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The SRS Model for the .nz ccTLD Registry 26/06/01

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the SRS model, for .nz providers and potential registrars who are less familiar with the SRS concept. This paper will be supplemented by various consultation documents throughout the SRS implementation.

Comments or queries should be sent to rose.percival@isocnz.org.nz.

The Internet Society of New Zealand is committed to establishing a Shared Registry System for the registration and management of .nz domain names. The SRS Implementation Oversight Committee will oversee this project.

This paper is based on the Woodenman model paper prepared by the SRS Working Group. The decisions taken by ISOCNZ on the SRS, arising out of the SRS Working Group's report, are attached as Appendix I.

Overview

"Domain names are the familiar and easy-to-remember names" for internet computers . That map to unique Internet Protocol numbers that serve as routing addresses on the Internet." The shared registry system establishes a single database for registering (and modifying) domain names and the associated technical and administrative information, where the registration and modification of information on that database can be effected only by authorised registrars.

Registrations of new names and modifications occur in real time, with regular and frequent updates of the relevant technical data to .nz name servers that in turn feed the international root server system. This facilitates the transmission of information across the internet internationally.

Overarching Guiding Principles for the SRS Establishment

  • To establish a competitive but stable environment, in which registrant's rights are safeguarded; and
  • To ensure that the register, as a monopoly provider, is operated in a responsible (technical, legal and fiscal) manner [1].

The Registrant

The registrant, or name holder, is the ultimate customer of the SRS but will not interface directly with it. The registrant hold the rights to use a .nz domain name through being the current registered "owner" of the name.

The registrant has three key rights:

1. Unimpeded use of their domain name at a fair price. No action by a registrar or the registry should prevent or unnecessarily delay the full use of a domain name on the Internet.

2. Free choice of registrar. The registrant must be able to change registrar at any time, and this should not impact their use of the name in question. A dispute with their current registrar should not stop a registrant from being able to change registrars. Registrant- registrar disputes are to be dealt with outside the SRS and pursuant to the terms of the contract between the parties.

3. The ability to confirm information held in the register about their domain name.

Registrars

Any organisation that manages domain names in the .nz register as part of its business is a registrar. Domain name registration and maintenance is likely to be only one of a range of services able to be provided to a registrant by a registrar. In an SRS environment, registrars are competitive.

A registrar will only be able to access the .nz register once they have signed a contract with the ccTLD manager. Being a registrar will carry significant obligations and will require a level of technical expertise and competence to interface with the register. The entry criteria for becoming a registrar have yet to be specified but they should not be set at a level that prevents small, technically competent organisations from becoming authorised registrars.

The interests of registrars will be represented at a standing committee established by the ccTLD manager, comprising representatives of the registrar community, registry, registrants and the ccTLD manager.

As a transition measure in the SRS establishment, a standalone registrar business will be formed from Domainz and will remain as such until there are at least x other authorised registrars operational (suggest 4), and these registrars manage 50% or more of the total number of registered domain names at that time. The current email template interface will be maintained by this registrar while it is owned by ISOCNZ. The registrar business will then be offered for sale.

Registrar Obligations

The SRS model places substantial trust in registrars to observe best practice and honour the wishes of registrants. Registrants must have the ability to freely choose their registrar and to easily move the designated authority for a name from one registrar to another. A registrar will be required to provide on demand the contents of the registrant authentication field to their existing client registrant, provided the registrant has provided adequate documentation to authenticate their identity.

The general pattern of registrant behaviour under the DRS is for registrants to ask the new registrar to transfer them. It is proposed that there will be some form of registrant authentication field that will facilitate the transfer process and will enable a registrant to approach a new registrar, who with the details of the registrant authentication field, will be able to pull/transfer the registrant from another registrar to themselves. Maximum times will be established with the registrars to effect a change of registrar instruction from a registrant.

The obligations on registrars will be set out in the contract with the ccTLD Manager. This contract will have to signed by both parties before a registrar is granted access to test their interface with the register.

Register Management

A registry will be responsible for maintenance of the .nz register (including transfer to the zone files), an audit trail of changes to the register, and the provision of basic public information. The authoritative data about a domain name is that which is held in the register.

The register will hold the following information about each domain name registered in .nz.

  • Domain name
  • Designated registrar
  • Registrant name
  • Registrant contact detailsRegistrant name
  • Name servers
  • Administrative contact information
  • Technical contact informationDesignated registrar's name and url
  • Registrant authentication field.

All this information associated with a domain name will be managed by the registrar with designated authority for thate domain name. Each registrar will require secure authentication with the registry, and will be billed by the registry for their use of the register. Registrars will be able to:

  • Register a new name.
  • Update existing information for names for which the registrar has designated authority.
  • Search for and retrieve all names for which the registrar has designated authority.
  • Perform a general search of the database on any of a defined set of fields above.
  • Pull a registrant from another registrar, (possibly using the registrant authentication field or equivalent to validate the transfer).
  • Send an "is it available" request to the register.
  • Such other information searching as can be agreed between the registrars and is technically and fiscally feasible.

