AfriNIC - The African Network Information Center
- AfriNIC is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and is a non-profit membership organization responsible for the administration and registration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the Africa region.
APNIC - The Asia Pacific Network Information Centre
- APNIC is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and is a non-profit membership organization responsible for the administration and registration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the Asia-Pacific region which includes Japan, Korea, China and Australia
ARIN - American Registry for Internet Numbers
- ARIN is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and is a non-profit membership organization established for the purpose of the administration and registration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in North America, parts of the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.
ccNSO - The Country-Code Names organization
- The ccNSO is in the process of being established, with the ccNSO Assistance Group preparing the recommendations that are currently under discussion. Upon completion, the purpose of the ccNSO is to engage and provide leadership in activities relevant to country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs). This will be achieved by:
1) Developing policy recommendations to the ICANN Board
2) Nurturing consensus across the ccNSO's community, including the name-related activities of ccTLDs
3) Coordinating with other ICANN SO's, Committees, or constituencies under ICANN.
The ccNSO selects one person to serve on the board.
ccTLD - Country Code Top Level Domains
- Two letter domains such as .uk (United Kingdom), .de(Germany) and .jp (Japan) as an example, are called country code top level domains (ccTLDs). They correspond to a country, territory or other geographic location. The rules and policies for registering domain names in the ccTLDs vary and ccTLD registries limit use of the ccTLDs to citizens of the corresponding country
Some ICANN-accredited registrars provide registration services in the ccTLDs in addition to registering names in .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .name. However, ICANN does not specifically accredit registrars to provide ccTLD registration services.
A complete databse of designated ccTLDs and managers can be found at IANA.org
Domain Name Resolvers - Domain Name Converter
- When a user requests a domain name it needs to be converted or “resolved” into the corresponding IP address (Internet Protocol. This process is handled by “resolvers” or “domain name resolvers” which are thousands of computers located throughout the internet.
- These computers routinely cache the information they receive from queries to the root servers and make the appropriate change. The DNS translates the domain name you type into the corresponding IP address, and connects you to your desired website. They change the Domain Name http://www.OrganicDomains.com/ to its unique IP Address..i.e., 000.000.234.
DNS - Domain Name System
- Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol").
- IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address.
- So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember. The DNS translates the domain name you type into the corresponding IP address, and connects you to your desired website.
GAC - Governmental Advisory Committee
- The GAC is an advisory committee comprising appointed representatives of national governments, multi-national governmental organizations and treaty organizations, and distinct economies. Its function is to advise the ICANN Board on matters of concern to governments.
- The GAC will operate as a forum for the discussion of government interests and concerns, including consumer interests. As an advisory committee, the GAC has no legal authority to act for ICANN, but will report its findings and recommendations to the ICANN Board.
gTLD - Generic Top Level Domain
- In the 1980s, seven gTLDs (.com, .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .net, and .org) were created. Domain names may be registered in three of these without restriction (.com, .net, .org) the other four have limited purposes (.edu, .gov, .int, .mil)
- Most TLDs (top level domains) with three or more characters are referred to as "generic" TLDs, or "gTLDs". They can be subdivided into two types, "sponsored" TLDs (sTLDs) and "unsponsored TLDs (uTLDs), as described in the description to follow.
- Over the next twelve years, there were varied discussions concerning additional gTLDs, leading to the selection in November 2000 of seven new TLDs. These were introduced in 2001 and 2002.
- The new TLDs (.biz, .info, .name, and .pro) are unsponsored.
The other new TLDs (.aero, .coop and .museum) are sponsored.
Unsponsored TLD
Generally speaking, an unsponsored TLD operates under policies established by the global Internet community directly through the ICANN process.
Sponsored TLD
A sponsored TLD is a specialized TLD that has a sponsor representing the narrower community that is most affected by the TLD. The Sponsor is responsible for developing policies on the delegated topics so that the TLD is operated for the benefit of a defined group of stakeholders, known as the Sponsored TLD Community, that are most directly interested in the operation of the TLD. The Sponsor must exercise its delegated authority according to fairness standards and in a manner that is representative of the Sponsored TLD community.
The Sponsor is also responsible for selecting the registry operator and to varying degrees for establishing the roles played by registrars and their relationship with the registry operator.
IANA - Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
- The IANA is the authority originally responsible for the oversight of IP address allocation, the coordination of the assignment of protocol parameters provided for in Internet technical standards, and the management of the DNS, including the delegation of top-level domains and oversight of the root name server system. Under ICANN, the IANA continues to distribute addresses to the Regional Internet Registries, coordinate with the IETF and others to assign protocol parameters, and oversee the operation of the DNS (Domain Name System).
ICANN - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an internationally organized, non-profit corporation that has responsibility for Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system management, and root server system management functions.
Originally, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and other entities performed these services under U.S. Government contract. ICANN now performs the IANA function.
As a private-public partnership, ICANN is dedicated to preserving the operational stability of the Internet; to promoting competition; to achieving broad representation of global Internet communities; and to developing policy appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes.
The DNS translates the domain name you type into the corresponding IP address, and connects you to your desired website. The DNS also enables email to function properly, so the email you send will reach the intended recipient.
