SIDN have announced the outcomes of the 2008 Domain Name Debate including the recently introduced new rules for non-Dutch registrants on the use of a Dutch domicile address that was implemented back in October. Changes include a reduction in the amount of Whois data made available, ability to reserve a .NL domain name and dropping the requirement for a registrar to verify a registrantâs identity.
The 2008 Domain Name Debate was held by SIDN, the organisation responsible for the functional stability and development of the .NL ccTLD, in December 2008. The goal was to give the Dutch internet community the opportunity to express its views on a number of important policy issues such as those above, along with retaining the requirement that registrants living or based outside the Netherlands should provide a Dutch domicile address.
For the SIDN announcement on the outcomes of the debate, see below:
SIDN implements conclusions of 2008 Domain Name Debate
On 13 November 2008, SIDN organised the 2008 Domain Name Debate. The event provided the Dutch internet community with the opportunity to express its views on a number of important policy issues, including the availability of personal data from the Whois and the need for registrars to verify registrantsâ identities. One outcome of the debate â new rules for non-Dutch registrants on the use of a Dutch domicile address â was implemented back in October. SIDN will act on the other conclusions of the debate in the next few months.
Changes to the Whois
The Whois is an application on SIDNâs website, which can be used to look up information about .nl domain names. So, for example, one can check whether a particular domain name is still available for registration. It is also possible to get hold of the contact details of an existing domain nameâs registrant. If the registrant is a private individual, such information is personal data and therefore has to be handled sensitively. During the debate, the arguments in favour of making registration data generally available were weighed up against the need to protect personal data. The conclusion was that the amount of personal data available from the Whois should be reduced. On 12 January 2010, changes to the Whois will therefore be implemented, so that less is revealed about registrants. Further details of the planned changes and the background to them are available here.
Reservation of domain names
SIDN proposed making it possible to reserve .nl domain names for a fee. Reservation would entail registering a name, without it being delegated (i.e. added to the zone file) by SIDN. No registrantâs details would be shown in the Whois for a reserved name. This proposal will be partially implemented in DRS5 â a new version of the domain registration system that SIDN and its registrars use to register names. In DRS5, which is due to enter use on 17 February 2010, it will be possible to register a domain name with the status âInactiveâ; the name will then be reserved and not added to the zone file.
Changes to identification rules
At present, a .nl registrar is required to verify the identity of a prospective registrant before proceeding to register the relevant domain name. Although during the debate there was not unanimous support for dropping this requirement, SIDN has decided against its retention. The decision was motivated mainly by the wish to bring the .nl domain into line with the industry standard and ânormal practiceâ on the internet. Under the new arrangements, registrars will continue to have a duty to ensure the accuracy of registered data, both at the time of registration and thereafter. A registrar must never register data that are known or may be suspected to be incorrect. Furthermore, a registrar will have to be able to demonstrate that registered information is correct, if asked to do so by SIDN.
Changes to domicile address rules
Participants in the Domain Name Debate were in favour of retaining the requirement that registrants living or based outside the Netherlands should provide a Dutch domicile address. SIDN intends to be guided by the wishes of the debate participants. Early next year, a new version of the General Terms and Conditions for .nl Registrants will come into effect. Under the new T&Cs, a domicile address will still be required, but SIDNâs address will serve as the standard domicile address.
The above announcement from SIDN was sourced from:
www.sidn.nl/ace.php/c,728,6199,,,,SIDN_implements_conclusions_of_2008_Domain_Name_Debate.html
To register your .NL domain name, check out Europe Registry here.