The Sri Lanka Domain Registry - LKNIC The LK Domain Gihan V. Dias LK Domain Registrar APRICOT 2004 – Kuala Lumpur

.LKThe Sri Lanka Domain Registry - LKNIC

The LK DomainThe LK Domain

Gihan V. Dias

LK Domain RegistrarAPRICOT 2004 – Kuala Lumpur


HistoryHistory

Started in 1990

Housed at the Dept of Computer Science & Eng., University of Moratuwa since then

Policy and finance handled by Council for Information Technology (CINTEC) from 1995-2003


Current StatusCurrent Status

LK Domain Registry set up as a non-profit organisation

Board has representatives of– ICT Agency– Telecom Regulatory Commission– ISP Association– Internet Society– and nominated experts


Status (cont)Status (cont)

LK Domain Registry responsible for policy and finance

Operations carried out at CSE Dept. University of Moratuwa


The Structure of the LK The Structure of the LK domaindomain Registrations at two levels

Under the Top-Level Domain (TLD)– at 2nd level– e.g.: myco.lk

Under 2nd-Level Domains (2LD)– at 3rd level– e.g.: myco.com.lk


Registrations under Top-Registrations under Top-Level DomainLevel Domain Carried out for past 12 years

– no major changes

Handled directly by LKNIC– Agents may register on behalf of clients

No distinctions based on– Type of organisation– Location


Registrations under TLD Registrations under TLD (cont.)(cont.) Suitable for corporate organisations

– registration fee is higher

Suitable for protecting trademarks, etc.– registration under .lk also blocks

registration in open 2LDs under .lk (unless name is already registered in a 2LD)

– will not block under closed 2LDs

Each name must be approved by lknic


Criteria for ApprovalCriteria for Approval

Names in the following categories will generally be registered with no delay– Tradenames (registered or unregistered)

used in Sri Lanka– Company name or a reasonable

abbreviation thereof– A name which is adequately explained

by the rationale in the application


Disallowed names Disallowed names under .lkunder .lk The name Sri Lanka, or any abbrev.

Words not allowed in a company name

“Generic” names– e.g. doctor.lk (except by appropiate body)

Names of provinces and towns

Names which may mislead the public


Disallowed names (cont.)Disallowed names (cont.)

Obscene or offensive names

Single-letter names

Names reserved by LKNIC for future expansion


PanelPanel

All other names will be referred to the LKNIC panel who will generally give a decision within 7 working days


Name Registration PolicyName Registration Policy

Names are assigned on a first-come first served basis

Applicant’s responsibility to avoid trademark conflicts

If the name is similar to a name used by another organisation the applicant may be required to make a declaration that it is entitled to use the name


Domain Registration Domain Registration procedureprocedure Two steps

– reservation– registration

Anyone may reserve a name,

A presence in Sri Lanka is required to register the name– Unique policy?


Name ReservationName Reservation

A signed letter from the name “owner”– contact person– contact info

Payment of Rs. 5000– for 1 year– renewable at the current rate


Registration MethodsRegistration Methods

By e-mail– form available at http://www.nic.lk

On the Web– http://www.nic.lk

May be submitted by agent


2nd2nd -Level Domains-Level Domains

Some 2nd level domains are open and others are closed.

Open registrations under 2nd-level are easier and cheaper than directly under .lk


Closed 2nd-Level domainsClosed 2nd-Level domains

Closed 2nd levels are handled directly by lknic as well as through agents

Each closed 2LD has its own registration criteria

Only organisations meeting the criteria can register in that 2LD

Each registration must be approved by lknic


Closed 2nd-Level DomainsClosed 2nd-Level Domains

.gov.lk - Govt. organisations

.net.lk - licenced service providers

.sch.lk - registered schools

open for recommendations for new closed 2LDs


Open 2nd-Level DomainsOpen 2nd-Level Domains

Open to anyone

Registration only through agents

3LD available only if corresponding 2LD is not registered

LKNIC makes suggestions on suitable types of organisation for each 2nd-level– not checked or enforced– relaxed policy on acceptable names


Open 2LDs (cont.)Open 2LDs (cont.)

.com.lk - commercial organisations

.org.lk - non-commercial organisations

.web.lk - web sites (general)

edu.lk - educational institutes

shop.lk - shops

group.lk - groups of companies

etc.


Registration AgentsRegistration Agents

Registrations in open 2LDs via agents– may do direct registrations too in

initial period

Agents may be ISP or Web Designers / Hosters

Agents interface with customer


Registration ProcedureRegistration Procedure

LKNIC provides web-based interface

SSL secured

Each agent has a passworded account

Registrations usually in one working day– Regs. provisional for 7 working days– may (very rarely) be cancelled in this time


Contact InfoContact Info

E-mail:

[email protected]

Web:

www.nic.lk

Documents

The Sri Lanka Domain Registry - LKNIC The LK Domain Gihan V. Dias LK Domain Registrar APRICOT 2004 – Kuala Lumpur