Internet domain name applicants have been authorized to add their
organization title before the ".cn" suffix without having to
specify their organizations' categories beginning this spring.
The new rules, contained in the newly updated regulation on domain
names, will take effect on March 17, 2003.
China Daily will be allowed to change its website address from
www.chinadaily.com.cn to www.chinadaily.cn.
Internet official forecast the number of domain names registered
with the ".cn" suffix is expected to boom as the Ministry of
Information Technology eases regulations on domain name
registration.
The ministry made public its new regulation yesterday with the aim
to spur China's Internet development and protect its information
security.
Qian Hualin with the China Internet Network Information Center
(CNNIC) said the regulation is aimed to provide easier and quicker
access to domain name applicants.
According to the new regulation, domain name use charges will be
decided by market, instead of information authorities.
Currently, every ".cn" user is charged 300 yuan (US$36) each
year.
"In general, the fee will come down," Qian said.
China made public its first regulation on domain names in 1997.
"Now the situation has changed a lot and the policy will also be
adjusted," Qian added.
Domain name registration has increased steadily in China.
Statistics indicate that since the registration process is much
easier in foreign countries, about 80 to 90 percent of China's
users have registered their domain names with the ".com" or ".net"
suffixes used abroad.
Domain names with the ".cn" suffix have grown from 4,066 in 1997 to
around 126,146 by the end of June.
CNNIC Director Mao Wei estimated that about 700,000 domain names in
China have registered with the ".com" or ".net" suffix.
"This is not beneficial to the future of China's information
security," Mao said.
Since domain names are becoming as important an asset as trademarks
and brand names, more awareness should be raised, Mao added.
Mao said the new regulation has ensured a complete mechanism for
domain name management and supervision.
The Ministry of Information Technology is the highest authority
supervising the sector.
(China Daily December 13, 2002)