Goldstein Report

Tag: Norid

  • .IS, .NO and .UK Announce How They’ll Comply With the EU’s GDPR

    The GDPR is coming and a number of ccTLD registries are giving registrars heart palpitations. It’s a month till the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation comes into play and the Icelandic, Norwegian, Slovakian and United Kingdom ccTLD operators are only just announcing how they’ll deal with it.

    For Iceland’s .is they will stop publishing names, addresses and telephone numbers of personal contacts by default from the ISNIC WHOIS database. For individuals who wish to continue to publish their information, they must log in, go to “My Settings” and select “Name and Address Published”.

    ISNIC will however, at least for the time being, continue to publish email addresses, country and techincal information of all NIC-handles associated with .is domains. Those customers (individuals) who have recorded a personally identifiable email address, and do not want it published, will need to change their .is WHOIS email address to something impersonal. However the Icelandic country code top level domain isn’t happy with the new regulation. They note the GDPR “will neither lead to better privacy nor a safer network environment.”

    For the sake of the internet community, e.g. Individual users, Service Providers, Hosting Companies, and many other stake holders, ISNIC will continue to publish email addresses and the country name of all contact types until further notice.

    For NORID, the registry for Norway’s .no, they have made a few changes to their policies that come into effect on 5 May. NORID state they will “only collect data that we need, and that the domain holder shall be informed about which data is being processed by Norid. Starting on 5 May, we will collect less data about the holder than what we currently do.” Following consultation with the with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, NORID will launch a new version of WHOIS on 22 May.

    And Nominet, the .uk registry, has announced their changes. Following a consultation period that outlined their proposed changes that were published for comment between 1 March and 4 April, Nominet have announced that:

    • Registrant data will be redacted from the WHOIS from 22 May 2018, unless explicit consent has been given.
    • Law enforcement agencies will nonetheless be able to access all registry data via an enhanced Searchable WHOIS service available free of charge.
    • Other interested parties requiring unpublished information will be able to request access to this data via our data disclosure policy, operating to a 1 working day turnaround.
    • The registration policy for all .UK domains will be standardised – replacing the separate arrangements currently in operation for second and third-level domains.
    • The .UK Registrar Agreement will be updated, renamed the .UK Registry-Registrar Agreement, and will include a new data processing annex.
    • The existing Privacy Services framework will cease to apply.

    “We have taken a conservative approach to publishing data, to ensure that we do not fall foul of the new legislation,” said Nominet COO Ellie Bradley. “While, as a result, we will be publishing less data on the WHOIS – we have comprehensive procedures already in place that ensure that we will continue to respond swiftly to requests for information to pursue legitimate interests.”

    The proposals also outlined an approach to replacing the existing privacy services framework with recognition of a Proxy Service offered by registrars. In response to the feedback, Nominet has decoupled this proposal from the bulk of the GDPR-related changes and will consult further on this topic in June 2018.

  • EURid Wins Registry of the Year at 2017 CENTR Awards

    Eurid, the .eu registry operator, has won Registry of the Year at the 2017 CENTR Awards held in Brussels. This was the first year Registry of the Year has been awarded and was voted on by registrars with 105 participating in the survey with CENTR saying there was a tight race for the winner.

    In a statement EURid said:
    “It’s not only an honour and privilege to have won the award itself, but a testament to our incredible registrar community, who made it possible to win the award in the first place. We greatly appreciate their dedication and support towards our TLDs and initiatives.

    “Additionally, this achievement couldn’t have been met without our wonderful community, utilizing both the .eu and .ею extensions, who make up Europe’s diverse online sphere.”

    CENTR_awards_winners_2017

    During the ceremony, the finalists in each of the five categories presented short videos of their projects or people that were nominated. The evening was a great opportunity to showcase inspiring projects and teams that truly make a difference in the online world and to demonstrate the great spirit of collaboration that gives life to the CENTR community.

    This year’s CENTR Awards winners are:

    • Marketing Campaign Excellence Category: .CA Product Marketing team for its brand awareness and lead generation campaign (CIRA)
    • Safe and Sound DNS Category: Barbara Povše (Registry.si) & Bert Ten Brinke (SIDN) for the project “Security for Registry.si”
    • Greater Online Good Category: DENIC's source code donation to the Mozilla foundation to support IDNA 2008 in Firefox and Thunderbird
    • Above and Beyond Innovation Category: UK Domain Categorisation (Nominet data team)
    • Contributor of the Year Category: Annebeth Lange (Norid)
    • Registry of the Year Category: EURid (.eu)

    CENTR is the association of European country code top-level domain name registries. CENTR’s main purpose is to provide its members with a forum for exchange of information.

