Latest ICANN Board Workshop at ICANN82

Extracted from the article : "New gTLD Program: Next Round: The Board reviewed the implementation status of the next round, including the development of the gTLD application processing project, progress on the new Base Registry Agreement, the approval process for vendor contracts, and upcoming milestones for the Applicant Guidebook".

Learn more: https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/recap-of-the-march-board-workshop-and-icann82-07-04-2025-en

New generic Top-Level Domains: a few things I noticed in November 2023

In November 2023, some new generic Top-Level Domains "changed status", here is what I noticed:

• There is an Independent Review Process which is dated 9 June 2019: it is the one about .GCC. The panel was confirmed seven months after it was initiated and as of today: "No hearings are currently scheduled" (more here).
• Five Top-Level Domains (new domain name extensions) were revoked in November and one was transferred. The revoked TLDs are:
• the .VOLKSWAGEN new gTLD
• .ETISALAT
• .اتصالات
• .ROCHER
• .KINDER
• the .PROPERTY Top-Level Domain was transferred.
• Google Registry launches new .MEME top-level domain (more here).
• Funny: the .CFD new gTLD is listed in the Registries' Top 10 with more than a million domain names created (more here). 
• Comments on Preliminary Determination were opened for two Top-Level Domains to be terminated (more here):
• .XFINITY
• .COMCAST
• The TLD Startup information page from the ICANN (that actually very few understand) was updated on seven TLDs (more here):
• the .BOFA Top-Level Domain
• .AEG
• .BLOOMBERG
• .PICTET
• .TATOO
• .FOOD
• .DIY ("do it yourself")

Keep an eye on GoDaddy Registry for the next Round of the ICANN new gTLD program. Here is why.

The next round of the ICANN new gTLD program is coming and applicants will need to select a backend registry provider. This publication is not a paid one and I am not pointing to one specific provider. This is just "what I would do" if I needed to select a service provider in the two cases below:

1. A backend Registry for a .BRAND new gTLD application;
2. A backend Registry for a new gTLD project dedicated to selling domain names, whatever type of application: community, generic or geographic.

Which .BRAND new gTLD Backend registry provider?

I often wonder why Trademarks have to pay more for the exact same service as other standard users. In this example, I am referring to registries who sell domain names. My explanation here is that the second type of applicants usually has a team in place with knowledge and it is not necessary to pay for a certain number os services a .BRAND applicant would pay for. This is why the first type of applicant should pay more: the new gTLD procedure - whatever type of application - is one that requires knowledge in the long run. When the knowledge is not there...someone should pay for it. I guess it is why .BRAND applicant types should pay...more.

When it comes to the price, technically speaking, it is the exact same at the backend registry level. If you have one paid created domain name or 1 million, the process is the same so the price should be to me per domain name: it is the type of pricing I would look for as an applicant. Price can actually be below $1 per domain name created.

I would personally hunt for the cheapest offer at any provider with references. I am familiar with providers' blabla and as long as mine can help me reach out to the interface where I can press the button and create my personalized domain names, OK with me. I would also be careful with things such as ICANN reporting, compliance, monitoring, and escrow: my provider should be able to deal with these questions (note that some have a cost). Also, most backends can help you connect directly at your existing registrar so the technique should not be a problem.

Which new gTLD Backend Registry provider to sell domain names?

What I am going to write should probably not please everyone but this would be my way of thinking if I had to select a backend registry. There is one thing that I noticed about the first round of the ICANN new program: none of the applicants projections were there in terms of sales volumes. A new gTLD applicant who wants to "sell" domain names should select a backend registry that has the capacity to help him sell; and selling is very hard to achieve when creating a new registry. No, you will not sell one million domain names per year in the next round.

There are already many known names in the industry: many ccTLD providers offer such service, Core, Centralnic...but there is one that I am really following closely for this one very specific reason: selling should be the number one objective.

In the first round of new gTLDs and even today, all registries wanted to have their domain names on the number one selling platform worldwide: a Registrar. A Registrar is where domain names are sold to final end users (Registrants).

Yes, there is one major Registrar and it is the number one in terms of volumes. When a registry sells domain names, his domains need lots of visibility and the best visibility to receive is to be present on that number one selling platform worldwide. The problem here is that there are lots of registries, some with niche extensions of no interest, and ALL want to exist at THIS Registrar and at the same time. This Registrar is GoDaddy, it has a small frontpage but it serves the world: it is there where you want to be to sell your domain names fast.

