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

The new gTLD info for Thursday, March 17th

These are the NEWS we collected today. We would like to inform our seriously increasing number of readers that we often update each post of the day with more NEWS.
Since we send our Newsletter at night, you can be sure to find all links to entire content in your email once you have subscribed.

1. Coming: the .MOI new gTLD: "moi" is the name of a Village in Romania, it also means "me" or "myself" in French;
2. It will cost $129 (at least) for a 2 letter .SKI domain names (example of .SKI domain name);
3. 4 new gTLD events added to Calzone;
4. The US Court Has Granted an Interim Relief on .AFRICA new gTLD;
5. Socks Sells! Meet ManBrands.club;
6. A Premium new domain name taken back by Registrar?
7. In French - "Car Brands: are they taking a leading role in the new Internet?"
8. LOL: http://trumps.sucks
9. Meetup.NYC: all changes happening in the NYC digital space;
10. Why does the Trademark Clearinghouse prohibits the registration of marks containing a "."?
11. Draft report on New gTLD Program Safeguards Against DNS Abuse;
12. HOT - According to new gTLD applicants, the Spamhaus report is “wholly inaccurate”
13. More coming...

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Monday: the new gTLD info of the day

Buy me on Startup.club

5 Registry agreements signed:

1. .BOSTON (10 december);
2. .CRUISE (10 december);
3. .FREE (10 december);
4. .BEAUTY (3 december);
5. .HAIR (3 december).

https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/registries-date-2013-09-18-en

Not-Coms End the Year on a High (infographic)
The “not-com” movement has made it to prime time. Hundreds of new domain name extensions—the part to the right of the dot—are available to the general public, with hundreds more on the way.
http://www.donuts.domains/donuts-media/blog/not-coms-end-the-year-on-a-high

.WINE: first website spotted
The Jerez DO is the first Designation of Origen, or brand of any kind, in the world to use the newly-available TLD (top-level domain) of .wine, marking an important next level in Sherry Wine’s already well-established internet identity.http://www.sherry.wine/media-trade/news/sherry-worlds-first-use-wine

China Is Making Domain Name History
Short domains have always been valuable, but if you’re a company today and want to own a short domain name, your price just became a lot higher. And I mean a lot.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/12/china-making-domain-name-history/

.GREEN : Receives Top Google Ranking
However, the movie star was concerned she would lose her top page ranking on Google’s search engines. We assured Daphne Zuniga, star of The Sure Thing and Spaceballs, that the switch would be seamless and that the content from her former .net address could easily be transferred, while keeping her ranking on Google the same.
http://www.community.green/green-enjoys-celebrity-status/

BEARD.CLUB
Below is another look at a few developed sites on the new gTLDs. This week includes one example of using a new G as a shortener, and two examples of companies using a new G for a specialty site, as part of an expansion of their network of sites. Screenshots are linked to the sites if you’d like to check them out for yourself.
http://domainshane.com/new-gtld-development-cypher-audio-chat-beard-club-shaving-club-folks/

For The 1st Time Registry Reserved .POKER Domains In Auction
According to a press release we just received, Afilias, a leading domain registry operator, and RightOfTheDot (“ROTD”), a leader in Internet domain name auctions, sales and consulting, have partnered to offer Super Premium .Poker (“dotPoker”) Internet addresses during the NamesCon 2016 auction in Las Vegas on January 11.
http://www.thedomains.com/2015/12/11/for-the-1st-time-registry-reserved-poker-domains-in-auction/

Premium .SKI Domains Hit NamesCon Auction
Some of the most valuable snow skiing and water skiing domain names are being made available for the first time by the .Ski Registry, in the RightOfTheDot / NamesCon live domain Auction being held on January 11, 2016 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time at the NamesCon conference at the New Tropicana Hotel & Casino, online bidding will be available.
http://www.thedomains.com/2015/12/13/premium-ski-domains-hit-namescon-auction-water-ski-jet-ski-shop-ski-i-ski/

.WTF IS UP WITH ALL THESE NEW NOT-COM EXTENSIONS?
Yeah, we’re all familiar with .com, .net and .org. But what about .pizza, .productions, and even, yes, .wtf as a domain extension? These are the cool new kids in town, and the options seem endless. They’re known as “not-coms.”
http://katielinendoll.com/blog/2015/12/11/wtf-is-up-with-all-these-new-not-com-extensions

CSC’s New gTLD Utilization Report – December 2015
Our latest edition of CSC’s New gTLD Utilization Report shows some exciting activity among .brands, with more .brand sites launching and many climbing up the Alexa rankings (including a new entry by Google). We also share some interesting examples of new gTLDs in use and take a closer look at the rapid growth of new gTLDs in China.
http://www.digitalbrandinsider.com/cscs-new-gtld-utilization-report-december-2015/

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The new gTLD info of the day (Tuesday)

Domain Name Law and Practice (new gTLDs)
New chapters on Corporate Domain Name Management, the Trademark Clearing House, Sunrise Procedures and the Trademark Claims Service; the Uniform Rapid Suspension System; and Trademark Post Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/domain-name-law-and-practice-9780199663163?q=bettinger&lang=en&cc=dk#

New gTLD Bach-end Registry CentralNic acquires Rival
Domain name specialist CentralNic (LON:CNIC) has unveiled a transformational deal to acquire an Aussie rival for almost £16mln (A$33mln).
http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/120159/centralnic-unveils-transformational-16mln-acquisition-120159.html

Blocking New gTLDs, ICANN's 'Shadiest' Top-level Domains, Wholesale
"ICANN is not a regulator and we have limited expertise or authority to assess thelegality of ... [a new gTLD registry operator's] activities."- Allen Grogan, ICANN Chief Contract Compliance Officer, 09 Apr 2015 (emphasis added)
http://www.domainmondo.com/2015/12/icanns-shadiest-top-level-domains.html

ICANN soon to teach us about new gTLDs
We are working on a few different courses that include a lot of info about new gTLDs. Should be done in a 1-2 month timeframe.
http://learn.icann.org/blog/45026/welcome

Premium .SKI web addresses offered for sale
Names like tour.ski, info.ski, school.ski and free.ski will be offered as part of this agreement, through a high profile auction being held online for a full week starting December 10, 2015.
http://www.domains.ski/premium-ski-web-addresses-such-as-water-ski-jet-ski-resort-ski-and-shop-ski-offered-for-sale/

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

.SKI & .MANGO Sunrise Periods start today

1. .SKI new gTLD:
   
   SUNRISE PERIOD START: Wednesday, 1 July, 2015 - 16:00
   SUNRISE PERIOD END: Sunday, 30 August, 2015 - 16:00
2. .MANGO new gTLD:
   SUNRISE PERIOD START: Wednesday, 1 July, 2015 - 16:00
   SUNRISE PERIOD END: Sunday, 2 August, 2015 - 16:00

Source: http://www.trademark-clearinghouse.com/gtld-calendar.

Participate in the .SKI Sunrise Period with Nameshield