.name

.name

Introduced	2001
TLD type	Generic top-level domain
Status	Active
Registry	VeriSign
Sponsor	None
Intended use	Personal sites of individuals
Actual use	Mostly used as intended, but has not grown as fast as .com/.biz/.info
Registration restrictions	No prior restriction on registration, but registrations can be challenged if not by or on behalf of individual with name similar to that of domain, or fictional character in which registrant has rights
Structure	Originally registrations had to be at third level, in form john.smith.name, but later direct second-level registrations were allowed
Documents	ICANN registry agreement
Dispute policies	UDRP, Disputes
Website	Verisign.com - .name Domain Name

name is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) in the Domain Name System of the Internet. It is intended for the use by individuals for representation of their real names, nicknames, screen names, pseudonyms, or other personal or fictional names. The top-level domain was delegated to Global Name Registry in 2001, although it did not become fully operational until January 2002. This top-level domain was delegated to VeriSign in February 2009.

Domains may be registered on the second level (john.name) and the third level (john.doe.name). It is also possible to register an e-mail address of the form john@doe.name. Such an e-mail address is a forwarding account, and requires another e-mail address as the recipient address.

When a domain is registered on the third level (john.doe.name), the second level (doe.name in this case) is shared, and may not be registered by any individual. Other second level domains like johndoe.name remain unaffected.

When the name TLD was first launched, only third-level registrations (and forwarded e-mail addresses) were available. In January 2004, second-level registrations became available. The original intended structure of domain names was first.last.name, so that an individual could get a domain corresponding to his or her actual name.

In November 2009, Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) became available for second and third level .name domains names. IDNs are domain names that are represented by local language characters. This new service expands the availability of .name domains beyond those based solely on the Latin alphabet.

As a personal, unique and memorable identifier, name addresses are increasingly being used as a natural address for Digital Identity applications.^{[citation needed]}

Despite being an official TLD it is not universally recognized by automated domain name syntax checkers and some web based forms will incorrectly reject email address in the @domain.name format.

The name whois service is available at the URL http://whois.nic.name. Domain name registrations are available from accredited ICANN registrars.

Fee-based Whois lookup controversy

In late September 2007, security researchers accused Global Name Registry of harboring hackers by charging money per Whois lookup,^[1] The policy of selling detailed registration info about name domains for US$2 each was criticized as hindering community efforts to locate and clean up malware-spreading machines, zombies, and botnet control servers located in the name. The registry, however, does offer free unlimited lookups for legitimate users through the free Extensive Whois access program.^[2]

See also

• Domain name

References

External links

• IANA .name whois information
• .name operator website
• .name Registry Agreement
• List of .name accredited registrars