Good news, following the acquisition of another provider, this Registrar is now a Backend Registry too and this is recent.

If a Registry (which includes the choice of a backend registry provider) is not allowed to differentiate Registrars in terms of pricing or whatever other service, it does not mean that it cannot instantly allow his client to appear at his Registrar and it is precisely this that I would negotiate with GoDaddy Registry if I were to become their client: "sign me in but have me at your Registrar in the long run, and on front page for at least a few months".

Remember that not all domain names extensions are available at GoDaddy and there is a reason for this:

• There are too many extensions with low volumes (which also means that they are not profitable enough for GoDaddy),
• Be on front page of GoDaddy is probably not a free service so why would GoDaddy bother about an extension...which is hosted at another backend registry provider? Wouldn't you focus on your client's success instead of those of another provider? Of course you would.
• Also and that is very important, GoDaddy can generate an income thank to its famous Registrar but also now, thank to its backend registry service so again: why bother about adding an extension to its Registrar platform where it would earn on the Registrar service only (selling domain names)?
• Adding a new extension requires time and effort.

What Backend Registry offer I would consider:

1. A full offer where the backend registry also submits and follows the submission of my application at the ICANN: not a third party nor a lawyer with no ICANN knowledge.
2. Knowledge of my provider about a possible objection and how to face it.
3. A capacity to accredit my extension at the backend registry's Registrar(s) if it has any. Note that many backend registries are not public Registrars and Registrars are the mandatory network to sell domain names.
4. A provider who has passed the ICANN technical accreditation: if there are more than 1,000 applications in the next round, no one knows if all applications will be submit and validated. What about those new backend registry providers who are not yet accredited by the ICANN: wouldn't it be less risky to select one that is already accredited?

Note that this is a personal thought on how I would think to select a backend registry provider. Since it is yet too early to submit an application, most offers are not available online and even when they will be, not everything will be written so there will be space to negotiate. I also hope this publication will help backend registries to build their offers. Note that some backend registries sold their business...but there are new comers approaching.

How exciting :-)

Sunrise Details updated for .BOT new gTLD

Some details from the .BOT Sunrise Period were just updated:

• Trademark Claims Period: 04 November 2020 to 03 February 2021;
• Limited Registration Period: LRP 2 - 5 Dec 2017 to 3 Nov 2020.

Reminder about the mission of the .BOT registry:

• To provide a unique and dedicated platform while simultaneously protecting the integrity of Amazon’s brand and reputation.
• The .BOT registry will:
• Offer a stable and secure foundation for online communication and interaction.
• Provide a platform for innovation.

Learn more about the update here.

The .BUZZ Explosion

This title might sound crazy but it appears that I must have missed something: the .BUZZ new gTLD added 60,000+ domain names to its records...in one single month.

March 2019
In March 2019, the .BUZZ new gTLD hardly passed the 10,000 domain name registrations: its contract was signed in October 2013 and already passed the 10,000 registrations several times (and went below) but never went above 12,000 regs until August 2019.

August 2019
When a Registry navigates around 10,000 records and adds 5000 from a month to the other, this is to be noticed,but 60,000...is highly noticed. Checking the outdated news from 2018 at the Registry website, nothing explains such an explosion of domain name registrations.

There is something here that I need to understand. Let's ask Bill Doshier.

Answer from Bill just received :

Hi Jean,

Thanks for noticing.

Briefly,  a one month very successful test run in Asia. Very pleased here. Looking for additional opportunities.  More to come.

Bill.

Thank you Bill. 

Official Agreement signed between .BEST and .FR

The document is available for download in French down this post.

Le .Best conclut un accord de partenariat historique avec le .fr pour favoriser l’adoption des noms de domaine en France !

Paris, le 3 Juillet 2019 – THE BEST, la première et seule entreprise Française à avoir réussi à racheter une Nouvelle Extension Générique Internet : le .Best, est heureux d’annoncer la conclusion d’un accord de partenariat historique en France avec l’Afnic, l’association en charge des noms de domaine en .fr et premier registre internet français.

