuity Initiatives is available here
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Revisiting Vertical Separation of Registries and Registrars
- ↑ ICANN-NSI Registry Agreement
- ↑ Proposed Revision to ICANN-VeriSign Agreements
- ↑ Revised VeriSign Registry Agreements April 16, 2001
- ↑ Proposed Unsponsored TLD Agreement, 26 February
- ↑ SPONSORED TLD REGISTRY AGREEMENT-.Jobs Registry Agreement
- ↑ Adopted Board Resolutions|Nairobi, March 12, 2010
- ↑ Special Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors, ICANN's Silicon Valley Office, Palo Alto, California, USA
- ↑ ICANN Board-GAC Consultation:Registry-Registrar Separation, February 21, 2011
- ↑ Removal of Vertical Separation Between registries and Registrars for New and Existing gTLDs
- ↑ Safe and Secure New gTLDs: ICANN Seeks Back-up Registry Operators | (Emergency Back-End Registry Operators or "EBEROs")
- ↑ gTLD Registry Continuity