IP - Internet Protocol
- The communications protocol underlying the Internet, IP allows large, geographically diverse networks of computers to communicate with each other quickly and economically over a variety of physical links. An Internet Protocol Address is the numerical address by which a location in the Internet is identified. Computers on the Internet use IP addresses to route traffic and establish connections among themselves; people generally use the human-friendly names made possible by the Domain Name System
ISOC - The Internet Society
- The Internet Society is the international organization for global cooperation and coordination for the Internet and its internetworking technologies and applications. ISOC membership is open to any interested person.
ISP - Internet Service Provider
- An ISP is a company, which provides access to the Internet to organizations and/or individuals. Access services provided by ISPs may include web hosting, email, VoIP (voice over IP), and support for many other applications.
LACNIC - Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry
- LACNIC is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Phishing - Use of Counterfeit websites for identity theft
- Phishing is the use of counterfeit websites for identity theft and financial account credentials.
Social engineering schemes use spoofed emails to lead consumers to counterfeit websites designed to trick recipients into divulging financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames, passwords and social security numbers. Pharming crimeware misdirects users to fraudulent sites or proxy servers, typically through DNS (Domain Name System) hijacking or poisoning.
PPC - Pay Per Click
- A service which allows you to park your domain name on their name server; develop an appropriate web page for the Domain Name and choose appropriate key words that are associated with the Domain Name. Advertisers pay to have computer users find their product via this system of identifying common interests. The owner of the Domain Name shares in the advertising monies from directing these clicks to the specific advertisers.
Redemption Grace Period - Ownership renewal
- Now, the "delete" of a domain name (whether inside or outside of any applicable grace period) will result in a 30-day Deleted Name Redemption Grace Period. This grace period will allow the domain name registrant, registrar, and/or registry time to detect and correct any mistaken deletions.
Registrar -Accredited Registrar Directory.
- Domain names ending with .aero, .biz, .com, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, .net, .org, and .pro can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars") that compete with one another. A listing of these companies appears in the Accredited Registrar Directory.
- The registrar you choose will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry."
This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter into a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained.
- The "Registry" is the authoritative, master database of all domain names registered in each Top Level Domain. The registry operator keeps the master database and also generates the "zone file" which allows computers to route Internet traffic to and from top-level domains anywhere in the world.
Internet users don't interact directly with the registry operator. Users can register names in TLDs including .biz, .com, .info, .net, .name, .org by using an ICANN-Accredited Registrar.
RIR - Regional Internet Registry
- There are currently five RIRs: AfriNIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and RIPE NCC. These non-profit organizations are responsible for distributing IP addresses on a regional level to Internet service providers and local registries.
- RIPE is an open and voluntary organization, which consists of European Internet service providers.
- RIPE NCC acts as the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Europe and surrounding areas, performs coordination activities for the organizations participating in RIPE, and allocates blocks of IP address space to its Local Internet Registries (LIRs), which then assign the addresses to end users.
Root Servers
- The root servers contain the IP addresses of all the TLD registries - both
· the GLOBAL registries such as .com, .org, etc. and
· the 244 COUNTRY-SPECIFIC registries such as .fr (France), .cn (China), etc.
In Domain Name Systems, the information must be unique and authentic. This is critical information. If the information is not 100% correct or if it is ambiguous, it might not be possible to locate a key registry on the Internet.
SSAC - Security and Stability Advisory Committee
- The President's standing committee on the security and stability of the Internet's naming and address allocation systems. Their charter includes a focus on risk analysis and auditing.
SSAC consists of approximately 20 technical experts from industry and academia as well as operators of Internet root servers, registrars, and TLD registries.
TLD - Top Level Domain
- TLDs are the names at the top of the DNS naming hierarchy. They appear in domain names as the string of letters following the last (rightmost) ".", such as "net" in "www.example.net".
The administrator for a TLD controls what second-level names are recognized in that TLD.
The administrators of the "root domain" or "root zone" control what TLDs are recognized by the DNS.
Commonly used TLDs include .com, .net, .edu, .jp, .de,etc.
UDRP - Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy
- All ICANN-accredited registrars follow a uniform dispute resolution policy. Under that policy, disputes over entitlement to a domain-name registration are ordinarily resolved by court litigation between the parties claiming rights to the registration. Once the courts rule who is entitled to the registration, the registrar will implement that ruling.
In disputes arising from registrations allegedly made abusively (such as "cybersquatting" and cyberpiracy"), the uniform policy provides an expedited administrative procedure to allow the dispute to be resolved without the cost and delays often encountered in court litigation. In these cases, you can invoke the administrative procedure by filing a complaint with one of the dispute-resolution service providers.
For more details on the UDRP, see the
ICANN UDRP page and their FAQ page .
W3C - World Wide Web Consortium
- The W3C is an international industry consortium founded in October 1994 to develop common protocols that promote the evolution of the World Wide Web and ensure its interoperability.
- Services provided by the Consortium include:
· a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users
· reference code implementations to embody and promote standards
· various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology
WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization
- WIPO is an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland responsible for the promotion of the protection of intellectual rights throughout the world. It is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organizations.
WHOIS - Domain Name public information
- Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site.
- It is however possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility.
For additional information please see OrganicDomains.com News Section.
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