From the examples that I tested, most are not redirections anymore but real websites such as: http://ratzel.bmw
Friday, March 30, 2018
The .BMW new gTLD
While updating the CARS new gTLD report for the month of March 2018, I noticed that the .BMW new gTLD had 53 ".bmw" domain names registered in February to 108 at the end of March.
From the examples that I tested, most are not redirections anymore but real websites such as: http://ratzel.bmw
From the examples that I tested, most are not redirections anymore but real websites such as: http://ratzel.bmw
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
Monday, March 26, 2018
For .STEPHANE
I just learnt today that Stéphane Van Gelder passed away.
My friend Murielle called me.
Many of us in France have worked with and for Stéphane. I personally worked many years with Stephane to launch new gTLDs at INDOM (which was then acquired by another company). He is the person who taught me everything that I did not know about domain names: he actually taught me that Versign was a thin registry and not a thick one: I did not know the difference...
When I joined INDOM, years ago, he also was the first French guy to have delivered .BRAND new gTLD studies when we did not even know when the first round of the ICANN new gTLD program would start. Actually, we were very good at what we did but he was the guy to think years in advance.
Stéphane was a person of precision. I remember the number of times he asked me to re-write things because I would not have seen a mistake in a word or have missed an accent: I remember going to his office at Indom 10 times a day and getting back to mine ultra pissed because I would have I missed a correction in a study.
...I don't really know what to write in such circumstances...
Today is a sad day.
My friend Murielle called me.
Many of us in France have worked with and for Stéphane. I personally worked many years with Stephane to launch new gTLDs at INDOM (which was then acquired by another company). He is the person who taught me everything that I did not know about domain names: he actually taught me that Versign was a thin registry and not a thick one: I did not know the difference...
When I joined INDOM, years ago, he also was the first French guy to have delivered .BRAND new gTLD studies when we did not even know when the first round of the ICANN new gTLD program would start. Actually, we were very good at what we did but he was the guy to think years in advance.
Stéphane was a person of precision. I remember the number of times he asked me to re-write things because I would not have seen a mistake in a word or have missed an accent: I remember going to his office at Indom 10 times a day and getting back to mine ultra pissed because I would have I missed a correction in a study.
...I don't really know what to write in such circumstances...
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
Good news for .BRAND new gTLD applicants
Google Registrar is now in France and a few other countries. If this can be a good news for registrants (the one to buy domain names) then, what does it have to do with French .BRAND new gTLD applicants?
Good question
In fact, the good news relates to Nomulus, the backend registry solution also offered by Google. This information is important because Nomulus actually is the technical solution on which all Google new gTLDs are operated.
OK, so what?
.BRAND new gTLD applicants need a backend registry provider but also, a registrar solution to be able to create and setup their personalized domain names. Until very recently, French domain name registrants had no access to Google as a Registrar: a postal address located in the USA was requested prior to registering a domain name using a credit/debit card. This made it impossible to register a name using this registrar. Now, French residents...can register domain names at Google, which also means that .BRAND applicants could also use both solutions to operate their TLD and manage domain names: Nomulus and Google Domains.
And then?
Nomulus offers a direct access to Google Domains: in simple words, it means that there already is a footbridge allowing domains created in Nomulus to be managed using Google Domains: such solution using another backend registry wouldn't automatically allow a .BRAND applicant to manage his personalised domains using Google as his Registrar, this would need to be implemented.
Other backend registries would probably answer that they're already connected to all other major registrars but...this is absolutely not required for a .BRAND new gTLD for which the most limited number of service providers is required to lower the price and go straight to point: register personalized domain names. It is what I would want as a .BRAND new gTLD applicant.
Come on, it can't be so simple
As you can imagine, things can't be so simple because using the Nomulus solution is not (yet?) a service offered by Google and also, it requires a strong technical knowledge to operate the tool so unless Google decides to create an offer, which is a question that we already asked "Ben" last year (Ben is the person in charge of the Nomulus backend registry solution at Google), I see a limited number of .BRAND applicants with the capacity to operate their own backend registry solution using #Nomulus. Note that neither Amazon nor Microsoft have developed a backend registry solution to operate Top-Level Domains and none of the two offer a registrar solution to their clients: both use an external backend registry provider to operate their .BRANDs.
