[Handle-info] Management changes to the Global Handle Registry (GHR)

[Jane Euler <jeuler@cnri.reston.va.us>]

Dear Handle.Net Users:

This message is to let you know of changes in the Global Handle Registry (GHR) - the root service of the Handle System - which has been operated under the sole administration of CNRI for the past two decades. In May 2014, CNRI transferred authority for the overall administration of the GHR in the public interest to the newly created DONA Foundation (DONA), a non-profit organization that was founded by CNRI in Geneva, Switzerland for this purpose (see dona.net for more information). To facilitate the transition, CNRI has been authorized by DONA to continue operating the GHR, but this authority is now scheduled to terminate on or about August 1, 2015, when it will revert to DONA.

DONA has now credentialed three initial organizations to administer the GHR on a multi-primary basis. In addition to CNRI, there are two other organizations, one in Europe and one in China, each called a Multi-Primary Administrator (MPA); and these MPAs are expected to be joined by others over time to provide MPA GHR Services, all under the administration of the DONA Foundation.

In the new management structure under DONA, both the GHR-specific software and the Handle.Net software will be substantially updated. While the Handle.Net website will be revised to reflect these changes, the one-time registration fee and annual service fee for prefixes obtained from CNRI will remain unchanged. New Handle.Net software (version 8), which will work seamlessly with the new GHR software, is expected to be released on the Handle.Net website by August 1st. Like all other software updates we encourage you to upgrade to version 8 at your earliest convenience. Please note that older Handle.Net versions will continue to work along with version 8.

When it was authorized to operate as an MPA, CNRI was allotted the credential "20" by DONA. What this means is, after August 1st, prefixes allotted by CNRI will start with its credential “20” followed by a dot (.) followed by a string that will initially be a 5 digit number (e.g., “20.12501”). Of course these new prefixes will behave the same way as previously allotted prefixes; and previously allotted prefixes will continue to resolve as before. Each of the other MPAs has been allotted its own credential and will be providing its respective MPA GHR Services starting with that credential followed by a dot and additional string of its own choosing.

Further details will be made available on the Handle.Net website as we get closer to the August 1st transition date.  In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Jane Euler
Handle.Net Registry Administrator
CNRI
Reston, VA, US

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