Monday, October 31, 2016

dotBRAND new gTLDs: is Nomulus the Answer?

Google announced Nomulus: a tool to operate a new generic Top-Level Domains technically. In the world of new gTLDs, this announcement sounds like it is going to replace, or come as an alternative to backend registries. It could, but this sounding is incomplete.
Read why Nomulus could or could not be a solution

Update on new gTLDs' registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to CATERING;
  • New gTLDs related to CITIES (hot);
  • New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY.
Tonight's new gTLDs' Newsletter: subscribe here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. ICANN files motion to dismiss Donuts’ .Web lawsuit;
  2. Cost of Donuts’ DPML trademark protection service to soar;
  3. .CLUB注册局已不再保留删除和掉落域名!
  4. Root Stability Study Draft Report Available;
  5. ICANN to terminate Guardian’s last gTLD;
  6. Registered Participants of the Global Internet and Jurisdiction Conference;
  7. Real estate terms sell for big bucks in .nyc domain name auction;
  8. KSK Rollover Operations Begin;
  9. Is Nomulus the Answer?
    Google announced Nomulus: a tool to operate a new generic Top-Level Domains technically. In the world of new gTLDs, this announcement sounds like it is going to replace, or come as an alternative to backend registries. It could, but this sounding is incomplete:
    1. Understanding how it works;
    2. What about Nomulus?
    3. Facts;
    4. Patience is a virtue.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, October 28, 2016

New gTLD acquisition for 1 million Euros

1 million Euros is the budget I was allocated for the acquisition of a new gTLD. After discussing with a certain number of applicants, it now seems clear that this is not enough. With the level of investment required to create a new gTLD, it is something I understand but I didn't speak to everyone.

I could not talk to all applicants so here is the pitch:
  • We look for an "as generic as possible" TLD;
  • We won't pay more than €1M;
  • We do not need to change backend registry;
  • Our intention is to deploy the TLD (increase the number of domain names registered);
  • We could also be interested in acquiring a .BRAND new gTLD.
So if you want to talk to us, contact Jovenet Consulting.


Update on new gTLDs' registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to CARS;
  • New gTLDs related to HEALTH;
  • Good read - Generic new gTLDs.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. List of prohibited new gTLDs;
  2. The Trademark Clearinghouse turns 3;
  3. Good read - How can local domains help your quality score?
  4. The 2016 Yunqi Conference (new gTLDs);
  5. 250 people want a .SRD new gTLD;
  6. Specialty Top Level Domain Names: Are They Worth It?
  7. ICANN has $400m in the bank;
  8. Donuts asks judge to allow limited discovery;
  9. UPDATE: Brands unleash scathing review of ‘.feedback’ seek investigation against registry;
  10. Universal Acceptance Steering Group: A Year of Progress;
  11. Plan for Thin to Thick Whois Transition Available for Public Comment;
  12. Next ICANN board agenda;
  13. Renewal of .TEL Registry Agreement;
  14. Investment of Auction Proceeds;
  15. Two-Character Domain Names in the New gTLD Namespace;
  16. Consideration of the Corn Lake, LLC v. ICANN Independent Review Process Final Declaration;
  17. Updated resources for Pre-Delegation Testing (PDT);
  18. Donuts’ application for .Charity lives again.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Nomulus: what do you think?

I am working on an article related to Domulus, the new backend registry tool offered by Google to existing applicants, and new ones willing to submit a new gTLD application in "Round 2" of the ICANN new gTLD program.
I look for first impressions from potential interested parties in this tool. Please contact me.