Conclusion
Google is creative and has capacity to offer clients the right solutions and since there is a strong demand for more .BRAND new gTLDs, I am confident that someone has already considered thinking about creating a complete .BRAND offer connected to Google Registrar: we are two years away (and possibly less for .BRAND applications) from the next round so there is still time...and actually, last time we asked Google the question was a year ago.
Also, Google is the only Registrar to offer his free Backend registry solution, hosted on its own Google Cloud solution: as myself being a fully satisfied French G Suite client (another Google solution recently adopted by the 130,000 employees of Airbus SAS), I only see good to be able to control personalised .BRAND domain names from a single point of entry, as well as all of my other domain names. Note that this would require to transfer domain names to Google Registrar.
In fact, the good news relates to Nomulus, the backend registry solution also offered by Google. This information is important because Nomulus actually is the technical solution on which all Google new gTLDs are operated.
OK, so what?
.BRAND new gTLD applicants need a backend registry provider but also, a registrar solution to be able to create and setup their personalized domain names. Until very recently, French domain name registrants had no access to Google as a Registrar: a postal address located in the USA was requested prior to registering a domain name using a credit/debit card. This made it impossible to register a name using this registrar. Now, French residents...can register domain names at Google, which also means that .BRAND applicants could also use both solutions to operate their TLD and manage domain names: Nomulus and Google Domains.
And then?
Nomulus offers a direct access to Google Domains: in simple words, it means that there already is a footbridge allowing domains created in Nomulus to be managed using Google Domains: such solution using another backend registry wouldn't automatically allow a .BRAND applicant to manage his personalised domains using Google as his Registrar, this would need to be implemented.
Other backend registries would probably answer that they're already connected to all other major registrars but...this is absolutely not required for a .BRAND new gTLD for which the most limited number of service providers is required to lower the price and go straight to point: register personalized domain names. It is what I would want as a .BRAND new gTLD applicant.
Come on, it can't be so simple
Conclusion
Google is creative and has capacity to offer clients the right solutions and since there is a strong demand for more .BRAND new gTLDs, I am confident that someone has already considered thinking about creating a complete .BRAND offer connected to Google Registrar: we are two years away (and possibly less for .BRAND applications) from the next round so there is still time...and actually, last time we asked Google the question was a year ago.
Also, Google is the only Registrar to offer his free Backend registry solution, hosted on its own Google Cloud solution: as myself being a fully satisfied French G Suite client (another Google solution recently adopted by the 130,000 employees of Airbus SAS), I only see good to be able to control personalised .BRAND domain names from a single point of entry, as well as all of my other domain names. Note that this would require to transfer domain names to Google Registrar.
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
New gTLDs: homograph attacks on the rise?
The problem with homograph attacks is that the more we talk about them, the mode it gives ideas to frauders.
Note that it is also - and I believe this strongly - a super fantastic way for security providers to scare their clients reminding them to buy their services because if they don't, the world will collapse ;-)
Last May, I wrote (in a very limited english that only non-english speakers can understand) a post about it to explain what an homograph attack is.
This morning, I read a new updated post, written in words that even I understand: it is entitled "Homographs, Attack!": it explains homograph attacks in simple words with cool designs. This is a good read and this is something that operators of large domain name portfolios should read too.
Note that it is also - and I believe this strongly - a super fantastic way for security providers to scare their clients reminding them to buy their services because if they don't, the world will collapse ;-)
Last May, I wrote (in a very limited english that only non-english speakers can understand) a post about it to explain what an homograph attack is.
This morning, I read a new updated post, written in words that even I understand: it is entitled "Homographs, Attack!": it explains homograph attacks in simple words with cool designs. This is a good read and this is something that operators of large domain name portfolios should read too.
