InterNIC
|
|
InterNIC or Internet Network Information Center was the Internet governing body primarily responsible for domain name and IP address allocations until September 18, 1998 when this role was assummed by the ICANN body. It was accessed through the website internic.net which was run by Network Solutions, Inc.
Term
Though the term "InterNIC" is commonly used to describe Network Solutions' distribution of domain names, "InterNIC" is actually a generic concept for an integrated network information center developed by several companies, including Network Solutions, in conjunction with the United States Government. InterNIC is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Domain name censorship
Under internic.net, domain names were distributed through an automated system. Beginning in 1996, Network Solutions began restricting the distribution of domain names containing a number of words on a "restricted list" through an automated filter. The filter is known to have rejected domain names containing the "least agreeable words in the English language", including "shit", "piss", "fuck", "cunt", and "cocksucker". Applicants whose domain names were rejected would receive a form e-mail containing the notice: "Network Solutions has a right founded in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to refuse to register, and thereby publish, on the Internet registry of domain names words that it deems to be inappropriate."
This filter came under heavy scrutiny, as legitimate domain names such as "shitakemushrooms.com" would be rejected, but the domain name "shit.com" was active, as it had been registered before 1996. Network Solutions eventually allowed domain names containing the words on a case-by-case basis, after manually reviewing the names for "obscene intent". This profanity filter was never enforced by the government and was not carried over to the ICANN organization when they took over governance of the distribution of domain names to the public.
External link
- InterNIC (http://www.internic.net/)
- Food domain name found "obscene" (http://news.com.com/2100-1023-210566.html?legacy=cnet) a CNET article on flaws with internic.net's profanity filter (April 27, 1998)
- Internet Domain Names and Intellectual Property Rights (http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju63594.000/hju63594_0.HTM#55) - a transcript of a hearing in front of the Subcommitte on Courts and Intellectual Property in the House of Representatives which deals with internic.net's filtration of obscenity (July 28, 1999)de:InterNIC