Internet Governance &Internet Governance &Multilingual Domain Names Multilingual Domain Names

(MDNs)(MDNs)

Milton MuellerMilton MuellerSyracuse University School of Information Syracuse University School of Information StudiesStudiesInternet Governance ProjectInternet Governance Project

A complex mix of semantics, geopolitics and technology

Multilingual-ization of DNS Multilingual-ization of DNS is:is:

A global governance issue A global governance issue A standardization issueA standardization issue A revision of property rights issueA revision of property rights issue A market entry/trade barrier issueA market entry/trade barrier issue

StandardizationStandardization

MDN country codesMDN country codes– Fast or slow?Fast or slow?– Top-down, bottom up?Top-down, bottom up?– Codes or “names”Codes or “names”

Battles over translation of scripts into Battles over translation of scripts into Unicode Unicode

Control over “official” scriptsControl over “official” scripts Alternate DNS roots (competing Alternate DNS roots (competing

implementations) implementations)

Revising Property Revising Property boundariesboundaries

Exclusivity requires boundariesExclusivity requires boundaries Are domain names with the same Are domain names with the same

meaning in different scripts the same meaning in different scripts the same or different names?or different names?– Example: .com, .gongsiExample: .com, .gongsi

Transliteration, translation, Transliteration, translation, typographical similaritytypographical similarity

Market Entry / TradeMarket Entry / Trade

Fantastic opportunities for Fantastic opportunities for competitive entrycompetitive entry– Example: a Chinese .comExample: a Chinese .com

Role of ccTLDsRole of ccTLDs– Similar to national PTT monopolies in Similar to national PTT monopolies in

telecomtelecom– Special claims on TLDs in “their” script?Special claims on TLDs in “their” script?– Use of MDNs as trade barriersUse of MDNs as trade barriers

ICANN & Global GovernanceICANN & Global Governance

ICANN, IETF ICANN, IETF – Internet old guard: delay and resistanceInternet old guard: delay and resistance– Over-collectivized decision makingOver-collectivized decision making

Language communitiesLanguage communities ITU, national governments ITU, national governments Possibility of alternate rootsPossibility of alternate roots

– .cn’s Chinese-character equivalents .cn’s Chinese-character equivalents of .com and .net are de facto national of .com and .net are de facto national rootsroots

http://www.igp.orghttp://internetgovernance.org