    Your correspondent was a Jury member for the 2017 CENTR Awards.

  • 30 years of Norwegian domain names – seminar 18 October

    30 years of Norwegian domain names – seminar 18 October

    Last March we passed an important milestone: 30 years of norisdNorid UNINETT logoNorwegian domain names under the country code .no. Since 1987 .no has been an essential part of the Norwegian internet infrastructure. Wednesday 18 October we will have the pleasure of inviting to an open seminar in Oslo to discuss the past and the future of internet. In addition to the invited speakers we will present a special art performance.

    We expect an exciting day where we will take a look in the back mirror as well as in the crystal bowl. We will highlight topics such as AI, use of big data, the digital traces we leave behind us, and how the “chilling effect” affects us. Our intention is to bring new insight and inspiration by focusing on different issues raised by the technological development: Where are we, and where are we going?

    Norid dotNO logoThe following contributors are already confirmed:

    • Physicist and information scientist PÃ¥l Spilling, Norwegian internet pioneer and the first in Norway to receive the responsibility for the Norwegian top-level domain
    • Milos Novović, Ph.D. student at Institute of Private Law at University of Oslo and a researcher at Stanford-Vienna Transatlantic Technology Law Forum Programme
    • Joakim Hammerlin, philosopher and nonfiction writer, lecturer at the Nansen School
    • Ika Kaminka, chair of the Norwegian organization for translators, will give an informal lecture on how the internet has affected the language
    • Tore Tennøe, chair of the Norwegian Council for Technology, will be the chair of the seminar and moderate a panel debate at the end of the day
    • Amund Sjølie Sveen, percussionist and artist known for developing performances touching both art and technology, will launch his new performance on internet (see www.amundsveen.no)

    The seminar will take place at Thon Hotel Bristol in Oslo starting 9 am and ending 3:30 pm. The seminar is free of charge, lunch included. Final programme and more details to be published in mid September together with information on how to register. Limited number of participants.

    The seminar will be mostly in Norwegian, except from a couple of contributions which will be in English.

    This NORID announcement was sourced from:
    https://www.norid.no/en/30-ar-med-norske-domenenavn-seminar-18-oktober/

  • ccTLD Updates: .NO Reaches 700,000, .KE Cuts Fees and New .FI Registry/Registrar Model

    ccTLD Updates: .NO Reaches 700,000, .KE Cuts Fees and New .FI Registry/Registrar Model

    Norid UNINETT logoThe Norwegian ccTLD, .no, reached the 700,000 registrations milestone in late June with individuals adding significantly to the number of registrations since they were allowed to register domains in the ccTLD in June 2014.

    But today the total number of registrations has dipped backed below the milestone and number 6999,876 of which 408,793 are DNSSEC secured.

    Since June 2014 the number of .no domain names registered by individuals has reached 50,000.

    Kenya Network Information Centre Kenic logoThe Kenya Network Information Centre (Kenic) has reduced the price charged to registrars for .ke domains to Sh650 ($6.40) per domain from Sh1,000 ($9.85); with a recommended retail selling price set at Sh1,000, according to a report in the Kenyan Business Daily.

    There are also “plans to make it compulsory for new companies seeking registration to have a website as part of efforts to get at least half of local enterprises” to use the Kenyan ccTLD.

    Kenic “also plans to make it possible to register for the domain name at any Huduma Centre countrywide.” Huduma Centres provide Kenyans access to various Public Services and information from One Stop Shop citizen service centres.

    Ficora is transitioning to a new registry-registrar model and as part of the plans to implement the change .fi will undergo maintenance operations between 16:15 on 2 September and 10:00 on 5 September.

    FICORA dot FI logoThe current domain name system and all related user IDs will cease to exist on Friday, 2 September at 16.15. This means that domain names cannot be modified between Friday, 2 September 2016 at 16.15 and Monday, 5 September 2016 at 10.00. Which also means it will not be possible to renew or change registrant information during this period. The new system which will only be for registrars will open at 10:00 on 5 September.

    Other changes that will occur as a result of the new system will be that the registration of certain domain names currently banned by law will become available. Domain names that will become available include:

    • generic or country code top level domains
    • abbreviations of enterprise, foundation or association forms
    • expressions that are insulting or incite into criminal activity.

    These restrictions are abandoned in the Information Society Code and the banned domain names will be released for registration on Wednesday, 7 September 2016 at 10.00. The release takes place on Wednesday in order to provide registrars a chance to check their account balance and deposit enough money to their account for the registrations.

