Internet Corporation For Assigned Names And Numbers

Abstract

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was created through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US Department of Commerce and ICANN in 1998. According to Article XVII of ICANN's By-Laws, ICANN does not have members, as defined in the California Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation Law. The Organizational Structure consists of Board of Directors, Officers, Ombudsman, Advisory Mechanisms and Supporting Organizations. ICANN's primary sources of income are the domain name gTLD Registrar Fees. Another important source of income derives from Registry Revenues that consist of gTLD Registries and IP Address Registries. ICANN's importance for the governing of the Internet is connected to the significance of the Domain name system (DNS) for the functioning of today's cyberspace. ICANN stresses the need to uphold and even improve high standards of accountability; amongst others, the translation of important documents and meeting proceedings is endorsed. Keywords: Domain name system (DNS); Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN); Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation Law; organizational structure; registry revenues