Ensemble, .Best et .fr encouragent ainsi l’adoption des noms de domaine sur le marché français. C’est une alliance entre 2 entreprises Françaises, qui placent les valeurs éthiques de l’internet et l’excellence au premier plan.

Cet accord permettra notamment d’offrir gratuitement un nom de domaine en .Best à tous les utilisateurs qui enregistreront un nom de domaine en .fr chez tous les bureaux d’enregistrement Français partenaires de cette opération.

“Nous sommes très fiers d’avoir comme premier partenaire l’Afnic, qui s’est engagé depuis sa création dans une démarche éthique très forte qui contribue au quotidien à un internet plus sûr et stable en France. Il s’agit d’un accord historique puisque c’est aussi le premier partenariat entre une nouvelle extension générique internet (le .best) et une extension internet de pays (le .fr)” – affirme Cyril Frémont, le CEO du .Best

“Depuis son acquisition en 2018, le .Best se développe et se présente comme une initiative portée par une jeune entreprise Française. L'Afnic, leader français du secteur des noms de domaine, accueille avec intérêt et enthousiasme l'apparition d'un nouvel acteur français, dont nous espérons qu'il pourra devenir un champion dans le secteur des noms de domaines génériques. Cette promotion visant à permettre la découverte du .Best pour l'achat d'un nom de domaine en .fr illustre cette volonté d'accompagner les acteurs français des noms de domaine.” complète Pierre Bonis, Directeur Général de l’Afnic.

A propos de THE BEST
Fondée en 2018, THE BEST est la première et unique société française à exploiter une nouvelle extension internet générique de premier niveau : le .Best

Cyril Frémont, Président de THE BEST, est un entrepreneur Internet depuis 1996. Il a débuté sa carrière dans la Silicon Valley et participé au succès de plusieurs startups internet : ARIBA, INTERSHOP, … Il a fallu 5 ans à Cyril Frémont pour compléter l'acquisition du .Best avec l’aide d’investisseurs privés, et le soutien de BPI France.

Contact Presse:

presse@go.best

Bernard-Xavier Spokojny +33 (0)6 03 25 28 77

Laurence Caron +33 (0)6 09 24 36 85

@BestTLD

#thebest

Download the agreement (PDF download)

Teaser AMEX conference Cyril Fremont

The .BEST Registry just met with Amex (American Express)

More to come...

So: which new gTLDs are becoming mainstream?

I went through the exciting exercise of checking all March 2019 new gTLD reports to extract which domain name extension shows an interesting learning curve (or something strange happening). This is what I noticed for the 20 categories of TLDs:

1. In the list of new gTLDs for Politics, the first new gTLD to have been delegated from the ICANN new gTLD program - .GURU (63,000) - lost 2,000 registrations since January 2018 (not 2019). I was very excited to grab one when it launched, but I dropped it then. Globally speaking,these extensions, some being negative, don't attract consumers so much.
2. In Luxury, the .VIP (840,000) and .BEST (12,000) Top-Level Domains keep growing but surprisingly, many .BRAND new gTLDs like .GUCCI - .CHANEL or .CARTIER seem to have found no use of their extension yet.
3. In Music, the .LIVE new gTLD goes up with 332,000 registrations and increasing but .PARTY seems to die little by little. The .BAND and .DANCE new gTLD have an interesting progression curve: they've kept growing in volume since January 2018.
4. Multiple Registries operate more than 5 new gTLDs: Donuts, Radix and Google are growing in volume significantly.
5. Singular or Plural? Some of these extensions are clearly failures... Is it so because they exist in two versions and no one would invest in such a risk? That's my opinion but I also know that most registrant, when registering one of these domains, don't necessary know about the existence of a second version of the extension. I call these a trap. I think that the .HOTEL, when it launches, will make sense for a hotel and I would definitely buy my name as a hotel.
6. The Catering report shows that the .FOOD new gTLD has now 6 registrations instead of one in January and February: will it launch soon?
7. In Photography, the .ART new gTLD stands out of the crowd with a very interesting learning curve: it has more than 50,000 registrations today.
8. City name new gTLDs are a little disappointing but Japanese cities like .TOKYO (first city to have more than 100,000 domain names registered), .NAGOYA and .OKINAWA grew in March 2019.
9. The listing dedicated to companies keeps showing that I was not wrong about on the new gTLDs that companies should register their domain name with. Some of them I would not buy but basically, all are growing in volume. 
10. In "Law and Justice", not many TLDs and not much is happening.
11. The Finance report is an interesting one for .BRAND new gTLDs, it is the opposite of the Luxury report: many brands are using their TLD and registering dozens of domain names.
12. Colors: there are 6 of them and one is a Trademark: .BLUE - .PINK and .GREEN are growing slowly below 10,000 registrations.
13. In Sports, the .YOGA - .RUN and .FITNESS have kept growing since January 2019. Owner of the .NIKE new gTLD published a job offer, let's hope that part of the role will be to develop the TLD.
14. Alcohol: guess what: .WINE - .BEER and .VODKA grow in volume: slowly but they grow.
15. The Real Estate report is a long one and 3 new gTLDs are of interest in March: the .REALESTATE - .CASA (house in Spanish) and .HOMES
16. In French new gTLD applications, .BRAND extensions are truly used and many domains are being registered.
17. None of the religious TLDs are of interest in March and .WED (for "wedding") remains silent.
18. None of the TLDs dedicated to the automotive industry has more than 10,000 registrations. Surprisingly, some .BRANDs have more registrations than some generic TLDs dedicated to selling domain names to the general public through the network of accredited registrars! The .AUDI new gTLD registered more than 1,330 domains already.
19. The .HEALTH and .DOCTOR are growing in volume below the 10,000 registrations and .BRANDs are still searching a use for their TLD.

All new gTLD reports are available here.

Note that I often use "new gTLDs", "Top-Level-Domains", "TLDs" or "domain name extensions" not to make these publications too boring. Also, some TLDs listed and losing traction month after month belong to the same multiple registries.

The 2019 new gTLD reports

A new year is starting and here we go again: once a month we, shall  be updating new gTLD reports focusing on volumes of domain name registered per categories of TLDs. 20 categories are covered below and these are the first 20 reports of the year. "Roulements de tambours" for January 2019:

1. NEW - New gTLDs related to POLITICS (.gop - .vote - .republican - .democrat - etc...);
2. New gTLDs related to LUXURY (.rich - .yachts - .chanel - etc...);
3. New gTLDs related to the MUSIC community (.music - .band - .hiphop - etc...);
4. Multiple Registries : group of Registries operating five (5) and more domain name extensions;
5. Singular VS Plural versions of a new gTLD : these are domain name extensions which exist in their singular and plural version (ie: .gift and .gifts);
6. New gTLDs related to CATERING and CULINARY (.restaurant - .kitchen - .bar - etc...);
7. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY (.photo - .film - .gallery - etc...);
8. New gTLDs related to CITIES : these are city names only (.paris - .london - .tokyo - etc...);
9. New gTLDs related to COMPANIES : new domain name extensions that we believe a company should keep its eyes on;
10. New gTLDs related to the LAW and LEGAL matters (.legal - .attorney - .lawyer - etc...);
11. New gTLDs related to FINANCE (.credit - .capital - .finance - etc...);
12. New gTLDs related to a COLOR (.orange - .pink - .green - etc...);
13. New gTLDs related to SPORTS (.hockey - .basketball - .ski - etc...);
14. New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL (.beer - .wine - .vodka - etc...);
15. New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE (.realestate - .realtor - .villas - etc...);
16. FRENCH new gTLD applications : these are applications submitted by French companies only;
17. New gTLDs related to RELIGION (.catholic - .bible - .church - etc...);
18. New gTLDs related to CARS (.taxi - .auto - .car - etc...);
19. New gTLDs related to HEALTH (.health - .doctor - .hospital - etc...);
20. New gTLDs related to ADULTS (no comment).

Please contact us if you believe that an extension is missing in one of these categories.

Bank surveys and .BRAND new gTLDs

Like me, you probably receive surveys from your bank, wondering about their level of service and how satisfied you are about them (also how they could improve their service), but how do you ensure that your bank is the one asking you questions...and not a third party or a frauder?

This article published on CircleId explains how banks could (should?) improve their level of service - AND TRUST - using their personalized domain name extension.

Jovenet Consulting offers Banks and Trademarks to study the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to (not) create their personalized domain name extension.

