The DOI namespace allocation approach is as follows:
•The DOI Foundation allocates one or several prefixes derived from its top-level prefix (10) to an organization that wishes to register DOI names (a Registration Agency (RA)).
•The RA registers DOI names under their allocated prefix(es). If the RA allocates a separate prefix to each of their customers (registrants) then the combination of a prefix for the registrant and suffix provided by the registrant (which is unique within their prefix) avoids any necessity for the centralized allocation of DOI names.
The following figure illustrates the DOI namespace allocation approach.