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
Monday, March 19, 2018
Coming soon: the .ICU Sunrise Period
Domain names ending in ".icu" (instead of ".com") are coming to the market. The Sunrise Period was just announced and here is what the new gTLD application submitted to the ICANN says. According to the Applicant, the purpose of the TLD is explained below:
Looks like a .BRAND new gTLD
Question 18/a from the application submitted to the ICANN generally reflects the purpose of the new gTLD and in this case, it clearly looks like the application was submitted for an internal purpose to the brand but the Sunrise Period is dated 24 April 2018 to 24 May 2018 with a Trademark Claims Period dated 29 May 2018 to 30 August 2018 with a Qualified Launch Program (QLP) dated 24 April 2018 to 17 May 2018 so unless I am wrong, .ICU domains should be made available for sale.
- Reflect and operate a distinctive that is aimed to identify the Applicant’s services (“ICU”)at the top level of the DNS’ hierarchy;
- Provide customers and other stakeholders of the One.com Group, including, subsidiaries, and their respective suppliers, sponsorships, and their respective directors, officers, employees, with a recognizable and trusted identifier on the Internet;
- Provide such stakeholders with a secure and safe Internet environment that is mainly under the control of the Applicant, the One.com Group and its subcontractors;
- Provide selected stakeholders in ‘ICU’ brands with the opportunity to create a secure and safe Internet environment that is to a large extent under control of the Applicant and⁄or such stakeholders.
Looks like a .BRAND new gTLD
Question 18/a from the application submitted to the ICANN generally reflects the purpose of the new gTLD and in this case, it clearly looks like the application was submitted for an internal purpose to the brand but the Sunrise Period is dated 24 April 2018 to 24 May 2018 with a Trademark Claims Period dated 29 May 2018 to 30 August 2018 with a Qualified Launch Program (QLP) dated 24 April 2018 to 17 May 2018 so unless I am wrong, .ICU domains should be made available for sale.
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
ICANN Correspondence and new gTLDs
There is a page on the ICANN website which lists all correspondences between complainants the ICANN. It has become a reflex to check this page on a daily basis because this is where it becomes possible to follow-up with problematic new gTLD cases. In 2018 some Top-Level Domain applicants already shared a lot of mails on .GAY - .MUSIC - .WEB - .WOMEN (this TLD does not exist but "hey") - .HALAL - .ISLAM and .CPA. The first correspondence is dated 1998.
Other interesting links
The "Litigation" link is also a good one to have a look at, they are litigation documents between parties and the ICANN. For example, it is where you can find documentation on the .AFRICA case (
DotConnectAfrica Trust v. ICANN (Appellate Court Proceeding)), the .WEB case (Ruby Glen, LLC v. ICANN), etc...
The Registry agreements link is one that is interesting too: the chronological listing allows to see when something new happens to a new gTLD. For example, on 10 March 2018, ICANN and gTLD Limited, entered into a Registry Agreement under which gTLD Limited, operates the .INC top-level domain.
For more new gTLD bookmarks, you can check this page at Jovenet Consulting.
Other interesting links
The "Litigation" link is also a good one to have a look at, they are litigation documents between parties and the ICANN. For example, it is where you can find documentation on the .AFRICA case (
DotConnectAfrica Trust v. ICANN (Appellate Court Proceeding)), the .WEB case (Ruby Glen, LLC v. ICANN), etc...
The Registry agreements link is one that is interesting too: the chronological listing allows to see when something new happens to a new gTLD. For example, on 10 March 2018, ICANN and gTLD Limited, entered into a Registry Agreement under which gTLD Limited, operates the .INC top-level domain.
For more new gTLD bookmarks, you can check this page at Jovenet Consulting.
New gTLD Consultant based in Paris. "New gTLD" stands for "new generic Top-Level Domains" from the ICANN new gTLD program. They are new domain name extensions such as ".consulting" (instead of ".com").
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