DNS Usage enquiry from Frank March

from Frank March,
Implementation Manager,
New Zealand Internet Institute

to The Internet Society of New Zealand

19 May 1997.

Jim Higgins
Chairperson
Internet Society of New Zealand Inc

Dear Jim:

The New Zealand Internet Institute has been established as a research and resource centre for topics such as government policy, regulation and legislation; educational technologies and distance learning; Internet-based commerce; information access and library services; and the social impacts of global networking. There is common ground between ISOCNZ and the Institute, given your objective of promoting education and the conduct of research related to the Internet and I would hope that there is ample ground for building a useful long-term working relationship.

The DNS database provides a valuable information resource about holders of domain name holders in the .nz domain and I am seeking your agreement to the collection and holding of information by the Institute drawn from the DNS. Just who, if anyone, can claim "ownership" of this information is not clear but if it were to be claimed by anyone, ISOCNZ would be the best candidate. I am taking this step partly to establish the basis of a relationship between the Institute and ISOCNZ but also to ensure that, should any future dispute arise, there would be a clear precedent as to the rights of use for both parties. We should note, of course, that access to the DNS is open, it cannot be otherwise, so that there is no question of exclusivity here.

In addition to producing summary information of general interest, which would be published on the Institute's Web site and through newsletters and similar publications, the Institute would use the database to select sample populations for in-depth surveys which would have commercial value. This value would arise not from the database itself but from the additional information gained from statistically validated surveys.

Finally, I would note that it would be useful for both institutions to recognise each others Web pages. ISOCNZ may wish to point to a useful source of free and authoritative information about the .nz domain space. The NZII would reciprocate by pointing to ISOCNZ site which holds information about the DNS administration and other policy matters.

Best regards

Frank March
Implementation Manager
New Zealand Internet Institute

© 1997 The Internet Society of New Zealand