Backend registries still needed in Round two?

Not fast enough today :-)
I wasn't fast enough today to ask my question during the Registry Service Provider Certification conference at ICANN 57 (Hyderabad). As a non native English writer, I need to write down my questions before posting them because it does not look nice when a question comes with a mistake or a mistype (and when it is read as such by the entire audience). Unfortunately, I could post it but far too late and from a potential dotBrand future new gTLD applicant prospective, it is to me a very important question so here it is:

Google recently revealed "Nomulus", a backend registry tool to operate a Registry. Since Google Registry (Charleston Road Registry Inc.) is already technically certified by the ICANN since it uses Nomulus for its TLDs; will future users of Nomulus need to become certified as backend registries too?

I understand that such question might not please backend registry providers, but since Nomulus is already in use and hosted on Google's technical platform (Google Cloud Platform); why would future new gTLD applicants have to deal with the technical aspect of running a registry when it could be just a matter of choosing a provider...just like when registering a domain name?

I emailed my question to the ICANN.

New domain name registration volumes
The .食品 (food in Japanese) new gTLD increased its number of registrations from 1 to 13 in one week (see the Catering new gTLD report). The .NIKON dotBrand new gTLD goes from 1 to 17 domain names registered since last week (see the Photography new gTLD report). In the City new gTLD report, the .BARCELONA has 2,100+ more registrations.
Domain name registration volumes: 

• New gTLDs related to CITIES; 
• New gTLDs related to CATERING; 
• New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY. 

Since most new gTLDs have launched, reports will be updated on a monthly basis starting January 2017.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:

1. Verified Top-Level Domains Consortium;
2. Balancing a robust defense with an exciting attack in the domain name world;
3. High-Bid Auctions Deflate the .nyc TLD;
4. The Extreme Power Of Generic Domain Names;
5. Program Reviews & Policy Timeline (Projected);
6. The new gTLD program introspective;
7. Cooking Up The Perfect Domain Name;
8. We don’t run Internet, we enable it: ICANN.

Recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Note to our readers: starting January 2017, the content of our Newsletter will be sent by email only. It will not be made available online anymore on www.newsletter.domains.

Next ICANN new gTLD Round: 2020 ?

There are discussions at ICANN on the subject at the moment and there will be more. A probably interesting one was the one from the GAC discussing the next steps following the ICANN bylaws changes. There should even be a more interesting one entitled "New gTLD Program Reviews" to take place this Saturday, November 5 between 13:45 and 14:45.

I downloaded the presentation and there is a slide - on page four - which tells a lot about what the date od "Round 2" might be. As usual, it is entitled "Program Reviews & Policy Timeline (Projected)", because no one, in the ICANN community, will ever take the risk to mention a date again :-)

It is important to know that a lot of interested parties in the new gTLD business want the second round of the ICANN new gTLD program to open as fast as possible but they are not the only ones: more and more Trademarks show signs that they want to submit an application too.

Some parties don't want of another round to happen for several reasons and one of them is that ".com has to remain kind". Another one is that...it takes time to install new domain names and flooding the market with even more domain name extension won't now help.

It also appears that the ICANN community wants Geographic domain name extensions and .BRAND new gTLD applicants to be able to submit an application as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is not what the documentation says on page 4 of next Saturday's presentation because according to my understanding of this document, the earliest date that I read is not before 2020.

What you missed in our previous Newsletters:

1. Should new gTLDs be first-come, first-served?
2. .DOCTOR : 1,400 domains on day 1;
3. Governments mull greater geo gTLD powers;
4. Applications to ICANN for Community-based new gTLDs;
5. The .BUZZ auction;
6. Algorithm Red Flags Potentially Dangerous Domain Names at Time of Purchase;
7. The .商店 (store) Sunrise Period ends soon;
8. Percentage of Parked New gTLD;
9. .blog Domains: Let the Landrush Begin;
10. Playstation: not ready (New gTLDs Universal Acceptance);
11. ICANN: Board Governance Committee Meeting;
12. .Buzz top level domain name hits market for $3. 5 million+
13. The .BABY Sunrise Period begins;
14. The Strength of Top-Level Domains in UDRP Decisions;
15. Want To Buy A New gTLD?
16. Insights from ICANN 57, Hyderabad;
17. ICANN57 Preview: What to Expect in Hyderabad;
18. DomainWire Global TLD Report 2016/3
19. .BASEBALL & .BASKETBALL
20. Gear.club (download and Play)
21. New gTLDs in which Companies should consider securing their domains.