Update on new gTLDs' registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs for COMPANIES: the domain name extensions in which companies should secure their name (see tonight's Newsletter);
  • New gTLDs related to the LAW: Corporate Registrar FairWinds Partners, a domain name strategy consultancy company, also sole Corporate Registrar to have applied for its own .BRAND new gTLD, has now 4 new domain names registered (ending in ".fairwinds");
  • New gTLDs related to the COLORS;
  • New gTLDs related to FINANCE: the .ACCOUNTANT new gTLD loses 6,000 registrations;
  • New gTLDs related to CATERING;
  • New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY: the .ART new gTLD now has 10 domain name registered and website says it should launch in November 2016 but no official announcement has been made yet.
  • New gTLDs related to CITIES.

Tonight's new gTLDs' Newsletter: subscribe here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. gTLD Marketplace Health Index Metrics;
  2. Il punto davanti a Roma e Milano (article about new gTLDs in Italian with info on coming new gTLD project);
  3. Chinese Naming Tip: Sometimes even words that sound negative in their English translation (for example “poisonous chicken soup”) can have a more trendy and positive meaning in Chinese usage, making it a more valuable and brandable domain name as well: read the full story;
  4. Ending soon: .网站 (web) Sunrise Period
  5. Have you claimed your digital real estate?
  6. New gTLD .WEB and .AMAZON update;
  7. Busting the Myths of Not-Com Domain Names;
  8. NewG talk #9: the usual strong performers (.top, .club, .site, .bid, .vip, .online) continued their uptrend.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

NOMULUS

I remember reading the list of freshly published new gTLD applications on the ICANN website in 2012. Checking the list, I found a .AND new gTLD: a prohibited string since "and" is an ISO 3 code, the kind of 3 letters TLD prohibited by the new gTLD applicant guidebook. The application came from Google and since then I thought: who in the world has enough money but Google to submit a $185,000 application for something that is prohibited? At the time, it really pissed me off because I lacked so much money to participate in this first round of the ICANN new gTLD program alone.

Today: Google announces "Nomulus"
Reading between the lines of this blog post, I have questions:
  • who is going to take advantage of this? Registrars for future new gTLD applicants?
  • what about existing back-end registry providers? Isn't this going to cause trouble for round 2 of the ICANN new gTLD program?
  • Doesn't this mean that prices are going to drop?
  • Isn't the future of launching a new gTLD the same as we register a domain name today? ;-)
  • Is Ben McIlwain going to receive a lot of emails in the next few days?
  • Is Google going to announce its new gTLD offer for Round two of the ICANN new gTLD program?
  • Do I want to do the promotion of his offer?
Google demonstrates here, once again, its capacity to understand the market. I then predict more .BRAND new gTLD applications in Round 2. Kudos Google.

New domain name registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to FINANCE;
  • New gTLDs related to the LAW;
  • New gTLDs related to COLORS.
Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here. Today is Tuesday

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. New ICANN report reveals China’s drive to become a dominant player in new gTLDs;
  2. 6,000 .LAW domains registered in a year;
  3. Donuts will cut off sham .DOCTORS;
  4. Great results from attending dmexco 2016: partners from Radix, Boston Ivy, Rightside, .CLUB, .SHOP and .TUBE registries and many more were on hand to share information and create awareness about their domains to marketers, advertisers and other digital media professionals. Read the full story;
  5. NewG talk #8 : see how much an extension depends on China. In this respect, .WANG and .REN are almost exclusive for Chinese buyers;
  6. Rotary Clubs start to use ".club" domains: http://rotaryecb.club/;
  7. Re-renewal rates on new TLDs higher than original renewals;
  8. .COM Registrations Continue to Rise, Unphased by New gTLDs;
  9. A recent study commissioned by ICANN reveals despite introduction and growth of new gTLDs, .COM and other legacy TLDs have remained steady and rising.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, October 17, 2016

2 new gTLDs are dropping domain names

The food and beverage TLDs .REST and .BAR will release over 20,000 previously unavailable domains, including valuable keywords, geographics, numerics and category killers, for general registration through accredited registrars on October 19. At least 50% of the new name pool will be made available at standard pricing while names like tapas.bar, rock.bar, manhattan.bar, asian.rest, pho.rest and grill.rest will follow a tiered premium pricing model.

The release will be made exclusively available to registrars integrated with CentralNic, the registry’s technical backend provider.

New domain name registration volumes:

Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

What you missed in last Friday's Newsletter:
  1. Conference - Global Internet and Jurisdiction Conference (DOMAINS & JURISDICTION): how can the neutrality of the technical layers of the Internet be preserved when enforcing national jurisdictions on the Domain Name System? When: November 14-16 Paris, France.
  2. Chinese new gtlds: this is the list of Chinese IDNs (new generic Top-Level Domains);
  3. What to Expect at ICANN57: a Guide for Business Stakeholders;
  4. On domain renewals (and re-renewals);
  5. Rightside new gTLD renewals can top 80%
  6. Infographic: the Domain Name Revolution And You!
  7. Conference - Brands & Domains. The Event dedicated to Brands: 1 December Valencia, Spain
  8. What’s “Hot” In China? Recently, the term “xiao xian rou” became very popular in China (read the full story);
  9. New gTLDs that you have sold that is now used by companies;
  10. French: Comment les nouveaux gTLD sont-ils utilisés?
  11. .XXX to get lower ICANN fees, accept the URS.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The .RESULT new gTLD

Yesterday's post generated a funny reaction: I received two answers related to my client's request to acquire a new gTLD and I am following-up on this. I also received A LOT of offers from domainers trying to sell their domain names. Sorry for this confusion.
A new gTLD is a new "domain name extension", not a "domain name", we also use these wordings:
  • "first level domain";
  • "TLD";
  • "Top-Level Domain";
  • "new generic Top-Level domain".
I sign NDAs for anybody who wants to discuss selling its Top-Level Domain(s) so feel free to send them to me.

New domain name registration volumes:
Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. Good read - Choosing ".com" because it's what everyone else does? Think twice.
  2. Firms have embraced new Top Level Domains;
  3. ICANN Struggles With Its Domains Marketplace Index;
  4. Good read - Slow Motion Train Wreck;
  5. Top-level domain expansion increases online security risk;
  6. French Government Launches Service on a .TAXI;
  7. New gTLDs related to Companies;
  8. XYZ hires .top guy as first China employee;
  9. The .Com Cliff is .Coming;
  10. .NYC releases 3,800 domains;
  11. Universal Acceptance Compliance at ICANN;
  12. Sunrise Period: the .GOOG new gTLD has started (details here).
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

I am buying a new gTLD

I was recently contacted for the acquisition of an existing domain name extension.

My client wants to acquire either a .BRAND new gTLD or a generic TLD.

Contact Jovenet Consulting if you are interested in:
  • receiving an offer;
  • give us your price.
Thank you.

New domain name registration volumes:
The .GOOG Sunrise Period has begun
  • SUNRISE PERIOD START: Tuesday, 11 October, 2016 - 16:00;
  • SUNRISE PERIOD END: Saturday, 10 December, 2016 - 16:00
More here

Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. .GAMES is continuing to expand;
  2. The .XYZ new gTLD expansion;
  3. NewG talk #7: .TOP has the best performance among this group, with growth of about 200k in the last 4 weeks. .CLUB also shows its strength by exceeding 800k in registration for the first time: read the full story
  4. Registrar drops support for .XYZ;
  5. $270 for .GAY;
  6. TOP LEVEL DOMAIN (TLD) DAN BAGAIMANA PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP SEBUAH WEBSITE (something about new gTLDs in another language);
  7. Cifras actuales de los nuevos gTLD en España y a nivel mundial.
Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Friday, October 7, 2016

