Recital 32 Domain name system (DNS) entities

Upholding and preserving a reliable, resilient and secure domain name system or ‘DNS’ means a hierarchical distributed naming system which enables the identification of internet services and resources, allowing end-user devices to use internet routing and connectivity services to reach those services and resources; (DNS) are key factors in maintaining the integrity of the internet and are essential for its continuous and stable operation, on which the digital economy and society depend. Therefore, this Directive should apply to top-level-domain (TLD) name registries, and DNS service providers means an entity that provides: publicly available recursive domain name resolution services for internet end-users; or authoritative domain name resolution services for third-party use, with the exception of root name servers; that are to be understood as entities means a natural or legal person created and recognised as such under the national law of its place of establishment, which may, acting under its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations; providing publicly available recursive domain name resolution services for internet end-users or authoritative domain name resolution services for third-party usage. This Directive should not apply to root name servers.