Multilingual Internet root: A study of the internationalization of the domain name system, Internet governance and selected policy issues

This dissertation is one of the first works that systematically studies the internationalization of the Domain Name System ("DNS"). Building upon a multi-disciplinary framework that draws ideas from communication studies, political science, institutional economics, intellectual property law, international law, and particularly international regime theory, the study aims to achieve three related goals: an historical overview of the process during which the internationalized domain names ("IDN") were initiated, developed, and implemented; an analysis of the impact of the DNS internationalization on Internet governance; and a close look at the intellectual property aspect of the DNS internationalization, particularly on the use of domain name dispute policy in the IDN environment.; The DNS internationalization threatens ICANN's role as the incumbent regulator of Internet governance because it challenges ICANN's monopolized control over the root. In response, ICANN's new policy arrangements mainly aim at maintaining its dominant role in Internet governance rather than adopting the best strategy available for the promotion and implementation of the IDNs. Therefore, they are more of an extension of the current regulatory framework than a new governance structure that aims to replace the old. The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("UDRP") is the existing policy framework for resolving domain name-trademark disputes. While effective against cybersquatting, the UDRP is unable to resolve domain name disputes fairly and effectively in the IDN environment because it does not address many of the specific problems arising out of the IDNs. It is expected that ICANN and WIPO will lead in the modulation of the UDRP to address the IDN-related problems. But any such rule-making process will not be successful without local inputs.; While ICANN is striving to maintain its dominant role in Internet governance, new institutional and policy developments, particularly those activities of the International Telecommunications Union and the Multilingual Internet Names Consortium, may signal the end of the single-authority era. The future governance structure of a multilingualized Internet will likely take the form of international regime, defined by sets of rules, norms, procedures, and programs which are developed by various local and international players in the process of the DNS internationalization.