Hearing on Norwegian domain names for private individuals

(Trondheim, 5 March 2010): Currently there is a public hearing opening on how individuals can register Norwegian domain names in the future. Everybody can speak their mind on these issues. The hearing is open for input until the 17th of May.

The major issue is whether private individuals should continue to register domain names in the priv.no category or be allowed to register directly within .no. In addition there is a need to decide whether individuals should document rights to the name they apply for, whether there should be a limit on the number of domains per person, and how the transition to the new rules should be carried out.

Affects all Internet users

This change will affect all Internet users, and especially those interested in their own domain name. A domain name opens for many possibilities, like keeping the same email address for life-time regardless of employer and Internet provider.

- We hope that people will seize the opportunity to give input to this change of rules for allocation of Norwegian domain names, UNINETT Norid's Managing Director Hilde M. Thunem says.

The consultation document and information on how to submit your answer are available from http://www.norid.no/person/dittdomene.en.html. Deadline for submissions is 17 May 2010.

Contact persons:
Managing Director Hilde M. Thunem, hilde.thunem@uninett.no, phone +47 414 49 885
Senior Advisor Elisabeth Farstad, elisabeth.farstad@uninett.no, phone +47 971 29 423

More about private domain names

About Norid:

Norid is the .no registry, which means that all domains directly within .no must be registered with Norid. In addition to processing applications and developing the domain name policy, Norid is responsible for the technical operation of the name service, allowing the Norwegian Internet to be globally accessible at all times. According to its role as a neutral actor, Norid also handles other national tasks which have a natural relation to the core activities.

The registry follows a principle of only handling essential core tasks inhouse, while other tasks are outsourced to companies who offer registrar services in agreement with Norid. The activites are strongly internationally orientated with a wide range of contacts in technical as well as domain administrative environments in other countries.

Norid is also responsible for the top level domains .bv (Bouvet Island) and .sj (Svalbard and Jan Mayen). The current domain name policy do not, however, allow registration within these domains.

The service is regulated by the Domain Name Regulations and is supervised by the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority. Norid is not a public administrative agency, and the allocation of domain names is based on private law rules. The company is run non-profit. Norid is part of UNINETT and is located in Trondheim with the rest of the Group.