Re: Updating the DID method registry

Name collision is a problem for DID methods. As with domain names, it’s a case of “first one in wins”. Unlike domain names, though, where failure to renew registration eventually returns the name to the free pool, there’s no mechanism for deprecation in the DID registry.

Even if there were, it’s problematic, because DIDs can outlast support for their underlying methods. Suppose someone needs to query a DID sometime in the future in order to validate some present-day action, and they have previously had no exposure to the DID. The logical place to start would be the DID registry, but if the DID registry has a different, unrelated specification linked to the DID method name, they will be unable to perform the validation. Arguably, they could go through the GitHub history to determine what version of the JSON file applied at the time of the present-day action they’re validating, but that introduces a new, non-standard level of indirection to DID processing.

This is analogous to sending an email to a reallocated domain: it might get through, but it certainly won’t be to the intended recipient.

In my opinion, DID method name deprecation should be taken up in the new working group. I’ve been through something similar in another domain, and it led to a tiered approach:


  *   No deployment -> Deprecate immediately
  *   Limited deployment (e.g., for proof of concept) -> Deprecate after well-defined period (e.g., one year)
  *   Production deployment -> Never deprecate

________________________________
From: Phillip Shoemaker <phillip@identity.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 7:52:19 PM
To: public-did-wg@w3.org <public-did-wg@w3.org>
Subject: Updating the DID method registry

How does one go about getting the DID method registry updated?

We wish to deploy a DID method on BNB, but a company named Ontology has already registered it a few years ago, and still have not deployed a method. Additionally, they did not list their website nor an email address. I’ve tried for months to contact the company to no avail.

What is the process to update the registry?

Thank you.

- - -
Phillip Shoemaker
Executive Director, Identity
E: phillip@identity.org
M: 1.408.835.8444