Re: [idn] opting out of SC/TC equivalence

["Adam M. Costello" <amc@cs.berkeley.edu>]

ben <ben@cc-www.com> wrote:

> The solution to delivering the 3 benefits explained above is a
> Chinese domain name system that uses language script TLDs- a TLD of
> <.traditional> for traditional CDNs (defined here as a CDN that uses
> all traditional characters) and a TLD of <.simplified> for simplified
> CDNs (defined here as a CDN that uses all simplified characters).

This would limit people's choice of registration authority.

> The same techniques documented in this draft can also be applied
> to the current gTLD and ccTLD registries by using SLDs.  In order
> to be fair, everyone must agree to this system and make it a
> standard.  In addition, every registry must change their current
> registered second level domains to third level domains (ie.
> <whatever>.<traditional>.TLD, <whatever>.<simplified>.TLD)

I don't think there's any need to require that all domains containing
Chinese characters follow this convention.  It could be left up
to each registrant whether they want to include <traditional> or
<simplified> in their domain name.  It needn't be at the second
level either.  The convention could be that clients with the added
Chinese support would be suspicious of simplified characters
anywhere to the left of .<traditional>. (wherever it appears) and
be suspicious of traditional characters anywhere to the left of
>.<simplified>. (wherever it appears).  This would allow things
like <FOO>.<traditional>.ac.uk.  It could be recommended (but
probably not required) that registration authorities never allow
<traditional> or <simplified> to be registered under any zone, but
rather require registrants to register <something>.<traditional> or
<something>.<simplified>.  It could be recommended (but probably not
required) that registrars register such names in pairs.

One nice thing about your proposal is that it appears to be orthogonal
to IDNA.  Clients without the added Chinese support can still access
all domain names, they just won't provide the extra hints when mistyped
names fail.

AMC