There will be no business relationship (or billing) between the registry and the individual registrants. The public will be able to access a "whois" service to establish whether a name is available and/or who is the current registrant, and to access static pages containing information on domain name registrations, a list of current registrars etc.

Office of the ccTLD manager

The ccTLD manager is responsible for the correct and efficient operation of the domain name registration process within .nz, and to ensure equality, transparency and flexibility. The ccTLD manager will develop and maintain policies for domain names, manage contracts with the registrars and the registry, and may facilitate a dispute resolution process to an extent to be determined.

The contractual relationships that will underpin the operation of the proposed ccTLD structure in the SRS environment will need to accommodate and recognise that registrants are protected by, but are not a party to, the key contractual relationship between the ccTLD manager and a registrar. Managing the contractual relationships with the registrars and the registry is the key role for the ccTLD manager. The contracts will:

  • Be simple: written in plain English so that all parties can easily understand their rights and obligations;
  • Be flexible: flexible enough to cope with the rapid development of the Internet and associated business models;
  • Provide best practice protection: sufficiently robust to protect the rights of the participants in the SRS in a manner which reflects or exceeds international best practice;
  • Be consensual: put in place through a transparent, non-discriminatory and consultative process to ensure general acceptance and speed of implementation.
  • Make specific reference to the privity of contract rights of third parties.

The Office of the ccTLD manager will also be responsible for servicing the Registry-Registrar Standing Committee that will be a forum for discussing issues that affect registrars and the management of the .nz TLD.

Moderated Domains

The following second level domains are moderated - .govt; .iwi; .cri and .mil. The name must be approved by the moderator before it is entered in the register. Under the SRS, moderating organisations for second level domains with .nz will be responsible for ensuring that moderation is done as part of the registration process, but outside the register's processes. This can be achieved either by the moderating organisation establishing their own registrar or by some registrars choosing to offer a "moderation enhanced" process as a value added service. The costs of moderation are to be borne by the moderating organisation and/or the organisation/individual seeking to use the moderated domain.

Public Information

The following information held in the register will be publicly available, through a search using the "whois" functionality:

  • Domain name
  • Registrant name and contact information
  • Registrant name
  • Name servers
  • Administrative contact information
  • Technical contact information
  • Designated registrar's name and url (additional to RFC 1591)

This information is consistent with the requirements of RFC 1591, and should remain consistent with any changes to this protocol.

The registry will also have general information available on their static pages, either directly available, or as a link to the office of the ccTLD manager (e.g. current list of registrars, .nz domain name policies).

ccTLD Manager - Registry

The contract with the registry will be specific about the service levels being provided by the registry to registrars (and the public). This will include, at a minimum, the following:

  • best practice operation of the register on a 24 x7x 7 x 365 basis;
  • technical liaison through a standing committee comprising registry, registrar and ccTLD manager representation;
  • recognition of benefit to registrars and registrants therefore giving them privity of contract and enforcement rights alongside those of the ccTLD manager;
  • right of review by ccTLD manager including a right to tender register operation and termination provisions;
  • mechanism for implementation of changed policy and force majeure provisions to cater for changes in international and .nz DNS structure and policy;
  • obligation to abide by dispute resolution outcomes;
  • obligation to run a separate audit log showing all changes to the register available as of right to any affected participant (subject to security/privacy and possible cost recovery);
  • acknowledgement that the registry is prohibited from engaging in any direct communication or relationship with registrants (other than arising out of any dispute resolution or enforcement action taken against or involving it). The only exception to this would be in an exceptional circumstance where approved by the ccTLD manager.

ccTLD Manager - Registrar

The contract with registrars will include:

  • minimum contractual requirements;
  • ongoing charges;
  • obligations to registrants including in particular the obligations
    (1) to provide a simple and efficient mechanism to enable a registrant to transfer any or all of their domain names from one registrar to another, and
    (2) to provide the registrant's authentication information on demand; technical liaison through a standing committee comprising registry, registrar and ccTLD manager representation;
  • recognition of benefit to registry and registrants therefore giving them privity of contract and enforcement rights alongside those of the ccTLD manager;
  • obligation to provide to a registrant prior to entering into relationship with it, a standard form plain English contract (in a form approved by the ccTLD manager) to be accepted by the registrant (and a copy retained by the registrar).
  • acknowledgement that registry is not liable for any breach of third party intellectual property rights and indemnity by the registrar in respect of any such liability;
  • escalating penalty and termination provisions for defaults;
  • mechanism for implementation of changed policy and force majeure provisions to cater for changes in international and .nz DNS structure and policy;
  • obligation to abide by dispute resolution outcomes.