    Other changes for registrars include:

    • Those who have registered as registrars in the new system act as account administrators and can create new user IDs for other users within their organisation.
    • Users log in to the system by entering a user ID, password and one-time password that is sent via text message to the number provided by the user.
    • Domain name registration fees are charged to the deposit account which registrars may top up through their online bank, either via credit card or bank transfer. Users may set a balance alert which means that the system sends a message when the account balance falls below a chosen limit.
    • It is easy to keep a domain name holder’s details up to date since contact details are automatically updated to all of the holder’s domain names.
    • it is possible to set domain names to automatically renew once a year.
  • Norid and SIDN End .BV Plans After Norwegian Government Intervention

    Norid and SIDN End .BV Plans After Norwegian Government Intervention

    Norid UNINETT logoPlans by the Dutch ccTLD registry, SIDN, to sell .bv domain names in the Netherlands, have ended after the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications advised that the required dispensation would not be granted.

    The .bv (Bouvet Island) ccTLD has been unused since its creation in 1997. Norid has carefully considered possible ways to develop and use this resource, but the conclusion has been that there are no sustainable ways to utilise .bv for Norwegian users directly. However, the fact that the Bouvet Island is uninhabited, and that .bv thus has no local Internet community, grants the freedom to look into new and innovative ways to develop the ccTLD.

    SIDN_logo_smallBV is short for “Besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid” and in the Netherlands and Belgium is the most common form of a limited liability company, or in English ‘Ltd’ or ‘Inc’.

    The idea was for the .bv domain to operate as a platform for sharing validated business data. Enterprises and consumers would be able to visit the platform before buying from or doing business with an unfamiliar company.

    “SIDN runs one of the world’s largest top-level domains. They are highly recognized internationally for their professional operations. A collaboration would have given the opportunity for valuable exchange of that knowledge and experience”, commented Norid’s General Manager, Hilde Thunem. The idea of a platform for validated business data will now be developed within the .nl domain instead. “Successful implementation of .bv would have had added value for the internet community, both in the Netherlands and in Norway,” said Roelof Meijer, SIDN’s CEO. “Our intention is to press ahead with the concept devised for .bv, but it will now be marketed under the .nl banner.”

    From Norid’s point of view they were disappointed saying in a statement:
    “We comply with the decision made by the ministry, and have withdrawn the application for dispensation,” said Norid’s General Manager, Hilde Thunem.

    “From Norid’s perspective, we regret that we don’t get the opportunity to use this domain resource. SIDN runs one of the world’s largest top-level domains, and they are highly recognised internationally for their professional operations. A collaboration would have given the opportunity for valuable exchange of knowledge and experience that would have benefitted the Norwegian community.”

  • Norid Survey Finds Customer Satisfaction For .NO Registrars And Registrants Higher

    Norid Survey Finds Customer Satisfaction For .NO Registrars And Registrants Higher

    Norid dotNO logoNorid has found its registrars and registrants are more satisfied with its services offered than in the previous one in 2011.

    The survey was conducted by Sentio in November 2014 and its findings published by the .no registry are below.

    Registrars

    Satisfied with the services

    The registrars are satisfied with the services delivered by Norid. Since 2011 we have removed paper based routines in the domain registration process. Nine out of ten registrars state that they are satisfied with the application processing times, against eight out of ten in 2011.

    The quality of the DNS service and the quality of the registry system also received good results.

    There has been a positive development in regard to how we solve our tasks. There is now 88 percent that are satisfied with the way we solve our tasks, against 72 percent in 2008.

    Information viewed as good

    The registrars view the information from Norid as good. More than nine out of ten think that they receive the information they need to guide and inform their customers.

    Through the years the registrars have become more and more satisfied with the information from Norid, something that we regard as very positive.

    Contact- and information channels

    Norid’s webpages, the password protected part of the registrar web and the customer service are considered to be the most important contact- and information channels.

    The webpages are considered to be the most important channel. Six out of ten registrars are satisfied with this channel, against barely half of the registrars in 2011.

    The registrars considers all the services on the registrar web as useful. The most useful are considered to be information about domains in their account and lists of domains that are in danger of removal.

    Norid on Facebook and the registrar seminars are considered to be less important, but the registrars still state that they are satisfied with the seminars.

    Only 4 percent are satisfied with Norid on Facebook, and 81 percent have no opinion about this.

    Satisfaction with the customer service has increased some since 2008, especially when it comes to contact by phone. 61 percent are satisfied the email communication they have experienced with the customer service, only 2 percent are dissatisfied. The corresponding numbers for phone calls are 47 percent and 4 percent.

