.net (top-level domain)
From Freepedia
| .net | |
| Image:Verisign logo.gif | |
| Introduced | 1985 |
| TLD type | Generic top-level domain |
| Status | Active |
| Registry | Verisign |
| Sponsoring organization | None |
| Intended use | Network infrastructure |
| Actual use | ISPs; miscellaneous sites; used sometimes when desired name is not available in .com |
| Registration restrictions | None |
| Structure | Registrations at second level permitted |
| Documents | RFC 1591; ICANN registry agreement |
| Dispute policies | UDRP |
| Web site | Verisign COM NET Registry |
.net is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) used on the Internet's Domain Name System. The .net gTLD is currently operated by VeriSign.
.net was one of the original top-level domains (despite not being mentioned in RFC 920), created in January 1985. It was initially intended for use by network oriented entities such as Internet service providers. Currently, there are no formal restrictions on who can register a .net domain name. Therefore, while still popular with network operators, it is often treated as a second .com by many.
Incidentally, "net" is a romanisation of the Russian word нет ("no", also commonly romanised as the more acoustically appropriate "nyet"), and a domain name like "object.net" can be interpreted as "there is no object". Some domains exploit this pun, for example mozga.net (brain absent) or putina.net (there is no Vladimir Putin).
Operation of .net from 2005
VeriSign, the operator of .net after acquiring Network Solutions, had its operational contract expire on June 30, 2005. ICANN, the organisation responsible for domain management, sought proposals from organisations to operate it for at least six years beyond that date.
On 19 January, 2005, ICANN announced it had received 5 bids [1] from the following organisations:
On 28 March, 2005, ICANN subsequently announced[2] an independent evaluator (Telcordia) had determined Verisign was the best choice to continue operating the .net registry. There was much controversy regarding this decision, and all losing registries complained formally and publicly that the selection process was flawed, and unfairly favoured Verisign. Additionally, Telcordia was owned by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1997 until November 2004; SAIC also owned Versign from 1995 till 2003. Critics claim this is a conflict of interest.
External links
- IANA root-zone whois information for .net
- RFC 920 defined .com and the other original top-level domains but doesn't include .net.
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