New gTLDs: new announcements from the TMCH

The Trademark Clearinghouse just announced more Sunrise Periods, many are from Amazon. The new gTLD concerned are:
  1. the .食品 (food). The TLD was added to the CATERING weekly new gTLD report;
  2. the .ファッション (fashion);
  3. the .ストア (store);
  4. the .家電 (consumer electronics);
  5. the .書籍 (book);
  6. the .クラウド (cloud);
  7. the .BABY;
  8. the .GOOG (Google and its affiliates will be the sole registrants).
New domain name registration volumes:
Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. HOT - The silent evolution of domain names:
    1. An industry that is finally maturing;
    2. Will this evolution in naming work?
    3. How big Is the market, really?
    4. The big league;
    5. The future is already here.
  2. CRAP - The 10 Most Abused Top Level Domains;
  3. Good read - Famous Domainer talks about new gTLDs;
  4. Registration volumes: Donuts Inc provides another source of info;
  5. Two Great Videos For Entrepreneurs, From new gTLD Entrepreneurs;
  6. French - "Le.taxi";
  7. For .CLUB resellers: domain names can be bought at the retail price of $1,99 (details here);
  8. The .CAM Sunrise Period has started.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Most abused new gTLDs

Difficult not to stop on that report, published yesterday, on TOP 10 most abused new gTLDs. I stopped on the first two lines of the report and noticed something about "Registries allowing accredited Registrars to sell to spammers".

If I agree that Registrars and Registries sell domain names for profit (is there something wrong about this?), I disagree with what this report says: when it comes to selling domain names, one of the reasons why ICANN allows a Registry to be a Registry is that a Registry cannot select who it sells to (even "Community new gTLD applications" do not select who they sell to).

At the end of the report, I also read that Registries should do some cleaning to turn spammers away. Can someone help me understand how a Registry can do some cleaning?
A client who pays is a client who pays and unless I missed something, isn't this an important subject that the ICANN tried to solve prior to the first Round of the ICANN new gTLD program to begin?

Read this strange report in tonight's Newsletter.

New domain name registration volumes:
Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The .CAM new gTLD Sunrise Period starts

The Trademark clearinghouse is opening the .CAM Sunrise Period.

Sunrise Period:
  • START: Thursday, 6 October, 2016 - 16:00;
  • END: Monday, 5 December, 2016 - 16:00.
Mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD:
The TLD is intended to benefit internet users by providing a designated namespace for people, organizations and businesses to provide websites and services related to cameras, photography and film-making. The Company is an established internet services business, providing services to 1 million users per day across the globe, and with the first company in our corporate group in operation since 1994.
The TLD will be an Internet space, under control of The Company, to allow the creation, distribution and exchange of entertainment, information and services involving and related to cameras, photography, broadcasting and film-making. The TLD will cater to a broad array of personal, commercial and community interests by means of, but not limited to, webcams, websites, social networks, email and other technologies that will reside within the .CAM domain name space. In addition, ancillary services may be provided in relation to registration of domains within the TLD, including but not limited to webcam and⁄or website hosting, SEO, marketing and consulting services.
Today, there are many uses for cameras in combination with internet distribution and⁄or other services. To name just a few examples, “webcams” are used for monitoring and security, video calling and videoconferencing, and for entertainment purposes. One of the most popular internet destinations, YouTube, amply demonstrates the breadth of use of cameras in combination with internet technology to create a wide array of information and entertainment for all sorts of people across the globe. The .CAM TLD will allow anyone to have their own domain name to offer their own information, entertainment and⁄or other services combining the wonders of photography with the wonders of the internet.
The Company intends for .CAM names to be registered and used by persons and entities with an interest in providing entertainment, information and services related to cameras, photography, broadcasting and⁄or film-making to interested consumers. Any person or entity will be able to register a .CAM domain name, provided that they represent that they will use the domain name for legitimate purposes involving and⁄or related to cameras, photography, and⁄or film-making.
Registration volumes:
The .CAM new gTLD has been added to the PHOTOGRAPHY new gTLD report and will be updated weekly.

