The LK Domain

1
The LK Domain

• Gihan V. Dias
• LK Domain Registrar
• APRICOT 2004 Kuala Lumpur

2
History

• 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

3
Current 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

4
Status (cont)

• LK Domain Registry responsible for policy and
  finance
• Operations carried out at CSE Dept. University of
  Moratuwa

5
The Structure of the LK domain

• 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

6
Registrations under Top-Level 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

7
Registrations under TLD (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

8
Criteria 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

9
Disallowed names under .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

10
Disallowed names (cont.)

• Obscene or offensive names
• Single-letter names
• Names reserved by LKNIC for future expansion

11
Panel

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

12
Name Registration Policy

• Names are assigned on a first-come first served
  basis
• Applicants 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

13
Domain Registration procedure

• Two steps
• reservation
• registration
• Anyone may reserve a name,
• A presence in Sri Lanka is required to register
  the name
• Unique policy?

14
Name Reservation

• A signed letter from the name owner
• contact person
• contact info
• Payment of Rs. 5000
• for 1 year
• renewable at the current rate

15
Registration Methods

• By e-mail
• form available at http//www.nic.lk
• On the Web
• http//www.nic.lk
• May be submitted by agent

16
2nd -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

17
Closed 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

18
Closed 2nd-Level Domains

• .gov.lk - Govt. organisations
• .net.lk - licenced service providers
• .sch.lk - registered schools
• open for recommendations for new closed 2LDs

19
Open 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

20
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.

21
Registration 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

22
Registration 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

23
Contact Info

• E-mail
• hostmaster_at_nic.lk
• Web
• www.nic.lk