Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » 2003-03-27 - Internationalized Domain Names

Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.

2003-03-27 - Internationalized Domain Names

Resolution of the ICANN Board
Topic: 
Internationalized Domain Names
Summary: 

Board adopts IDN Guidelines, authorizes IDN registrations on the basis of the guidelines, and encourages additional community participation in implementation issues.

Category: 
ccTLDs
gTLDs
Meeting Date: 
Thu, 27 Mar 2003
Resolution Number: 
03.47, 03.48, 03.49
URL for Resolution: 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/prelim-report-27mar03.htm
Status: 
Complete
Implementation Actions: 
  • Implement Guidelines in registries with ICANN agreements.
    • Responsible entity: President
    • Due date: None provided
    • Completion date: 20 June 2003
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, the Board has repeatedly recognized the importance of adding to the domain-name system Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) capabilities to enhance the accessibility of the domain-name system to all those using non-Roman alphabets;

Whereas, ICANN's agreements with the operators and sponsors of top-level domain registries provide that ICANN authorization is required to begin accepting registrations of domain names with hyphens in the third and fourth positions;

Whereas, a broad range of registries, experts, and other stakeholders in the ICANN community have been working hard for several years to develop registry-level registration policies and rules, in anticipation of the completion of standards-track IDN protocols by the IETF;

Whereas, a three-part protocol suite defining a standard for internationalized domain names in applications was published as RFCs 3490, 3491, and 3492;

Whereas, the participants in the Internationalized Domain Name Registry Implementation Committee (IDN-RIC) have been working together with ICANN staff to develop a commonly agreed statement of Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names, a draft of which was presented at the ICANN Public Forum on 26 March 2003;

Whereas, collaborative work on the draft Guidelines is continuing, with the affected registries under contract indicating their general agreement with the draft's approach, subject to further editing and communications with the Internet Architecture Board;

It is:

Resolved [03.47] that the ICANN Board endorses the IDN implementation approach set forth in the draft Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names, as they may be amended in further consultation with registry operators or evolve in view of new technical standards, for implementation of IDNs;

Resolved further [03.48] that the President is authorized to implement the Guidelines by authorizing registration of IDNs in registries with agreements with ICANN on the basis of those Guidelines; and

Resolved further [03.49] that the Board recommends the Guidelines to other registries, and encourages broad participation by registries, language experts, and others in consultative, collaborative, community-based processes to study and develop appropriate language-specific IDN registration rules and policies.

Other Related Resolutions: 
Additional Information: