Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The .游戏 (.game) new gTLD is coming

Donuts just announced the launching of the .游戏 (.game) and a few other TLDs. This TLD will be added to the SPORT new gTLD report.

New domain name registration volumes:
Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our 2 previous Newsletters:
  1. Do new TLDs suffer from an awareness problem or demand problem?
  2. The web's domain name revolution has been a missed opportunity;
  3. .CLUB Jackpot Auction Featuring Many 2-Letter Domains And i.Club;
  4. .hotel losers gang up to threaten ICANN with legal bills;
  5. Sunrise Period for .SHOPPING is ending;
  6. Tata ponders “buy a school” strategy to release .tata from limbo;
  7. 90% of delegations are now from brands;
  8. Dot Registry Challenges ICANN Monopoly;
  9. Are .mail, .home and .corp safe to launch? Applicants think so;
  10. The Domain Conference (From September 10 to 14, 2016);
  11. 5 Reasons to Consider a New Domain Extensions for Your New Business;
  12. Facebook also uses a .DESIGN;
  13. How he’s marketing his TLDs;
  14. No Trademark for your .SHOP?
  15. Top 10 .brand with most pages on Google;
  16. A Continuously Updated Historical TLD Records Archive;
  17. FRENCH - Autumn is coming;
  18. Dot Registry backs .africa loser, batters on the ICANN lawsuit floodgates;
  19. .SHOP Starts Life As One Of Biggest Sunrise Launches;
  20. The .Corp, .Home & .Mail Quandary;
  21. 2 new gTLDs were delegated.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, August 29, 2016

The .ECO new gTLD has launched

The .ECO domain anme extension
The .ECO new gTLD was just delegated. There were four applicants to apply for this string and let's say that the public story around this "eco friendly" new gTLD started early in 2011. I also recommend to read more posts from Jacob Malthouse, winning applicant of the .ECO new gTLD application.
This short post about the .ECO this morning because this Top-Level Domain is one of the first to have been announced (with the back-up of Al Gore). There were a lot of discussions about this TLD and it was unclear if it stood for "Economy" or "Ecology".
I recommend the reading of the .ECO application to learn more about its purpose.

City new gTLDs
I was updating the CITY new gTLD report this morning and noticed that a lot of Cities have only one domain name registration. City gTLDs concerned are:
  1. .BCN
  2. .MADRID
  3. .DUBAI
  4. .STOCKHOLM
  5. .HELSINKI
  6. .BUDAPEST
  7. .DOHA
  8. .ABUDHABI
This is rather strange but September is here and launch plans should come soon I suspect.

New domain name registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to FRENCH (speaking persons);
  • New gTLDs related to CITIES;
  • New gTLDs related to CATERING;
  • New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY.

Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  1. The .DIY new gTLD was delegated;
  2. Expand Your Reach with a Portfolio of Domains;
  3. AutoNews.com: Amazon May Roll Out Its Car Portal Using a New gTLD;
  4. New Domain Names Launching In 2016;
  5. Spurned applicant crowd-funding to fight ICANN for .gay gTLD;
  6. .Guru After Hitting a High of Almost 85K Domains is Now Under 60K;
  7. 40% of banks in the US have registered a .bank domain;
  8. West.cn targets Engrish domainers with new .xyz site.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, August 26, 2016

Corporate or Retail Registrar?

I was about to write a cool article about a Registrar where I believed that it made sense to transfer domain name portfolios.
Unfortunately, I just found out about a major issue after having transferred some domain names and support is surprisingly slow to answer my last question on this very specific issue.

Prior to initiating a transfer project from a Registrar to another, it requires domain name knowledge but also Registrar market knowledge.
The feasibility of such a project requires to think in the long term: employees change job and it can be a high risk (for the company's emails for example) to have a new employee with no knowledge of domain names to take the lead on domain name operations if (s)he is new to this.
For this reason, I recommend to use Corporate Registrars who will be able to take care of all operations for managers with no or few knowledge.
Jovenet Consulting also helps companies to transfer domain name portfolios to the right retail or Corporate Registrar.

New domain name registration volumes:
  • HOT - New gTLDs related to PLURAL versions of new gTLDs;
  • New gTLDs related to HEALTH;
  • HOT - New gTLDs related to "GENERICs" (generic new gTLDs);
  • New gTLDs related to FRENCH new gTLD applications;
  • New gTLDs related to CARS;
  • New gTLDs related to RELIGION.

Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  • Brands Can Use New TLDs to Stop Cyber Squatting;
  • .GAY Community Application: what is next?
  • Who is responsible to promote new gTLDs?
  • .shop-Registry: Interview with CEO Hiro Tsukahara;
  • DotBrands: Key figures of our August research;
  • Rightside Strikes Gold With .LIVE;
  • Infographic: ICANN’s New gTLD Program;
  • The .CLUB Jackpot Auction (running September 9-16, 2016);
  • DotConnectAfrica Fights ICANN’s Appeal as another Pretextual Ground;
  • New gTLD AFRICA Appeal: DCA Trust Answering Brief vs ICANN & ZACR;
  • The business strategy behind the web (TMCH);
  • Four New gTLD Events;
  • .Top Gains 422,000 Domain Names In One Day;
  • Live .CLUB websites;
  • .Webcam Loses 60% Of Its Registrations in a Month;
  • Company behind WordPress opens .blog domain to the public.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Old ".wine" new gTLD projections

Registration volumes are slow but they increase. This reminds me the projections I wrote in my business plan for the .WINE new gTLD (the dotVinum project). My projection dated 2011 stated that the Registry (all included) could start to be profitable in year one if 100,000 domain names were registered at a wholesale price of €7 - 14€ and €20 but this did not include Premium domain names.

Profitability:
  1. Wholesale price of €7 in year one: €53.900,00
  2. Wholesale price of €14: in year one: €753.900,00
  3. Wholesale price of €20: in year one: €1,353.900,00
I calculated that profitability in year two was -217,690.00 for 10,000 domain names registered at a wholesale price of €20 but again, this did not include huge lists of Premium domain names and the back-end Registry service and operations were calculated for one single Registry, not multiple ones.

Scary, isn't it?

New domain name registration volumes:

HOT - Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  1. Sunrise Period for .DOCTOR has started;
  2. HOT - The new gTLD map;
  3. Registries rebel against ICANN;
  4. Does ICANN wish to open the window for more new TLDs sooner?
  5. A few things I extracted from the ".mcdonalds" mission/purpose;
  6. List of live .club websites.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Sunrise Period for .DOCTOR starts

The .DOCTOR new domain name extension is a good match for Doctors with a website. We use the two words in Spanish: "doctor" and "médico" so it can be a good match for Spanish speaking persons too.

When:
  • START: Tuesday, 23 August, 2016 - 16:00;
  • END: Saturday, 22 October, 2016 - 16:00.
History:
There were three applications submitted for the .DOCTOR new gTLD. You can hit "doctor" here for the list of applicants.

Question "18(a)":
The famous question 18(a) describes the mission/purpose of the proposed domain name extension and here is what the Registry wrote:
"This TLD is attractive and useful to end-users as it better facilitates search, self-expression, information sharing and the provision of legitimate goods and services. Along with the other TLDs in the Donuts family, this TLD will provide Internet users with opportunities for online identities and expression that do not currently exist. In doing so, the TLD will introduce significant consumer choice and competition to the Internet namespace – the very purpose of ICANN’s new TLD program. This TLD is a generic term and its second level names will be attractive to a variety of Internet users. Making this TLD available to a broad audience of registrants is consistent with the competition goals of the New TLD expansion program, and consistent with ICANN’s objective of maximizing Internet participation. Donuts believes in an open Internet and, accordingly, we will encourage inclusiveness in the registration policies for this TLD. In order to avoid harm to legitimate registrants, Donuts will not artificially deny access, on the basis of identity alone (without legal cause), to a TLD that represents a generic form of activity and expression. .DOCTOR will be attractive to registrants with affinity for or professional interest in the term DOCTOR. This broad and diverse group includes a wide variety of medical practitioners (including physicians, osteopaths, dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and others); academics, educators, therapists and counselors and others (who carry the educational title “doctor”); a variety of commercial businesses who specialize in expert advice for specific goods or services (e.g., car.doctor); attorneys and legal practitioners (in some cultures); and consumers who wish to offer opinion and⁄or directory services about the range and quality of services offered in the space. The TLD would be operated in the best interests of registrants from all jurisdictions, and in a secure, legitimate manner."
To read more about the mission/purpose of other proposed delegated domain name extension, I recommend the reading of this new website I am working on.

Register:
To register your ".doctor" domain name, contact a Corporate Registrars from this list and ensure he offers to participate in the .DOCTOR Sunrise Period.

