Sunrise domain name registrations used to be a good way for both registries and registrars to get sales and revenue. With the advent of new TLDs however the numbers for most extensions have been lacklustre, with registries being "lucky" to get a couple of hundred domains in the sunrise period (on average) However one could also argue that some of the objectively "better" … [Read more...] about If Sunrise Numbers Are An Indication .Online Will Do Well
Top-level domain
P is for Proxy
Last night Google unveiled their new plans for global domination, which involves the company morphing into something new "Alphabet". And new TLD types around the globe rejoiced, as the online behemoth chose to use a .xyz domain name for their big reveal (They also made a funny reference to another .xyz in the source code .. ) But while "G is for Google", then "P is for … [Read more...] about P is for Proxy
Wine Producer Acquires Two Brand TLDs
Californian wine producer Gallo Vineyards Inc., has signed contracts with ICANN for two top level domains: .barefoot .gallo If you are a wine drinker then you'll probably recognise them as being two of the company's more popular brands. A lot of brands have applied for and got their own top level domain name, but what makes this interesting is the wine angle. While … [Read more...] about Wine Producer Acquires Two Brand TLDs
Lufthansa & WeightWatchers Win URS
The URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension System) is a new rights protection mechanism that was introduced as part of ICANN's New TLD rollout. Unlike the UDRP (Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy), if a complainant prevails in a URS they do not get the domain. All a URS can do is result in the domain being suspended for the rest of its registration period. Two URS decisions that were … [Read more...] about Lufthansa & WeightWatchers Win URS
APWG Phishing Report Reveals Crimeware Increase
The APWG (Anti-Phishing Working Group) has released their report for Q4 of 2014. It makes for fairly depressing ready, as you'd expect, but it's worth taking the time to have a look over it. So which TLDs are most (ab)used in phishing and malware attacks? It's hardly surprising that .com is the most (ab)used (46%) - it's also the most popular domain extension. What is a … [Read more...] about APWG Phishing Report Reveals Crimeware Increase
ICANN Board Member and Former GAC Chair To Give Evidence in .Africa Case
The controversy over the competing .africa TLD applications has been going on for some time. A recent decision by the International Centre For Dispute Resolution (ICDR) said that ICANN had breached its own by-laws and has questioned why ICANN won't allow a current board member and the former GAC Chair to speak to them and provide evidence. A letter that was published on the … [Read more...] about ICANN Board Member and Former GAC Chair To Give Evidence in .Africa Case
Which Domains Are The Campaigners Using In the Marriage Equality Referendum?
I'm obviously fascinated by domain names, hosting and related topics, so I thought I'd do some digging into the current marriage equality referendum in Ireland. The country goes to the polls on May 22nd and a yes vote is being supported by all the Irish political parties. (Disclosure - I've also made it pretty clear where I stand on this and where my company stands) With … [Read more...] about Which Domains Are The Campaigners Using In the Marriage Equality Referendum?
Governments Send Yet Another Salvo Across ICANN’s Bows
The relationship between ICANN and the governments of the world could be best described as "interesting". Or one could be slightly more explicit and call it "tense". While at an individual level many governments hold different views of how ICANN should be managing the roll out of the new top level domains (new TLDs), when the group as a whole speaks there is often both a … [Read more...] about Governments Send Yet Another Salvo Across ICANN’s Bows
Australian ccTLD Opens Consultation On Direct Registrations
Over the past couple of years several ccTLDs have revised their policies to allow registrations at the top level. Now auDA (.au Domain Administration) has opened a consultation process on this question as well. The background material for the consultation process includes a paper prepared by the Names Policy Panel which looks at the history and structure of the .au … [Read more...] about Australian ccTLD Opens Consultation On Direct Registrations
CENTR Members Pass 70 Million Domains Milestone
CENTR, which is the association for European ccTLDs, has announced that its members, which are all country code top level domain registries, have surpassed the 70 million domains mark. The number of registrations comes from 57 ccTLDs and IDN ccTLDs in 49 countries. They've produced a graphic to illustrate the milestone: More details on the CENTR site. … [Read more...] about CENTR Members Pass 70 Million Domains Milestone