Registrar - Registrant

Each registrar will have its own plain English standard form contract approved in advance by the ccTLD manager (with any changes also requiring prior approval). It will include such things as:

  • The minimum obligations of the registrar referred to above;
  • Acknowledgement that in respect of obtaining a domain name and any subsequent operations involving that name (up until a transfer is effected), the registrar is acting as the agent of the registrant (and therefore has fiduciary obligations to the registrant, including, in particular, the duty not to act in conflict with the interests of the registrant for personal gain);
  • Obligations of registrant to indemnify all participants in SRS in respect if any infringement by the registrant of a third party's intellectual property rights;
  • Mechanism for implementation of changed policy and force majeure provisions to cater for changes in international and .nz DNS structure and policy;
  • Recognition of benefit to registry and ccTLD manager therefore giving them privity of contract and enforcement rights alongside those of the registrars and registrants;
  • Obligation of registrant and registrar to abide by dispute resolution outcomes including, in particular, acknowledgement that this may involve a direction to the registrar to transfer any or all infringing domain names;
  • Other terms particular to the service that the registrar chooses to provide, which shall be up to the registrar/registrant provided they do not adversely impact on the standard minimum obligations of the registrar and registrant.

Disputes

A separate working group has been established by ISOCNZ to develop further policy/practice around dispute resolution. ISOCNZ Council is scheduled to take a decision on this on 2 November 2001.

Charging

The charges for using the register will cover both the costs of the registry and of the ccTLD manager. There will beAt some point in the SRS, there will be transparency of these costs through some mechanism although this may be subject to some commercial confidentiality if the registry function is outsourced. The registry will both invoice the registrar and collect the fees charged. There is no capacity for the registry to directly invoice the registrant. The fees charged by a registrar are a business issue for each registrar, who may or may not bundle the fee for the domain name registration/usage (and service) up amongst a number of other fees/services.

The charging regime for the register has yet to be determined. Registrars will be charged an application fee when they apply to the ccTLD manager to become a registrar.

In terms of registry fees, there will be a fixed monthly charge representing not less than the cost of maintaining a registrar's official recognition including billing, technical support etc. This represents the cost of being a registrar, regardless of the number of names registered. Registrars requiring additional technical support will also be charged for this

The other charge to registrars is likely to be either an annual fee/domain name, able to be purchase multiple periods up to a maximum of x years (suggest 10), or a monthly fee based on the number of domain names associated with a registrar and possibly a fee based on the number of transactions on the register over that month. There will be consultation over the charging policy for the register.

Separate charges will be made for items such as initial accreditation, additional technical support etc.

A separate paper will be issued on the charging options.

SRS Transition

The transition to the SRS may be in two stages. The first will be the replacement of the current DRS software. The register software will be purchased/designed and built on the basis that it can be used for the SRS (and yes, we know you've heard this before). During this first phase, the priority will be to install/implement/stabilise the new register and Domainz will continue to operate as both the registry and registrar. Domainz will enable access to the new register through the email template interface used by existing .nz providers. This phase should be used by .nz providers (and others) as preparation for the SRS implementation. That is, assessing the legal, technical and fiscal requirements of becoming an authorised registrar.

The second phase will be the implementation of the SRS. At this point, the new registry will take over the management of the register and a standalone registrar will be formed from Domainz. This registrar will remain owned by ISOCNZ until there are at least x other authorised registrars operational (suggest 4), and these registrars manage 50% or more of the total number of registered domain names at that time. The registrar business will then be offered for sale.

The current email template interface will be maintained by while the registrar business formed out of Domainz is owned by ISOCNZ.

In working towards the SRS, a working group of potential registrars (representing a range of businesses and size of business) will be formed as a sounding board for implementation issues. In addition, there will be a series of consultative documents issued for comment and a mailing list for these documents will be established. These will be supplemented by "face to face" meeting opportunities as required.

Last updated: 26 June 2001

Appendix I

Decisions Taken by ISOCNZ on the SRS

The registry is to focus on registrars as its customers

A standing committee is to be established to maintain communication between the registry and registrars

A registrant authentication field is to be included in the register, which is to be made available to a registrant on demand by the designated registrar.

The following information will be held on the register:

  • Domain name
  • Registrant name
  • Name servers
  • Administrative contact information
  • Technical contact information
  • Designated registrar's name and url
  • Registrant authentication field.

All this information should be public except for the registrant authentication field.

The registry will provide a basic "whois" service and a web-based information service.

Contracts will establish the formal relationships between the following parties:

  • The ccTLD manager and the registry
  • The ccTLD manager and the registrars
  • The registry and registrars (for operational issues)
  • The registrars and registrants.

These contracts will :

  • Be simple and in plain English
  • Be flexible (to deal with internet developments and changing business models)
  • Provide basic practice protection
  • Refer specifically to the rights of registrants.

The registry will maintain an audit of all transactions against the register so that the state of the register can be reproduced at any point in time, as well as recording the transactions.This will enable any person involved in a dispute to obtain a certified copy of the relevant audit records from the registry. A copy of these records will be sent to the Office of the ccTLD manager at the same time.

An Office of the ccTLD Manager will be established whose prime roles are envisaged to be:

  • Developing, promulgating and administering policy
  • Negotiating and managing contracts
  • Administering the resolution of disputes

The registry charges will cover the costs of the registry and the ccTLD manager, with the costs of running both entities being transparent.

ISOCNZ is to adopt a best practice policy.

Moderating organisations for second level domains with .nz will be responsible for ensuring that moderation is done as part of the registration process.

[ 1 ] This includes constraining the monopoly to the smallest possible portion.

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