The .PICTET new gTLD

Working on the Finance new gTLD report this morning, I noticed a change in the .PICTET new gTLD with a short increase of domain names registered. This dotBrand seems to have started to deploy and appears to be communicating on one single domain name, instead of multiple: the domainname is www.group.pictet.

One could think new gTLDs for Trademarks were created to multiply the number of domain name registered to install a trademark on Internet using different domain names but this does not seem to be the choice of PICTET.

September.club
August is not really best moment to submit info related to new gTLDs. This is why the volume of info is low at the moment but September is coming. "Volume": it is what I do at Jovenet Consulting and it is something that I learnt after reading Communicator in 2003: the more information is spread about new gTLDs, the more it catches the eye.

Many of you know my passion for .CLUB : not only because they are a sponsor but also because .CLUB represents the perfect example of what a new gTLD is made for:
  1. Identity and;
  2. Precision.
This makes it an opportunity for me to announce that an auction will take place in September and I will be there to keep an eye on Chinese investors, because they will be there too.

New domain name registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to COMPANIES (newsletter only);
  • New gTLDs related to LAW;
  • New gTLDs related to FINANCE;
  • New gTLDs related to COLORS.
Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  1. Interesting use of a new gTLD for a dotBrand. FAGE will be using "usa" instead of "home";
  2. Updates on the New gTLD Program Webinar;
  3. Donuts has announced a price increase;
  4. The .WIN new gTLD passes 1 Million Registrations;
  5. Dynadot becomes accredited to selling .GDN domain names;
  6. Uniregistry to release over one million domains through registrar channel;
  7. Updated: the .CLUB website:
    1. LIVE SITES (www.get.club/livesites);
    2. CELEBRITIES (www.get.club/celebrities);
    3. INTHEWILD (www.get.club/inthewild);
    4. .CLUB STORE (www.get.club/store).
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Sunday, August 21, 2016

.BLOG domain names are coming

Nominet, a new gTLD Registry services provider, is now indexed in Google and listed using a .BLOG domain name for its blog. Nominet has a certain number of new gTLDs under management and offer registry services for major strings such as .LONDON - .SURF - .BEER  - .WALES and... .BLOG.

New domain name registration volumes:
In the report can be noticed the slight increase of ".moi" domain name registrations. I went to to the .MOI Registry webpage and liked, as a French native, the explanation for the use a ".moi" domain name: "Un nom de domaine pour les particuliers et les entreprises pour célébrer la langue française en tant qu’élément rassembleur."
But did you read what comes next? I sent an email to their support :-)

Next Monday's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

Last Friday's Newsletter:
  1. Is Buying a .WEB Domain Name Bright?
  2. Afilias set to get .hotel despite hacking claims;
  3. Details About Securing a .Blog Domain Name;
  4. “Dave” becomes first .blog blogger;
  5. 5 new gTLDs were delegated;
  6. Are .SPORTs organizations doing their job?
  7. "Matt" uses a .BLOG domain too;
  8. Historic Internet Expansion Reaches Powersports Industry with Launch of .Motorcycles Domain Names;
  9. .scot Experiences: Linlithgow Papercraft.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, August 19, 2016

Is Buying a .WEB Domain Name Bright?

I agree this article won’t please everyone but there are several reasons why buying a domain name ending in .WEB could be – or could not be – a good decision. I will personally not buy one and here is why:
  1. Let’s start with Trademarks;
  2. Too many generics?
  3. Increasing the value of a .com:
    • I have the “.com” equivalent;
    • I don’t have the “.com” equivalent.
  4. Focus on a domain name with no plural;
  5. Buy a descriptive domain name.
Read my complete article on B2C.

Are Sports organizations doing their job?

I am impressed to see the poor registration volumes of some SPORT domain name extensions. I had a look at the .TENNIS new gTLD and, while we are watching the Olympics Games, this TLD is losing domain name registrations.

We are in August and that should get back to positive in September but isn't one of the roles of Tennis organizations, such as the ATP, WTA, ITF, USTA, to do the promotion of Tennis? And by "promotion", I don't mean to sell ".tennis" domain names, but just to propagate the message that there is a domain name extension to represent it in Internet?

New domain name registration volumes:
  1. New gTLDs related to HEALTH;
  2. New gTLDs related to CARS;
  3. HOT - GENERIC new gTLDs.
Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In yesterday's Newsletter:
  1. Sunrise period for .blog set to open;
  2. HOT - Over $4 million in premium domain names;
  3. The .Club registry announced its premium sales for July today and it hit a milestone: over $4 million in premium domain name sales;
  4. .COM no longer has market power?
  5. How Catholic educators keep up with emerging technology (.catholic new gTLD);
  6. Accountability and Transition in ICANN’s New gTLD Program:
    1. ICANN’s Background and Recent Developments;
    2. The Facts in the Dot Registry Case;
    3. The Independent Panel’s Ruling;
    4. Future Implications;
    5. Conclusion.
  7. A .XYZ Disaster Story;
  8. Shorten that URL with a domain instead;
  9. Why .CLUB & Other New Extensions Are Smarter Branding;
  10. Delegated - 4 new gTLDs were delegated;
  11. Recent Actions Cast Doubt on Whether ICANN Is Ready for Transition;
  12. What Are The Renewal Prices Of The Latest 6-Figure New gTLD Sales?
  13. The .STORAGE Sunrise Period ends soon;
  14. Banks Flock to New .bank Domains for Branding.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Sunrise Period for .BLOG starts

The .BLOG story (and history) has been covered on many Blogs and the story continues today with the launching of the sunrise Period dedicated to interested parties with a prior right.

SUNRISE PERIOD:
  • START: Thursday, 18 August, 2016 - 16:00;
  • END: Monday, 17 October, 2016 - 16:00.
GOOD TO KNOW:
The .BLOG domain name registration volumes will be updated on the new gTLD report related to Companies, which is updated each Tuesdays in our Newsletter. Please subscribe to receive updates.

DETAILS:
More details can be found on the Trademark Clearinghouse new gTLD calendar and on the official Registry website (which still redirects to a ".com" by the way).

WHERE:
The list of accredited Registrars to participate in the Sunrise Period is available here.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Why New Extensions Are Smarter Branding


New gTLD Veteran Jeff Sass shares about the .CLUB new gTLD development. With 820,000 domain name registered, the Registry is the number one Registry in terms of usage: 100,000 live websites and 203,000 domain name owners.

New domain name registration volumes:

Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  1. Interesting - Buying Multiple Domains Makes Sense;
  2. Two new gTLDs were delegated;
  3. Good post - The mythical horse's .club strategy;
  4. ICANN the Machine…
  5. YourDotDay: new gTLD conference in Paris (September, the 29th);
  6. Behind the scene - Afilias was second-place bidder in $135 million .Web auction;
  7. The .SHOP Sunrise Period ends soon;
  8. co.LTD sells for $115,000;
  9. Reselling Domain Names on the Secondary Market: Bona Fide Offering, or Not?
  10. New gTLD registration volumes for Companies.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Why Buying Multiple Domains Makes Sense

Companies usually use one single domain name for their online activities but then, more questions pop up: SEO, Infringement, Future of the company, monitoring online competition… If buying multiple domain names answers some of these questions, there is a way to do it. Here is how:
  • Generic keywords;
  • Availability;
  • "Non English keywords": the opportunity;
  • SEO for almost nothing;
  • An investment;
  • Methodology reminder.
Read my complete article on CircleId.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Counting on McDonalds to promote new gTLDs

Is McDonalds "Catering"?
Well, there is cheese, there is bread and there are French fries so let's consider that it is catering and let's be honest: isn't their McWRAP CHICKEN BACON & BBQ super good? I don't particularly like to write it but it is a fact: Both the .MCD and the .MCDONALDS are entering the CATERING new gTLD report.

No matter if McDonalds is "Catering" or not
McDonalds is typically the kind of company which has the financial capacity to communicate globally using its new domain name extensions and this is exactly what the new gTLD industry needs: we need McDonalds to communicate on its next www.bigmac.mcd for the world to notice that new domain name extensions are in use.