    Good knowledge about DNSSEC

    Eight out of ten registrars states that they have knowledge about DNSSEC, and more than one in four will offer DNSSEC when possible. Six out of ten does not know whether they will offer DNSSEC. (DNSSEC was launched on 9 December 2014.)

    Domain Holders

    Processes are easy to understand

    Most holders know what a registrar is, and find it easy to find a registrar. They also think that it is easy to find information about how to register a domain name.

    Positive impression of Norid

    Almost eight out ten holders have heard of Norid. When asked about what impression they have of Norid, two out of three say that they have no particular impression. The ones that have formed an impression are mainly postive.

    The .no address is considered to be most important

    More than half of the holders have registered domain names under other top level domains besides .no, the majority under .com. When asked which domain they consider to be most important, 85 percent answer that they consider the .no address to be most important.

    The holders mostly agree that .no is the most known domain in the Norwegian marked. They consider .no as technically stable, and agree with the statement that internet addresses under .no goes to the page that is expected. The opinions are more diveded when it comes to whether .no is the safest domain for online shopping and whether .no is best suited internationally. Most holders think it is important with a domain that signal a connection to Norway. Very few thinks that the toplevel domain is not at all important for how they perceive a web page.

    Web pages are easy to use

    More than half of the holders have visited Norid’s web pages, and the majority thinks it is easy to find what they are looking for and to understand the information. The number of satisfied holders has increased from 68 percent in 2011 to 71 percent in 2014.

    Still good scores for the customer service

    Two out of three holders that have been in contact with the customer service are satisfied. This is about the same result as in 2011. The majority is satisfied with the service. Contact by email has received better scores than contact by phone. 62 percent are satisfied and 5 percent are dissatisfied with communication by email, while the corresponding numbers for phone calls are 33 percent and 10 percent.

  • Norwegian Individuals More Likely To Get Their Own Domain Under .NO

    Norwegian Individuals More Likely To Get Their Own Domain Under .NO

    Norid dotNO logoNorwegian individuals are more likely to register a .no domain name now they can register one directly under .no rather than under .priv.no, as was the case prior to 17 June.
    This was the most significant finding in a report that included results from a survey conducted for the .no registry, Norid.
    The survey found one in five consider it more likely to register a Norwegian domain name for private use when they have the possibility to register directly under .no.
    The report added actual registration statistics following the change and when the survey was conducted. Trough July and August 2014 an average of more than 60 private domain names were registered every weekday, a level that has been stable during the entire period. This is vast beyond the corresponding numbers for registrations under priv.no during the period until .no was opened for individuals.
    For more information, see the news release below:
    Private individuals more likely to get themselves a domain name [news release]
    This survey measures certain aspects of how private individuals in Norway use the Internet, and their views and attitudes towards domain names in particular. The survey also measures whether Norwegians are more likely to register a domain names for private use after .no was opened for private individuals in June 2014.

    The survey was carried out by Sentio in June/July 2014 by means of a web panel of 1,000 persons. Some of the questions have been asked before, last time in 2012.

    Prefer Norwegian when searching

    When asked how they search for information on the Internet, half usually pick a link with Norwegian text from the resulting list, and almost half say that they tend to choose a link with a Norwegian domain name. The respondents are divided on whether the top-level domain has any bearing on their choice. 29 per cent agree that the top-level domain has a significance for their choice, 28 per cent disagree, while 26 per cent has no opinion any way. There are no significant changes since 2012 in the way people search for information on the Internet.

    Awareness of domain name usage

    Eight in ten know that a domain name can be used for websites, while four in ten know that domains can be used for email. 15 per cent do not know what a domain name can be used for. Men show more knowledge on this issue than women.

    This question has been asked before. However, the question was earlier asked unprompted, while the respondents this time could see the relevant answers. Due to this we cannot conclude whether the knowledge on what domain names can be used for has actually changed.

    Seven in ten know that both private individuals with a Norwegian identity number as well as enterprises with a Norwegian address can register a domain name under .no.

    More people register private domain names

    One in five has registered one or more private domain names under a top-level domain. Half of these has registered under .no and half under .com, which is about the same result as in 2012. Among those who had not registered a domain name, four per cent plan to get one.

    On 17 June 2014 .no was opened for private domain name registrations. One in five consider it more likely to register a Norwegian domain name for private use when they have the possibility to register directly under .no.

    We consider it relevant to add the actual numbers of private registrations to the findings from this survey. Through July and August 2014 an average of more than 60 private domain names were registered every weekday, a level that has been stable during the entire period. This is vast beyond the corresponding numbers for registrations under priv.no during the period until .no was opened for individuals, see statistics for private domain names.

