New gTLDS from Microsoft and Amazon

The ICANN TLD Startup information page was just updated with information from Microsoft and Amazon. Unfortunately, the teal in charge of setting up this page does not mention what the updates are until one is able to dig on the ICANN website to find the information. Apparently, not much is going on for the .BRAND Top-Level Domains listed from Microsoft but two TLDs from Amazon updated their Trademark claims periods.

Microsoft new gTLD updates:

1. .AZURE
2. .BING
3. .HOTMAIL
4. .MICROSOFT
5. .WINDOWS
6. .XBOX

Amazon new gTLD updates:

1. “.書籍” is a TLD in Japanese language characters that mean “book” in English (surprisingly, it is a Chinese language character too).
2. “.ファッション” is a TLD in Japanese language characters that mean “fashion” in English.

The two Trademark claims periods end on 04 February 2025. The strange thing about these two is that they are not even listed on the official Amazon Registry website.

New gTLDs : fast News

I noticed a few news recently:

• The .CSC dotBrand new gTLD was terminated.
• Two Trademark Claims Period were changed on two Amazon IDN new gTLDs.
• The .BOT new gTLD changes date for its Trademark Claims Period.
•   The .大众汽车 new gTLD was revoked.
• Verisign on .WEB: "VeriSign believes Afilias' application is without merit".
• A Public Accelerator-Incubator announced that it acquired a TLD.
• Google does not factor in TLDs directly when ranking websites. So, your coffee shop will not be penalized for choosing “.coffee”.
• New gTLD updates "for the French": Jovenet.fr

Check all these updates on the new gTLD group I moderate on LikedIn (2,900 subscribers).

.AMAZON : Approved !

This is what the paragraph from the latest "Approved Board Resolutions | Special Meeting of the ICANN Board" says on consideration of Amazon Corporation’s proposal on ACTO member states continuing concerns (.AMAZON New gTLD Application):

Resolved (2019.05.15.13), the Board finds the Amazon corporation proposal of 17 April 2019 acceptable, and therefore directs the ICANN org President and CEO, or his designee(s), to continue processing of the .AMAZON applications according to the policies and procedures of the New gTLD Program. This includes the publication of the Public Interest Commitments (PICs), as proposed by the Amazon corporation, for a 30-day public comment period, as per the established procedures of the New gTLD program.

What's of interest to me
I did a copy-paste of the below because that is what is happening next...at least that is what the paper says. The future will tell about reality:

The April 2019 proposal included, in addition to the creation of a joint Steering Committee, the following commitments:

1. “Not use as domain names in each .AMAZON TLD those terms that have a primary and well-recognized significance to the culture and heritage of the Amazonia region;
2. Provide nine domain names in each .AMAZON TLD to be used for non-commercial purposes by ACTO and its member states to enhance the visibility of the region; and
3. Block from all use up to 1500 domain names in each .AMAZON TLD that have a primary and well recognized significance to the culture and heritage of the Amazonia region”

The Amazon corporation also notes in its proposal that its TLDs would be “highly-restricted .BRANDs” and that “Amazon would only register domain names that align with its global brand strategy so that the .AMAZON TLDs are strongly affiliated with the reputation of the Amazon brand, which should eliminate concerns of ACTO and its member states that third parties will abusively use the TLDs.”

Finally, the Amazon corporation stated that it would host the nine domain names noted above and would make use of “proactive security controls paired with reactive and detective controls to offer the most comprehensive approach to security” related to the “provisioning and configuration of .AMAZON domains.”

Read the full story.

Using the ".bot" new gTLD

The .BOT new gTLD has not launched yet but, according to Domain Name Wire, it appears that it was presented in Las Vegas recently. This domain name extension was delegated in December 2015 - two years ago - and belongs to Amazon.