New domain name registration volumes:
  1. New gTLDs related to COMPANIES (in the Newsletter only);
  2. New gTLDs related to COLORS;
  3. New gTLDs related to LAW;
  4. New gTLDs related to FINANCE (four new entries).
Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In yesterday's Newsletter:
  1. Afilias Asks ICANN To Disqualify Nu Dot Co’s $135 million winning bid for .WEB;
  2. .BLOG - Time to start your company's Blog;
  3. .BRADESCO Strategy decrypted;
  4. Are New gTLD Domain Name Owners Losing Traffic to Dot COM?
  5. HOT - PodCast: Frank Schilling return ("Investors don't yet understand the value of new gTLDs");
  6. DNS Belgium veröffentlicht Studie über .brussels;
  7. Industry lays into Verisign over .com deal renewal;
  8. Daniel Negari and Ambrose sell $2M of Rightside Shares;
  9. ICANN Says It Is Ready for the IANA Transition, Is It Really?
  10. ICANN lawyers slam “fire him” story “blogger”;
  11. Afilias Challenges New gTLD WEB Auction Results in Letter to ICANN.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, August 15, 2016

The .RESTAURANT new gTLD will be a success

It is a pleasure to read the Catering new gTLD report today. The month of August is clearly not the month when Registrants (the users to register domain names) renew or buy domain names. We early considered that the .RESTAURANT new gTLD would be a success and if we also agree that it goes against one of the definitions of "a good domain name" which consist in registering short domain name extensions, the registration curve of this Top-Level Domain increases slowly but keeps increasing, even during the month of August. We'd be a restaurant, we'd definitely secure our .RESTAURANT domain name.

New domain name registration volumes:

Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In our previous Newsletter:
  1. Next new gTLD round could start sooner than expected; 
  2. Consideration - Dot Registry / ICANN IRP Final Declaration; 
  3. Google registers Stories.google domain name; 
  4. Consideration - Request for Cancellation of HOTEL Top-Level Domain S.a.r.l's (HTLD's) Application for .HOTEL; 
  5. Trademarks - Une extension destinée à protéger les marques en Chine: entretien exclusif avec le registre du .商标 (.marque en chinois); 
  6. GNSO Council Review of the Helsinki GAC Communiqué; 
  7. How Are Search Engines Like Google Treating Top-level Domains in Search Results?
Previous Campaigns can be viewed here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, August 12, 2016

.AND for Google?

Round 1 of the ICANN new gTLD program
Google submitted an application for the .AND new generic Top-Level domain in the first Round of the ICANN new gTLD program but the methodology to apply - the "Applicant Guidebook" - did not allow Google to since ISO alpha 3 codes (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3) were prohibited as new gTLDs.

Charleston Road Registry INC, the Google's company dedicated to creating and managing new gTLDs for Google, had to withdraw the .AND application.

Round 2 of the ICANN new gTLD program
No one knows when Round 2 of the ICANN new gTLD program starts but I just read the latest GNSO Council Review of the Helsinki GAC Communiqué and noted this paragraph (point 4, page 6):
"Use of 3-letter codes in the ISO-3166 list as gTLDs in future rounds".

Basically it states that "the GAC advises the ICANN Board to:
  1. encourage the community to continue in depth analyses and discussions on all aspects related to a potential use of 3-letter codes in the ISO-3166 list as gTLDs in future rounds, in particular with regard to whether such a potential use is considered to be in the public interest or not.
  2. keep current protections in place for 3-letter codes in the ISO-3166 list in place and not to lift these unless future in-depth discussions involving the GAC and the other ICANN constituencies would lead to a consensus that use of these 3-letter codes as TLDs would be in the public interest.
The RATIONALE states: "In view of the intense debates and controversies over the use of geographic names in new gTLDs, the GAC requests that the community does not rush into a removal of the Applicant Guidebook protection of ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes".

Of course, there is a lot more being said and I suggest to read the Communiqué but this question opens the door to the possibility that Google could submit a .AND new gTLD application again in Rond 2

By the way, what does "AND" stand for?
No worry...it is just Andorra: the cheapest place to buy cigarettes and alcohol on earth ;-)

New gTLDs: yesterday night's Newsletter

Below are the titles of yesterday night's Newsletter (sent each day at 8PM CET). To read previous letters, readers can go to www.newsletter.domains or subscribe to receive all links to articles, press releases, new gTLD reports and latest announcements related to new gTLDs.

