France is preparing a new law on domain names.

On January 13, the French National Assembly presented a new bill that defines the legal framework for domain zones corresponding to the national territory.

As a reminder, on October 6, the Constitutional Council declared Article L. 45 of the Postal and Electronic Communications Code unconstitutional and set a deadline of July 1, 2011, for the legislature to define a new legal framework for top-level domains corresponding to the national territory.

The new law also strengthens key principles for everyone operating in the domain name market, such as the accountability of domain name applicants with respect to third-party rights and other principles.

The bill will be sent to the Senate, where it will be passed in the near future.