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on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From ICANNWiki</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><table class="template-box"> </table><table class="template-table" cellpadding="2"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" class="template-title template-title-tld"><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="594cb7a6563ab5c889d951982d4f996e">gTLD</a> </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="tld-logo"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/File:Net_Logo.jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/images/8/8c/Net_Logo.jpeg" decoding="async" width="276" height="128" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="276" data-file-height="128"></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="tld-flair"> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Type</b>: </td> <td>1985 </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Status</b>: </td> <td>Active </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Country</b>: </td> <td><ul class="template-list template-list-country" style="margin:0; padding-left:1em;"><li style="list-style-type: 'u{1F30D} '; padding: 2px 0;">International</li></ul> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>Registry</b>: </td> <td><a href="/Verisign" title="Verisign">Verisign</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>.net</b> is a <a href="/GTLD" class="mw-redirect" title="GTLD">generic top-level domain</a> in the Internet <a href="/DNS" class="mw-redirect" title="DNS">Domain Name System</a> managed and operated by <a href="/Verisign" title="Verisign">Verisign</a>, a recognized leader in Internet security and performance structure.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At present, .net is the world's third most-registered <a href="/TLD" class="mw-redirect" title="TLD">top-level domain</a>, with Germany's <a href="/CcTLD" class="mw-redirect" title="CcTLD">ccTLD</a>, <a href="/.de" title=".de">.de</a>, in second place.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Verisign has been running <a href="/.com" title=".com">.com</a> and .net with 100% operational accuracy and stability for more than 15 years.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By the end of quarter 2 of 2012, Verisign had 240 million domain names over all of the <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="e800122d43583e63e1740a15d5fa5183">TLDs</a> it operates, with .com and .net holding 49% of the <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="c509b3bd238b50a1f6f9f3cfd6cc3d2b">TLD</a> market share, a drop of 2% from quarter 1.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&veaction=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section's source code: History"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>.net was originally intended for Internet-referential purposes, though there are no current restrictions limiting it to certain entities. It was introduced in 1985 by <a href="/IANA" title="IANA">IANA</a>, which is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DNS; the organization was led by <a href="/Jon_Postel" title="Jon Postel">Jon Postel</a> at the time. On January 28, 1986, the entities overseeing the DNS met and restructured its makeup to correspond to 8 <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="e800122d43583e63e1740a15d5fa5183">TLDs</a>, including .net, the others are: <a href="/.gov" title=".gov">.gov</a> (government), <a href="/.edu" title=".edu">.edu </a> (American higher education), <a href="/.mil" title=".mil">.mil</a> (American military), <a href="/.org" title=".org">.org</a> (organization), <a href="/.int" title=".int">.int</a> (international, specifically NATO relations), <a href="/.com" title=".com">.com</a> (commercial purposes), <a href="/index.php?title=.bitnet&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title=".bitnet (page does not exist)">.bitnet</a> (computers on the BITNET network).<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/ICANN" title="ICANN">ICANN</a> approved <a href="/Verisign" title="Verisign">Verisign</a>'s application to be the registry operator of the .net top-level domain name on May 25, 2001.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The .net agreement was most recently renewed in June, 2011, for another 6 years. It was a presumptive renewal given that Verisign only had to prove that it was meeting certain criteria to receive approval.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="U.S._Seizures_of_Domain_Names">U.S. Seizures of Domain Names</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&veaction=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: U.S. Seizures of Domain Names" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section's source code: U.S. Seizures of Domain Names"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>The U.S. government has stated that because .net's registry operator, Verisign, is based in the United States, it has the right to seize any .net domain names at any time. The government goes straight to the registry in cases where the domain name is foreign, as foreign registrars are not required to comply with U.S. law. By early 2012, the government had seized 750 domain names like this, most registered through foreign registrars. Usually, the domain names are redirected at the <a href="/DNS" class="mw-redirect" title="DNS">DNS</a> level to a U.S. government IP address that informs visitors that the site has been seized. Recently Bodog.com was targeted because federal law in the United States makes it illegal to offer online sports wagering and to payoff online bets, although online gambling isn’t illegal globally. The domain name was registered through a Canadian registrar, but the United States closed the site without any intervention from Canadian authorities or companies.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&veaction=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: References" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/index.php?title=.net&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section's source code: References"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div style="font-size:.9em;"><div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/products-and-services/domain-name-services/registry-services/net-domain-names/index.xhtml">VeriSign</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-2">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.verisigninc.com/assets/domain-name-report-feb-2011.pdf">The Domain Name Industry Brief</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://icannwiki.org/Domain_Statistics">DomainStatistics, ICANNWiki.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.denic.de/">DENIC.de</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-5">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/why-verisign/education-center/domain-names/index.xhtml">Domain Names, VerisignInc.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-6">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.trefis.com/stock/vrsn/articles/146666/verisigns-dropping-com-and-net-is-a-troubling-trend/2012-10-03">Verisign’s Dropping .com And .net Is A Troubling Trend, trefis.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-7">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc920#page-2">RFC 920</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-8">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_dns_name.htm">IW DNS name, LivingInternet.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-9">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/verisign/net-index.htm">ICANN</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-10">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thedomains.com/2011/06/23/icann-approves-the-renewal-of-net-contract-with-verisign/">ICANN Approves The Renewal of Net Contract with Verisign, TheDomains.com</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-11">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/03/feds-seize-foreign-sites/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=twitterclickthru">Uncle Sam: If It Ends in .Com, It’s .Seizable, wired.com</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div></div><div class="mw-lingo-tooltip" id="594cb7a6563ab5c889d951982d4f996e"><div class="mw-lingo-definition navigation-not-searchable"><div class="mw-lingo-definition-text"> <p><a href="/Generic_Top-level_Domain" title="Generic Top-level Domain">Generic Top-level Domain</a> </p> </div></div> </div><div class="mw-lingo-tooltip" id="e800122d43583e63e1740a15d5fa5183"><div class="mw-lingo-definition navigation-not-searchable"><div class="mw-lingo-definition-text"> <p><a href="/Top-Level_Domain" title="Top-Level Domain">Top-Level Domain</a> </p> </div></div> </div><div class="mw-lingo-tooltip" id="c509b3bd238b50a1f6f9f3cfd6cc3d2b"><div class="mw-lingo-definition navigation-not-searchable"><div class="mw-lingo-definition-text"> <p><a href="/Top-Level_Domain" 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