    .no considered reliable and safe

    Many are in favour of the statement that .no is the most well-known domain in the Norwegian market, and consider it to be likely that an Internet address under .no leads to the enterprise that owns the name. Analyses show that people consider .no to be a safer domain for online shopping than .com. Both .no and .com are consideres technically stable. The .com top-level domain is more likely to be considered suitable for enterprises working internationally.

    With regard to reputation for .no and .com, the 2014 findings are about the same as those in 2012. However, this year some fewer think that .no is suitable for international business, while some more consider .com suitable in the international market.

    Awareness campaign for private domain names

    An awareness campaign – erdetledig.no – was carried out in connection with the launch of .no for private individuals in June 2014. Seven per cent of the respondents have noticed the campaign. A majority has been exposed from an online newspaper (65 per cent), 26 per cent has noticed the campaign on Facebook.

    This Norid news release was sourced from:
    www.norid.no/statistikk/su/omdomme-2014.en.html

  • .NO Opening To All Norwegians On 17 June

    .NO Opening To All Norwegians On 17 June

    Norid dotNO logoAs of 17 June, individuals will be able to apply for their very own second level .no domain name.

    To start, applications from individuals will be accepted from 10:00 local time on the day. Everyone should have an equal opportunity when the allocations begin. This means that during a transitional period, where there is more than one application there will be a draw, that seems to be akin to a lottery. The draw will close at 16:00 on 18 June. After the draw, applications are processed on a first come, first served basis.

    “A Norwegian domain name is stable and among the most secure in the world. We are very pleased to extend this service to private individuals,” says Hege Ossletten, Acting Managing Director of Norid.

    There will not be any priorities on private domain names. This means that anyone can apply for any name. The person registering a name must, however, ensure that the name isn’t in violation of Norwegian law or a third party’s rights.

    More information, in Norwegian, is available at www.erdetledig.no

  • Norwegian Domains For All Norwegians

    Norwegian Domains For All Norwegians

    Norid UNINETT logoAll Norwegians will have the opportunity to register .no domain names as a result of rule changes following a public consultation, the .no registry, Norid, has announced. Currently only businesses and other organisations are able to register .no domain names, but from 17 June, Norwegian individuals will also be able to.

    For more information, see the Norid news release below or on the Norid website here.

    Norwegian domain names for everyone

    The results from the public consultation are now ready. The majority supports the proposal to make .no available to private individuals. This means that starting on 17 June 2014, everyone in Norway can register their own domain name directly within .no

    Until now, domain names directly within .no have been reserved for businesses and other organizations, while private individuals have been restricted to the category domain priv.no.

    A clear majority supports the opening

    Attitudes regarding the opening of .no for private individuals have varied, but in late 2013, Norpol (the policy advisory board for .no) recommended that .no should be available to everyone in Norway.

    The recommendation was presented in a public consultation during the winter of 2014. Almost 500 individuals and organizations gave their input, and a clear majority supported Norpol’s view.

    The category domain priv.no will continue.

    This is me on the Internet

    A domain name can be used to create one’s own identity on the Internet, something that is useful to individuals as well as businesses. It can be used to set up a website or a blog, not to mention an email address. Within your own domain, you can create as many email addresses as you want, for example one for each member of your family. An email address tied to your own domain name is one you can keep your entire life, regardless of whether you change employers or Internet providers.

    .no is a good choice

    The Norwegian top-level domain is a good choice. It maintains a high quality and good security, and it signals a connection to Norway.

    — A Norwegian domain name is stable and among the most secure in the world. We are very pleased to extend this service to private individuals, says Hege Ossletten, Acting Managing Director of Norid.

    Initiating with a draw

    Everyone should have an equal opportunity when the allocations begin. This means that during a transitional period, we will collect applications and draw lots in the cases where more than one person applies for the same domain name.

    The first applications from private individuals can be entered on Tuesday 17 June 2014 at 10 AM local time. Until then you can figure out good domain names and check which ones are available.

    No priority

    There will not be any priorities on private domain names. This means that anyone can apply for any name. The person registering a name must, however, ensure that the name isn’t in violation of Norwegian law or a third party’s rights.

  • Norid Consults On .NO For Individuals

    Norid Consults On .NO For Individuals

    Norid UNINETT logoThe Norwegian registry, Norid, has opened a consultation as to whether individuals should be entitled to register .no domain names in addition to priv.no.

    “There are different opinions about this issue, and we hope that many people will participate in the discussion and give their input to the proposal,” said Hilde M. Thunem, Managing Director of UNINETT Norid AS.

    The consultation paper and information on how to submit a response is available from kari-og-ola.norid.no/ (in Norwegian only). Submissions close on 11 March 2014.