Domain name registration volumes: 

• Cool - Singular VS Plural new gTLDs; 
• New gTLDs related to FRENCH applications; 
• New gTLDs related to RELIGION (see the .FAITH new gTLD);
• New gTLDs related to HEALTH (see the .DOCTOR new gTLD);
• New gTLDs related to CARS (see the .VOLVO new gTLD);;
• Cool - Generic new gTLDs (see the .XYZ new gTLD).

Since most new gTLDs have launched, reports will be updated on a monthly basis starting January 2017.

Recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Note to our readers: starting January 2017, the content of our Newsletter will be sent by email only. It will not be made available online anymore on www.newsletter.domains.

The .BABY Sunrise Period begins

Today is day one of the .BABY new gTLD Sunrise Period:

.BABY is the trusted global online designation for everyone dedicated to the vitality and happy, healthy development of our babies.

SUNRISE PERIOD:

• START: Wednesday, 2 November, 2016 - 16:00;
• END: Friday, 2 December, 2016 - 16:00.

Limited Registrations:

1. Mon, 5 December '16 to Mon, 3 April '17;
2. Wed, 5 April '17 to Tue, 11 April '17.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:

1. 6 Sunrise Periods start: .ファッション (fashion) - .書籍 (book) - .クラウド (cloud) - .食品 (food) - .家電 (consumer electronics) - .ストア (store).
2. .CAM Sunrise Period Underway;
3. The PREDATOR program;
4. .Club domain name in the iTunes app store (read the full story);
5. Reminder - Thursday, November 3 • 08:30 - 09:30: the GAC Geo Names WG will be working on its best practices for future rounds of new gTLDs document.
6. Donuts: The Month in Review.

Domain name registration volumes: 

• Super HOT: new gTLDs related to SPORT; 
• New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE; 
• New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL. 

Since most new gTLDs have launched, reports will be updated on a monthly basis starting January 2017.

Note to our readers: starting January 2017, the content of our Newsletter will be sent by email only. It will not be made available online anymore on www.newsletter.domains.

6 Sunrise Periods start today

Six new Sunrise Periods are starting today. The 6 new gTLDs concerned are:

1. .ファッション (fashion);
2. .書籍 (book);
3. .クラウド (cloud);
4. .食品 (food);
5. .家電 (consumer electronics);
6. .ストア (store).

An agent can be selected here to participate in the Sunrise Period.

What you missed in our previous Newsletter:

1. 5 new gTLD were just delegated:
1. The .NEWHOLLAND new gTLD
2. .BASEBALL
3. .CASEIH
4. .CASE
5. .IVECO
2. How .CLUB's Colin Campbell Rebounded From a $100 Million Setback and Took a Lead Role in Reshaping the Web
3. How .eco domain was won
4. Good read - Where Are the World’s Largest Brands Registering?
5. DNS-News.fr (New gTLDs in French)
6. 87 sites dropped their .com for a new domain
7. .WEB is ICANN's First Test of Accountability
8. The GAC will discuss the Subsequent Rounds in new gTLDs
9. Research Revealed on Authoritative Servers at the Second Level
10. Listen to Verisign and XYZ duke it out in court
11. Internet Globalization: Utilize Email for Non-English IDNs
12. Comments on .NYC Auction Results
13. Amazon is serious about the NewG
14. School District Using a .Vegas Domain
15. WTF is the dark web?

Update on new gTLDs' registration volumes:

• New gTLDs related to the COMPANIES;
• New gTLDs related to the LAW;
• New gTLDs related to FINANCE;
• New gTLDs related to COLORS.

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

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

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

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