News:
  1. Booking.yeah - The huge misstep by Booking.com;
  2. Round 2 - Next new gTLD round could start sooner than expected;
  3. Trailer - Blair Witch (www.blairwitch.movie);
  4. Book - Joining the Machines to the Domain;
  5. The .MOTORCYCLES Sunrise Period ends;
  6. Delegated - 12 new gTLDs were just delegated:
    1. .HOT 
    2. .PAY 
    3. .HUGHES 
    4. .DISH 
    5. .CAPITALONE 
    6. .SLING 
    7. .SECURE 
    8. .MCDONALDS 
    9. .AMEX 
    10. .OPEN 
    11. .MCD 
    12. .AMERICANEXPRESS 
  7. Centuries-old companies both fail community gTLD test;
  8. Patent - Geographically appropriate domain name system assignment ;
  9. How a $135 million auction affects the domain industry and your business;
  10. Registration volumes: 
    1. HOTSingular and Plural new generic Top-Level Domains; 
    2. FRENCH new gTLD applications;
    3. New gTLDs related to RELIGION.
Why it makes sense to subscribe to the New gTLDs Newsletter
Subscribing to the gTLD.club Newsletter is the opportunity to receive a letter with the daily information about new gTLDs. Since the letter is sent at 8 PM CET, it means that residents of New-York receive the letter in the beginning of the afternoon and residents of LA receive it just before Lunch. The rest of the information is sent the next day. For information, subscribing to www.newsletter.domains or www.gtld.club is the same.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The new gTLD Newsletter First

I am considering changing how this Newsletter is published and do the opposite of what is done here.

I usually post bullet points of what subscribers will read in the night's Newsletter (sent at 8PM CET each evening) but I wonder if it does not make more sense to publish content in the Newsletter at night and inform on the next morning on this blog about what had been published in the Newsletter the night before.

In one line: you won't be informed anymore about what you will read in the Newsletter. Comments are welcome here.
  1. The .BLOG new gTLD Sunrise Period starts soon;
  2. Acknowledging a Homeland: .RUHR
  3. Infographic - Registry analyzes how its strings are doing with consumers;
  4. Report - Report on ccTLDs also gives figures on the new gTLD market;
  5. The .AFRICA new gTLD - DCA Trust v ICANN, ZACR Motion to Intervene;
  6. A .LIVE company - An entertainment company leverages the power of social media;
  7. Registration volumes:
    1. New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE;
      (the .LOFT new gTLD was just added to the report)
    2. New gTLDs related to SPORT;
    3. New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL.
  8. Curious name: http://aaa.aaa
Read this info in tonight's Newsletter

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, August 8, 2016

Want to SELL your new gTLD?

Congratulations today to StartingDot who sold its portfolio of new gTLDs to Afilias. The 3 new gTLDs (.SKI - .ARCHI and .BIO) were sold for an undisclosed amount and I bet that it will be "less restricted" to register a ".archi" domain name in a close future. Here is why, the .ARCHI FAQs state:
CAN ANYONE REGISTER A .ARCHI DOMAIN?
No, in order to register a .ARCHI domain name, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • being an individual professional architect or an architecture firm registered as a member of the International Union of Architects (“UIA”) Member Section. The current list of UIA Member Sections and Allied Member Section is available on the UIA website or;
  • being an architecture-related organization (such as schools, museums, professional media, etc.) listed on a dedicated list defined by the APAC (i.e., Archi Policy Advisory Committee which is the supervising and regulatory body of the .ARCHI Domain) in collaboration with the UIA and available here.
Learn more about who can register a .ARCHI domain by reading our Domain Name Policy.
Basically, it means that you must belong to the group of Architects to register a domain name ending in ".archi" and if you don't, you're not supposed to be able to buy one (even if you can at most accredited Registrar). I suspect this is going to change for two reasons:

  1. Afilias usually sells new domain names with no restriction;
  2. The link to the .ARCHI Domain Name Policy is broken ;-);
  3. The Press Release says: "...should enable all 3 of these TLDs to reach their full potential" and this tells a lot.
Is it really a problem if such domain names can be registered by anyone who wants one? I personally don't think so. I even think that selling the portfolio of TLDs now is the best moment to do it since the StartingDot's team has built the .ARCHI's credibility insisting on presenting the .ARCHI new gTLD as the only option for Architects. If Afilias now offers other Registrants to acquire a ".archi" domain name for another use...

Another interesting thing about this acquisition is this little sentence in the press release: "Other Registry Operators interesting in talking with Afilias should contact us at WeBuyTLDs@Afilias.INFO". We don't talk about buying domain names here, we talk about buying complete Registries: a real business today.


