Managing IP is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 8 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2023

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Domain name system transitions to private sector

icann.gif

ICANN, the body that regulates the domain name system, is no longer under US government oversight as of October 1

The contract between ICANN and the US Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration to perform the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions expired at midnight on Friday.

A last-minute challenge filed by four US attorneys general was rejected by a judge in Texas on Friday afternoon.

The transition means that ICANN is now a non-profit organisation overseen by multiple stakeholders, including internet users, businesses, registries and governments. 

The transition to the so-called multi-stakeholder model had been supported by ICANN itself, the US government and stakeholders, but had been repeatedly challenged by some US politicians. 

They alleged that the transition involved giving away US property (the root file of internet addresses) without lawmakers' consent.

The rejection of the final challenge means the internet and domain name system, including rights protection mechanisms, will continue to operate as normal, said Jeff Neuman, senior vice president of Com Laude USA.

If the transition had not gone ahead, it would have led to "a loss of trust", he told Managing IP: "If that trust crumbles, then the rights protection mechanisms and everything considered sacred would crumble with it."

In a statement, ICANN said the transition validates the multi-stakeholder model and enhances its accountability.



more from across site and ros bottom lb

More from across our site

The Supreme Court, which is hearing two IP cases this week, should limit the power of US courts to rule on foreign sales
Safety standards wouldn’t lose copyright protection when named in law, so long as they were accessible for free online
In-house tech sources say Amgen v Sanofi has the potential to stifle their prosecution and litigation strategies if SCOTUS’s decision is too broad
We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis coverage from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP
The Federal Circuit said tech firms can challenge the way the USPTO implemented Fintiv, but that won’t mean much for practitioners, say counsel
The England and Wales High Court handed down one of the most hotly anticipated FRAND rulings for some time
Funders discuss different IP portfolio funding options and how they decide whether to offer preferential terms and pricing
The issue of the Unified Patent Court’s third central division needs resolving before IP owners can fully embrace Europe’s new era
Foreign firms and lawyers, including IP practitioners, can now practise in India after years of talk and no action
Most Indian counsel won’t immediately look beyond the Delhi High Court for IP cases, but new forums could potentially change their minds