The Domain Name Game
Updated 6/18/97 If you have a Web page hosted by an Internet service provider, chances are your URL is something like http://www.provider.com/users/~username. If you want something a little more catchy, say something like http://funstuff.com, you'll need to register a domain name. Many ISPs conveniently offer custom domain-name services, but they often charge additional fees and may not give you actual ownership of the name. The sites listed here will help you understand the various alternatives.

Background Information
Here are some places to get general information about registering domain names.
InterNIC's Frequently Asked Questions
The Internet Network Information Center, run by Network Solutions.
Registering Your Own Domain Name
A beginner-level article from the Cobb Group.
Reign Your Domain
A site that helps individuals and businesses cope with domain name issues. Includes step-by-step advice for establishing your own domain, and tips to avoid getting ripped-off.
Internet Gold-Rush
Information about the business of buying and selling domain names.

Domain Name Search
Thinking about registering your last name? It has probably already been taken, like most of the single-word domain names. Try one of these domain name searches to find out.
InterNIC's Whois
Host DNS Lookup

Domain Name Registration
A domain name's last two or three characters refer to the top-level domain, which can represent the type of organization (such as com for commercial organizations or gov for government) or country of origin (such as US for the United States or JP for Japan). Different registration authorities handle various top-level domains.
InterNIC
A service for registering names in the com, edu, gov, net, and org domains.
US Domain Registration Services
A service for registering names in the top-level U.S. domains.
Domain name registries around the world
A list of registration authorities outside the United States.
AlterNIC
A public network-information center devoted to alternative DNS, currently accepting top-level domain name registrations.

The Naming System
A recently agreed-upon "Memorandum of Understanding" calls for new policies for administering the global domain-name system, as well as the creation of many new top-level domains.
Generic Top Level Domain Memorandum of Understanding.
Also known as the gTLD-MoU. Background, press releases, and more about the new policies.
Internet International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC)
The group responsible for making the gTLD-MoU happen, now dissolved. The site still contains much information of interest.
Open Internet Congress
A group that opposes the gTLD-MoU, the Internet Society, and IANA.

Related Issues
The mechanism for assigning domain names is under technological and political stress. Explosive Internet growth, uncertainties about trademark implications, and contention over fees are just some of the issues. Here are some sources of information.
Whole Web Catalog: Domain Policies
Links to many articles covering naming policies, controversies, and disputes.
What's in a Name?
An overview of the legal and trademark issues and a list of disputed names.
Domain Name Rights Coalition
A group that supports the interests of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals on the Internet.
American Association of Domain Names
Information and advocacy services for domain name holders.