Powers in relation to UK-related domain name registries
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The consultation asked respondents 17 open questions. For each of these questions, every response was reviewed, and while not every point that was made by each respondent can be reflected, responses were assessed to identify common themes.
The majority of responses to the consultation agreed with the proposed list of misuses and unfair uses. Our proposed approach therefore remains broadly the same as detailed in the consultation document, with some minor clarifications as a result of useful feedback.
We considered a number of additional proposed misuses. These included domains created or used for the sale of illicit or counterfeit pharmaceuticals or domains created to make available content or goods that infringe intellectual property rights. Our assessment, which has been set out in more detail in the response document, is that our regulations would not be the most effective mechanism for addressing these. There are a number of existing policies and regulations in place which we have pointed to in our response. We acknowledge the concerns raised through this consultation and DSIT will keep under review the effectiveness of the policy and the regulatory landscape.
Detail of feedback received
We received 39 responses, from a range of organisations, including:
- registries and registrars
- trade and business associations
- charities and not for profit organisations
- consultancies and commercial owners of domain names
- devolved administrations and members of the public
Original consultation
Consultation description
DSIT will be commencing sections 19-21 of the Digital Economy Act 2010 (DEA 2010), which set out the Secretary of State’s powers of intervention in relation to internet domain name registries in the event when they fail to address serious, relevant abuses of their domain names, posing significant risk to the UK electronic communications networks and its users.
As part of this work, we are developing regulations which will set out the policies that the registries in scope of the powers should adhere to, to avoid the threshold being met that could trigger the potential exercise of the powers. The Regulations will include a list of misuses and unfair uses of domain names that registries in scope must take action to mitigate and deal with, and also cover the registry’s arrangements for dealing with complaints in connection with the domain names in scope.
This consultation will provide any interested parties with the opportunity to share their views on the draft list of misuses and unfair uses of domain names in scope that relevant registries will be required to continue having appropriate policies and procedures in place to address.
We are also seeking views on proposed principles which will underpin a dispute resolution procedure the registries will be required to have in place.
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Documents
Updates to this page
Published 20 July 2023Last updated 22 February 2024 + show all updates
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Government response to consultation published.
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Correction, summary of responses published on 21 November 2023, ahead of Government policy response being published.
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Government response to this consultation published.
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First published.