New gTLDs: the Newsletter

New gTLDs "only": the "new gTLDs Newsletter" informs on Important ICANN announcements related to new generic Top-Level Domains; reports on registries' domain name registration volumes; collects and points to articles of interest about new gTLDs, lists new gTLD conferences and other meetings; alerts about Sunrise Periods and other Trademark Clearinghouse announcements and events; explains major players' moves; points to upcoming new gTLD projects and updates on Round 2 of the ICANN new gTLD program; updates on domain name registration volumes in which companies should secure their names (newsletter only), and more.

Follow www.newsletter.domains (a redirection to the new gTLD Club) and subscribe.

New gTLDs: 2,700 subscribers on LinkedIn

Milestone: 2,700 members have joined the new gTLD group on LinkedIn: https://t.co/9kM2EX00XM#newgtlds #icann #LinkedIn #dotbrands

— The new gTLDs' Club (@gtldclub) February 14, 2018

Could Verisign block the next new gTLD round?

I like to read that letter from the co-chairs of the GNSO’s policy development process on new gTLD subsequent procedures: it is positive and asking the right questions to ICANN. One paragraph caught my attention:

"We would also appreciate input on the total number of TLDs that could be delegated without negative impact to root server performance."

Honorable "new gTLD Boss" and ICANN CTO gave answers and I stopped on that section of a paragraph:

"There are also technical limits placed on capacity by the systems that handle root zone provisioning (operated by PTI as JANA Functions Operator and Verisign as Root Zone Maintainer)..."

Actually, I fell from my chair and broke two legs.

Verisign is the registry for ".com" domain name and has shown signs that new gTLDs were impacting its business: the more new domain name extension spread online, wider is the choice and - unless I am wrong - this reduces the choice to register a ".com" domain name.

I didn't know that the technical infrastructure of domain names relied on Verisign too but I believe that this could be used as a technical reason not to push for another round of new gTLDs.

No one cares about new gTLDs?

Yesterday, I published an article entitled: "Publication: a new gTLD for $10,000 ?" and actually my source made an error: it was $100,000 and not $10.000.

I have been publishing about new gTLDs "only" for a few years now and I agree that few people cared about new gTLDs.

My publication generated a lot of views for a small blog like mine so I can confirm today that many more people pay interest.

Coming: "oui.sncf"

SNCF coming to new gTLDs with:https://t.co/TnUS3l9NS8 : congratulations!
More in French: https://t.co/7DqKiKI2fq#scnf @scnf #dotbrands

— Jovenet Consulting (@gtldconsulting) May 29, 2017

Announcing a new gTLD Event?

I just launched www.gtld.events.

Please send your next event announcements to me. It can be a podcast, a webinar, a conference, a launching, a Sunrise Period, a special program; etc...

Events should be related to new gTLDs. Note that:

• your event will be posted and announced on www.gtld.events;
• your event will also be announced in the gTLD.club Newsletter (sent every day).

Don't know where to send your event announcement? Send your email here.

Article: "studying .BRAND New gTLDs"

Many participants in the latest ICANN meeting in Copenhagen asked that same question: "when is the next round of the ICANN new gTLD program?". If the question came from new gTLD service providers, I also noticed that it was different from "the first round": now the question focuses more on .BRANDs rather than Generic TLDs dedicated to selling domain names. The question also comes more from representatives of certain Trademarks who want to acquire a .BRAND domain name extension.

Read my article on CircleId

.MOTO or .MOTORCYCLES ?

I received an email asking me why the .MOTO new gTLD was not listed in the SPORT new gTLD report.

Answer
The .MOTO new gTLD is a Trademark for which Charleston Road Registry (Google's company for new gTLDs) submitted an application to the ICANN. It intends to operate the extension as a closed registry with Google as the sole registrar and Motorola Mobility (and its affiliates), as the sole registrants.

For this reason it does not appear in the Sport new gTLD report.

Continental new gTLDs

Generic Top-Level Domains:

1. .ASIA = done
2. .AFRICA = done
3. .EUROPE = to be done? (the ".eu" top-level domain already exists but is considered as a ccTLD)
4. .AMERICA = to be done?
5. .OCEANIA = to be done?
6. .ANTARTICA = to be done?

The .AFRICA new gTLD

.AFRICA new gTLD was delegated.

Check here (15 February 2017).