[LINK] RFI: Internet Keywords

[Roger Clarke]

Does anyone have any information on this initiative?

Is it purely, or largely, a Chinese idea, or has it become that?
http://www.cnnic.net.cn/html/Dir/2005/09/06/3106.htm?3867828518=873313980

It involves a DNS front-ending the DNS.

You buy a keyword, and point it at your domain-name.

The user needs to install extra software to enable them to type 
keywords into their client and have the preliminary lookup done, 
prior to the 'real' DNS lookup.  Apparently Mozilla copes:
http://www.mozilla.org/docs/end-user/internet-keywords.html

It has potential to cause problems:
http://www.icann.org/en/committees/idn/idn-keyword-paper.htm
http://www.icann.org/en/committees/idn/idn-keyword-statement.htm

My initial reaction is that the marketers are getting over-excited ...

-- 
Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
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Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW