RFC 2352 (rfc2352) - Page 2 of 8


A Convention For Using Legal Names as Domain Names



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



RFC 2352   A Convention For Using Legal Names as Domain Names   May 1998


Table of Contents

   1.   Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

   2.   Overview of the domain space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

   3.   Possible solutions to name exhaustion  . . . . . . . . . . . 4

   4.   Proposed solution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
   4.1   The world is not flat so why should domains be? . . . . . . 4
   4.2   The case for legal names  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
   4.3   Allocation of legal sub-domains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
   4.4   Allocation of miscellaneous sub-domains . . . . . . . . . . 6
   4.5   Identifiers in non-ASCII languages  . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
   4.6   Non-textual identifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
   5.   Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

   6.   References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

   7.   Authors' Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

   8.   Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1.  Introduction

   The purpose of this memo is to focus discussion on the particular
   problems with the exhaustion of the top level domain space in the
   Internet and the possible conflicts that can occur when multiple
   organisations are vying for the same name. The proposed solutions in
   this document are intended as a framework for development, such that
   a general consensus will emerge as to the appropriate solution to the
   problems in each case, leading eventually to the adoption of
   standards.

2.  Overview of the domain space

   Presently the domain space is organised as a heirarchical tree-
   structured namespace with several top level domains (TLDs), and sub-
   domains beneath them. The initial TLDs allocated and rationale are
   documented in RFC 920 [1].

   The TLDs are functionally split up into 'generic' top-level domains
   (gTLDs) and two-letter ISO 3166 country domains for every country in
   which Internet connectivity is provided. The allocation of sub-
   domains under these TLDs is entirely up to the registry for that TLD.
   The registry may decide to allocate further levels of structure or
   merely allocate domains in a 'flat' manner.




Vaughan                      Informational