News:
  1. Dispute - Hugo Boss recovers domain in cybersquatting dispute (hugoboss.site);
  2. Press Release - Registry acquires Premium TLDs .ARCHI, .BIO and .SKI;
  3. Registration volumes:
    1. New gTLDs related to CITIES;
    2. New gTLDs related to CATERING;
      (the .PAMPEREDCHEF new gTLD was added to the report)
    3. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY.
  4. Virgin Loses URS On The Domain Name VirginMedia.vip;
  5. African brands wiped off the map as ICANN flips the kill switch on 10 gTLDs;
  6. New Internet Security Domains Debut;
  7. Photos & Highlights from the 1st Domain Startup Summit in Santa Monica, California.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, August 5, 2016

Registrars & Support

Congratulations to the .GDN new gTLD which has just passed 200,000 domain name registrations.

I usually don't complain so much to retail Registrars I register domain names with but when it takes up to one or two weeks to solve a simple problem, it means that something is going wrong...somewhere. What worries me more is that support does not answer, even when I am transferring domain name to their company. This is typically something that I don't understand: I am giving you money Gentlemen, please do your job. It is irritating not to receive an answer: if there is a problem, explain it and work with your client to solve it. If it is political...there always is away.

News:
  1. Registration volumes:
    1. HOT - New gTLDs related to GENERICS;
    2. New gTLDs related to CARS;
    3. New gTLDs related to HEALTH.
  2. Congratulations - 200,000 domain names registered for the .GDN new gTLD;
  3. Reference - New gTLD statistics from Statista (new source of info);
  4. Sunrise period - 138 .GAMES applications and increasing;
  5. The contrarian thinking of a .TOP domain investor;
  6. Dirty - Did ICANN manipulate its own processes (.INC -  .LLC -  .LLP)?
  7. Patent - Application for long-lasting domain name registrations filed;
  8. Why Registry Service Providers Should be Accredited by ICANN;
  9. Article - ICANN delegates .BRANDS to Ferrari, Fiat and NBA;
  10. Just delegated new gTLDs:
    1. .LOFT (added to the REAL ESTATE new gTLD report);
    2. .LANCIA (already added to the CARS new gTLD report);
    3. .DODGE (already added to the CARS new gTLD report);
    4. .CBS
    5. .GAP
    6. .QVC
    7. Fast - .MASERATI (already added to the CARS new gTLD report);
    8. .OLDNAVY
    9. .BANANAREPUBLIC
    10. .SHOWTIME
    11. .BLOCKBUSTER
    12. .CALVINKLEIN;
    13. .FIDELITY (added to the FINANCE new gTLD report);
    14. .TARGET
    15. .ABARTH (already added to the CARS new gTLD report);
    16. .ATHLETA
    17. .LATINO
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

An overview of the URS (new gTLDs)

There are a lot of interesting articles to read today and I recommend the reading of the "hot" one I added the link to. I have a "non journalistic" article coming (on CircleId I guess) and I want to send a warm "Hello" (and Good Luck) to my ex-colleagues from CSC Corporate Domains and NetNames: two companies I worked for in the past in London and France.

News:
  1. Sunrise Period for .BLOG is starting soon;
  2. China joins the .CLUB…
  3. Interesting - An Overview of the Uniform Rapid Suspension System (URS);
  4. Explanation - The logic behind "Inkkas.shoes";
  5. New gTLDs - The State of Search;
  6. HOT - Three Ways Unique Domain Names Boost Mobile App Marketing;
  7. Just delegated:
    1. .NBA
      (already added to the SPORT new gTLD report)
    2. .FIAT
      (already added to the CAR new gTLD report)
    3. .MOPAR
      (added to the CAR new gTLD report)
    4. .JUNIPER
    5. Fast - .FERRARI
      (already added to the CAR new gTLD report)
    6. .ALFAROMEO
      (already added to the CAR new gTLD report)
    7. .BOFA
      (added to the FINANCE new gTLD report)
  8. Poll - Will .WEB Become Best Selling New gTLD Extension?
  9. Registration volumes:
    1. New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE;
    2. New gTLDs related to SPORT;
      (the .NBA newgTLD has entered the report with its first registration)
    3. New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL.
  10. Back-End Registry - Radix doubles up on DNS;
  11. A Club to get the right answers: http://wpdiy.club/;
  12. L’Oreal shows cards on former "closed generic" gTLDs.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Podcast & the official Verisign statement on .WEB

