One of the "hot topics" at the ICANN meeting in Costa Rica next week will be the ongoing negotiations around the RAA. The RAA is basically the core document and contract that all ICANN accredited registrars have to sign with ICANN in order to be able to offer domain name registration services. (Oddly enough UDRP providers aren't bound by anything as strict..) The first … [Read more...] about ICANN and Registrars Provide A Status Update
Domain name
Use It Or Lose It? UDRP Hits New Low
Kevin tweeted a link to this decision earlier today and it scared me. It really did. What's so scary? This part of the UDRP decision: Complainant asserts that Respondent has failed to make an active use of the disputed domain name, constituting bad faith registration and use. Complainant submits a printout verifying its assertion that the website is essentially … [Read more...] about Use It Or Lose It? UDRP Hits New Low
Nominet Publish Draft Member Code
Nominet, the domain registry for the .uk ccTLD, has published a draft "member code". Nominet's structure means that its registrars are also "members" of the organisation, so this move is quite an interesting one. You can read the draft text on the Nominet site here. From an initial reading the "code" appears to be quite "light" and doesn't impose any onerous obligations … [Read more...] about Nominet Publish Draft Member Code
Afilias Acquires .Pro
Afilias has acquired .pro (RegistryPro) I assume they'll move the registry backend to the Afilias system at some point, though managing that transition is going to be awkward. Here's the release: DUBLIN, Jan 17, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Afilias Limited, the ICANN-designated registry operator for the .INFO top level domain (TLD) and a global provider of domain registry … [Read more...] about Afilias Acquires .Pro
Fox Files UDRP Over XXX Domain
From the "told you so" and "some domainers are really really dumb" department .. Yes - foxstudios.xxx and asking a crazy high price for it As Kevin reports Fox have now filed a UDRP. Prediction - unless Fox's complaint is submitted on toilet paper this will be a slam dunk win for them. Tip: Do not register domain names that are an exact or close match to well known … [Read more...] about Fox Files UDRP Over XXX Domain
Want a Short Domain? Check Out The .Pro Auction
I'd be the first to admit that I wasn't exactly enamoured with .pro as an extension due to the registry rules. It seemed to have been setup to serve the US market solely and even then only a small subset of the US would even have been able to deal with the registration requirements. In recent months the registry has made several significant changes to how they handle things … [Read more...] about Want a Short Domain? Check Out The .Pro Auction
Domains, DNS and Internet Policy & News Blogs?
I'm a creature of habit. I read articles from quite a wide range of sources, but a lot of the links are coming to me from the same people over and over again. So the question I have is this Which sites do you go to for news and opinion for the internet industry? ie. internet policy, domains and DNS (Not startups and all that thanks!) Feel free to recommend your own … [Read more...] about Domains, DNS and Internet Policy & News Blogs?
Is The Gabon Registry Offline?
It looks like the Gabon registry is having issues of some kind. While it's not unheard of for a domain registry operator to have technical difficulties they're usually "blips". In the case of the .ga registry, however, it looks like the zone has been having serious issues since September of last year! Stéphane Bortzmeyer conducted a detailed analysis (in French) of what … [Read more...] about Is The Gabon Registry Offline?
New TLD Applications Are Now Being Accepted
Applications for newTLDs are now being accepted via the ICANN website here. Expect lots of coverage in the mainstream media about this in the next few days. You can also expect plenty of outrage from some quarters, upset from others and maybe a couple of legal battles for good measure. I posted a bit more about what newTLDs are and aren't over on the company blog this … [Read more...] about New TLD Applications Are Now Being Accepted
ICANN To Release Updated gTLD Applicant Guidebook
ICANN's CEO, Rod Beckstrom, has confirmed that ICANN will be releasing an updated version of the gTLD Applicant Guidebook by January 12th. #ICANN- we are shooting to have an updated new gTLD Applicant Guidebook pubished by January 12, '12 to reflect already approved changes — Rod Beckstrom (@RodBeckstrom) January 7, 2012 There has been rumours over the … [Read more...] about ICANN To Release Updated gTLD Applicant Guidebook