Nominet has a.uk policy process that is designed to get participation from the broadest range of interested stakeholders possible.

As part of our commitment to working in the public interest Nominet wants to involve and engage stakeholders when we formulate .uk policy. We want to hear from all stakeholders – we want you to know that we are listening and that we value your input and feedback.

Who are Nominet's stakeholders?

We welcome participation from our stakeholders. They include:

• Nominet members and registrars
• Registrants of all types (e.g. limited company, sole trader, partnership, individuals)
• Businesses 
• Representative associations such as trade associations, charities
• Government and regulatory agencies
• Law enforcement agencies
• Academics
• Internet users

The .uk policy process provides the opportunity for these stakeholders to engage on the issues that matter to them. Strong and balanced participation from stakeholders is crucial to the successful operation of the process. Nominet's Secretariat is tasked with encouraging relevant contributions.

If you would like to register as a stakeholder, please complete the online form to advise us of your areas of policy interest.

Read on to find out more about getting involved, and having your say.

How can I get involved in .uk policy?

The .uk policy process is designed to encourage participation from a broad range of stakeholders.

You can sign up for regular updates on policy discussions, suggest an issue for consideration, contribute to existing discussions, and put yourself – or others - forward to take part in issue group meetings.

You can also contact the Nominet policy Secretariat, who are responsible for for engaging stakeholders and ensuring that .uk policy discussions involve balanced representation, or the stakeholder committee, an independent group that plays a key role in encouraging participation in the policy process.

What happens when a new issue is proposed?

The Secretariat will examine the proposal and decide whether it is appropriate to form an issue group to discuss it. In doing so the Secretariat will consider whether the issue falls within .uk policy and whether it is in line with Nominet’s current vision and mission.

The Secretariat will contact you to discuss your proposal in more detail. They will help you to define the nature and importance of the issue in the form of a brief explaining, who it affects, and who might usefully be involved in the discussion. They will then circulate and help publicise the issue brief to as broad a range of stakeholders as possible. In addition it will be published on the Nominet website to invite comments, allow people to register their interest, or suggest stakeholders who may wish to participate in the discussion.

Based on feedback to the issue brief, the Secretariat will reach out to other potential stakeholders with a view to establishing an issue group to discuss and develop ideas further. The Secretariat may commission evidence based research to inform the group’s discussions. In the event of a lack of interest it is possible that the issue brief will not progress to the issue group stage.

For more details, please see the process framework.

If you would like to see or comment on any current or proposed issues, please see the current issues page.

What kind of policy areas does .uk policy cover?

.uk policy encompasses Nominet's policies relating to the management of the .uk domain name system. These policies cover a broad range of issues including our terms and conditions, standards, privacy,security, protection of intellectual property, internet governance and cybercrime. Nominet’s policies affect a broad range of stakeholders, such as users of the internet, including businesses and consumers, registrars, and government and law enforcement agencies.

Recent examples of policy development have included:

• A recommendation to introduce a domain lock  to cover domain names that were being used in connection with fraudulent activity; a response to the need to supply registrars with the tools necessary to work towards making .uk a safer space.
• A recommendation to align the rules for registration of .ltd.uk and .plc.uk domains with Companies House rules.

How can I register my interest in specific policy areas?

By registering your interest in particular areas, we can keep you informed about relevant policy developments. Registered stakeholders on policy circulation lists are updated by the Secretariat at key stages in the process and discussions of an issue group, enabling broad consultation as part of the process.

What are the objectives of the .uk policy process?

• To engage a broad range of representative and appropriate stakeholders in shaping .uk policy – in a way that supports Nominet's mission to make a positive difference to our stakeholders, driven by their needs, and to fulfil our public purpose
• To develop .uk policy that is in line with our vision to be a leading force in making the Internet a trusted space, which everyone can be a part of and has a positive impact on people’s lives
• Developing our relationship with stakeholders to ensure that our policies are well-understood and that we can maintain our high standard of self-regulation.