Details
More details about the Sunrise Period can be found on the official website of the Trademark Clearinghouse.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

China starts to pay interest in legacy .TEL gTLD

China is the new eldorado for Registries and a reason of this is very simple: people from the Republic of China buy more and more domain names. For Registries, this is a market where it is important to have a presence. Recently, many Registries and back-end Registries participated in conferences in China to introduce themselves: the closer to the buyer...the better.
Note that this post is not about what Chinese do with their domain names (use, park, spam, squat, resell) but about the fact that it is important for Registries and Back-ends to sell domain names:
  1. To install them on the market: the more domains the greater visibility;
  2. Profitability: many domains, once bought, are renewed once a year.
At some point in its history, the .TEL Registry had 325,000 registrations. The .TEL registration volumes dropped below 100,000 in July 2016. In August 2016 they reached 96,611 domain name registrations. Then, they suddenly started to increase again progressively and reach the 103,000 registrations.

It appears that a Chinese template was recently created for the concept of .TEL domains and that could be an explanation.

New domain name registration volumes:
Tonight's new gTLD Newsletter:
To receive our free Newsletter, register here.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:
  1. Webinar DPML Plus (by the TMCH): Tuesday 11 October 2016, 16:00 [UTC]. Register here;
  2. What to Do When .com Is Taken;
  3. Roots hits 1,500 live TLDs as US oversight ends;
  4. Minds and Machines: Accepting tender offer and increase in position (by an insider/investor in multiple new gTLD applications);
  5. .CLUB Wins “Registry of the Year” at The Domain Conference 2016;
  6. The .XYZ pollution;
  7. New gTLDs "UA" (UA = Universal Acceptance): What the UA Group is fighting for at ICANN;
  8. Round 2: not before 2018?
  9. New gTLDs related to "COMPANIES" (Which new domain names should a company secure).

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday, October 3, 2016

.BRAND new gTLDs: Google shows the way

Good to know
The .CLUB Registry is stopping to renew dropped domain names. How to understand this:
  1. These domain names are going to be available on the market so it is expected that some Premium domain names will be made available for around $10 at Uniregistry when they would have cost much more.
  2. All won't be free to register at a small price because there are specialized domain name platforms out there that will register them to auction them. In one word, it means that you will have to bid.
  3. Hurry-up because domainers are always the first one informed about this: it started on October the first.
  4. Where to go: here to check, and here to buy your next Premium ".club domain name.
Google, the .BRAND way
You might have noticed that Google just launched its first .BRAND new gTLD: it is blog.google. Surprisingly, this News looks like an answer from this post from last Thursday.

Apple: something coming?
When thinking about Google's moves, I like it to check what followers are doing so I hit "site:.apple" and found the below. Did you see notice the "store.apple"?


New domain name registration volumes:
  • New gTLDs related to CITIES (check for the .DUBAI new gTLD);
  • New gTLDs related to CATERING;
  • New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY;
  • French connotations (some new gTLDs were removed from the list);
  • HOT - Generic new gTLDs;
  • New gTLDs related to CARS;
  • New gTLDs related to HEALTH.
Tonight's Newsletter:
To subscribe and receive the latest NEWS in your email, click here.

In last Friday's Newsletter:
  1. A Look at New gTLDs Numbers… We're Doing Good;
  2. HOT - New Case Studies (.CARS, .CAR, and .AUTO);
  3. HOT - Top 3 e-commerce new gTLD registration performance;
  4. Brand bunfight: the .PHARMACY new gTLD;
  5. The .BLOG Sunrise Period end in 2 weeks;
  6. .GLOBAL just dumped a lot of interesting data;
  7. Dominion Registries Partners With NCC Group;
  8. New gTLD domain names not functioning in edge?
  9. Yale Law Professor Zeros in on Discriminatory Treatment of .GAY
  10. A New Blogger’s Guide to Selecting a Domain Name;
  11. Get In On China's Hot Video Trends With Fully-Chinese Domain Names.
Previous Campaigns can be viewed on www.newsletter.domains.

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

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