This is what the Registry says about it:

1. Identity: use a .BOT domain name to communicate your bot offering to the world and claim your unique identity to represent yourself in the bot community.
2. Pioneer: if you are an early adopter and use bots to engage your audience, get your .BOT domain name early. Go ahead, be the pioneer that you are.
3. Innovate: .BOT will bring the bot developer and user community together with tools and an online space that is all about bots and associated services.

A TLD dedicated to...Bots

Obviously, these domain names were created to offer an identity to those willing to introduce the service of their bot online.

If this makes perfect sense to me since the word "bot" easily allows to identify the universe of bots, I know I shouldn't be writing this but I personally hate it when I receive an answer from a bot. I tried some of the one offered on Skype and I got rid of them since they sounded like stupid answering machine trying to remind me about things that I didn't really care about.

"Automation, automation and automation"

Bots are a developing, this is a reality. Banks want them, call centers are already using them, and whatever one think, it is more affordable to use a bot rather than an employee, it's even faster (and again, I hate to write this).

After introducing its Messenger bot platform in 2016 Facebook went from 33,000 bots to more than 100,000 to talk to its customers. Stock trading bots are already very efficient too. So, are bots part of the future? Possibly. Are .BOT domain names the TLD bots makers will use to introduce their work? That's quite possible too. In a close future? Time and how Amazon will market it will tell.

Amazon Lex
Buy the way, did you check amazon Lex?

Amazon looks for a gTLD Registry Counsel

Counsel will support the Amazon Registry Services business on a broad range of commercial contracting, licensing, technology, and regulatory matters relating to gTLD registries. Counsel will work directly with business teams, providing day-to-day advice, resolving issues that arise in existing commercial relationships and addressing pre-litigation legal disputes and inquiries. Counsel’s principal duties will include structuring, drafting and negotiating complicated technology, distribution, licensing, marketing, and other commercial agreements, including agreements with third parties in the domain name space. Counsel will also provide ongoing legal counseling in a wide range of areas relating to intellectual property, including contractual relationships, data protection, and regulatory compliance. Limited travel (domestic and international) may be required. The successful candidate must be inquisitive, enthusiastic about technology, have a sense of humor, be business minded and demonstrate sound judgment even in ambiguous situations.

Basic qualifications

• 5+ years of legal experience (with at least three years at a leading law firm or in house) as a transactional attorney, preferably with focused experience in specialized IT contracts and/or the domain name system
• Familiarity with trademark and copyright law
• A J.D. degree and membership in good standing in at least one state bar
• Limited travel (domestic and international) may be required

Preferred qualifications

• In house experience at a technology company
• Familiarity with cross-jurisdictional contracting issues is a plus
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams
• Common sense, great judgment, and a good sense of humor

Apply here.

The new gTLD info for Thursday the 3rd

I published a new report related to sports and new gTLDs. It is pending publication on CircleId. I appreciate comments and will be happy to add new domain name extensions I may have forgotten.

1. The ICANN new gTLD program: both a success and mess?
2. HOT - How Google plans tu use its .GOOGLE new gTLD;
3. Multilingual Top-Level Domains;
4. Will you buy a domain name ending in .BET?
5. The .HOMES new gTLD is launching soon;
6. Is Amazon planning to become a Registrar for its own new domain name extensions?
7. Registry to give domain names away during conference (for one year).

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The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

New extension of the domain names: turmoil concerning .AMAZON !

Having been appointed by ICANN to represent the interest of the online community as regard to the delegation of new extensions, the IO could take charge of questions concerning public interest and the community’s objections when none objected to the application.

The famous online marketplace highlighted that there is a conflict of interest arising from the close ties between the IO and the government representing the Amazonian communities (Brazil and Peru) whereas he can act only on behalf of Internet users. Thus, his objection would only aim at formalising the objection of the governments. Alain Pellet denied the charges by affirming that the link simply results from a “normal average social life”.

Read the article on gTLD.club:
http://gtld.club/2014/04/02/new-extension-of-the-domain-names-turmoil-concerning-amazon/