Podcast can be boring and not so many have the time to listen to them but it really starts to make sense (to me) with new gTLDs. The latest Domain Name Wire Podcast tells a lot about how the domain name market develops in China: an opportunity to understand why it makes sense to secure a generic new domain name today as a future investment.
  1. Official Statement from Verisign Regarding .WEB Auction Results;
  2. Interesting - .WEB Acquired for $135 Million: Too much? How does it compare?
  3. Domain Name Wire - Verisign releases statement about .WEB;
  4. ACTOR Domain - A Downton Abbey cast member offers professional insight;
  5. Major Corporate Registrar acquires another Corporate Registrar (both had new gTLD clients);
  6. Concept - Almost Free Domains for Almost Everyone;
  7. New gTLDs & Auctions - All about China with Raymond Li and Simon Cousins;
  8. Legal - Losing and/or Reclaiming your New Domain Names (new gTLDs ?);
  9. ICANN - breakdown of Auction proceeds as of 1 August 2016;
  10. The Trademark Clearinghouse Review's Recommendation;
  11. Registration volumes:
    1. HOT - New gTLDs related to COMPANIES (newsletter only); 
    2. New gTLDs related to LAW; 
    3. New gTLDs related to FINANCE
    4. New gTLDs related to COLORS.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, August 1, 2016

Verisign is confirmed as .WEB Registry

A lot of people are talking about the .WEB new gTLD acquisition by Verisign for an amount of $135,000,000. Stories are covered in our Newsletter. Many new gTLDs have been delegated with some dispatched in different of our new gTLD reports.
We are working on a new website with A LOT of content coming. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this website? Contact us now.

News:
  1. The .QUEST new gTLD Sunrise Period starts today;
  2. New Ombudsman begins;
  3. Give .GAY to the gays, roars exiting ombudsman;
  4. ICANN - The .RIO Case study;
  5. IANA Insanity - or, how I learned to stop .worrying and .love the .new .internet;
  6. Registration volumes:
    1. New gTLDs related to CITIES;
    2. New gTLDs related to CATERING;
    3. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY.
  7. Announcement - JCB Launches New Website;
  8. The .WEB auction cover for today:
    1. Excellent read - Why Verisign Bought The .WEB Domain Extension And What NOT To Expect";
    2. Thoughts About Verisign’s $135 Million Dollar .Web Acquisition & What It Means For Domainers;
    3. Article - Verisign Buys .web Domain Rights For US$135 million;
    4. Article - Verisign likely $135 million winner of .web gTLD;
    5. Article - $135 Million Winning Bid for .WEB Sets a Stunning High Water Mark for Rights to Run a New gTLD.
  9. Legal - A new gTLD for the Finance industry;
  10. .PHARMACY new gTLD - Illegal Purchases of Controlled Substances Are Made Easier via Rogue Internet Drug Outlets, Reports NABP.
  11. Just delegated new gTLDs:
    1. The .LILLY new gTLD
      (added to the HEALTH report)
    2. .MCKINSEY
    3. .AFAMILYCOMPANY
    4. .LADBROKES
    5. .UCONNECT
      (added to the CARS report)
    6. .ABC
    7. .HYATT
    8. .INTEL
    9. .GLADE
    10. .PRU
      (not added to the FINANCIAL new gTLD report)
    11. .JEEP
      (already added to the CARS report)
    12. .SRT
      (added to the CARS report)
    13. .VISA
      (added to the FINANCIAL report)
    14. .BANAMEX
      (added to the FINANCIAL report)
    15. .PRAMERICA
    16. .CHRYSLER
      (already added to the CARS report)
    17. .DISCOVER
      (already added to the FINANCIAL report)
    18. .CITI
      (added to the FINANCIAL report)
    19. .AMERICANFAMILY
    20. .HONEYWELL
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Sunrise Period for .QUEST starts

The .QUEST Sunrise Period

WHAT
The .quest gTLD will create a new generation gTLD serving the interests of end users by providing an authoritative Internet space where information about products and services, resources and marketing for the Quest brand will be closely controlled by QNet Ltd. (QNet). The majority of the anticipated domain name registrations in .quest gTLD will be used in the promotion and communication of QNet’s products and services. Registration for second or third level domain names under .quest will be available to both QNet affiliate entities and to those parties appointed as independent representatives of Qnet, in accordance with the registration policy.

WHO
QNet is part of the QI Group of companies, a multinational conglomerate comprising a dynamic group of companies with regional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and a wide range of subsidiary companies in over 30 countries. 

WHEN
  • SUNRISE PERIOD START: Monday, 1 August, 2016 - 16:00
  • SUNRISE PERIOD END: Wednesday, 31 August, 2016 - 16:00
More here.

.BRAND new gTLD Reports are updated once a month: CLICK HERE !