Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress

Download the Brochure for the Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress - UK & European Edition - September 26-27, London

Join conference chair, Richard Graham, Head of Digital, Richemont and a host of applicant brands and industry experts in London on September 26-27

Download the brochure directly here.

• Learn how to utilise your .BRAND to its best advantage – with Google & Authentic Web
• Focus on Anti-Counterfeiting - with HSBC & MarkMonitor
• Protect your Brand – with Richemont & Lego
• Understand what lessons can be learned from the fast tracked IDN CC and GEO TLDS - With .BERLIN
• Learn practical marketing “Do’s & Don’ts” - with .CO & Afilias

And much more…

Designed primarily as a resource for applicant brands and those non applicants impacted by the imminent launch of the first new TLDs - ensure you’re a part of the conversation at this unique brand-oriented event.

Visit us online at www.gtldworldcongress.com

L'Oréal to withdraw its .KERASTASE new gTLD application

L'Oréal withdraws another of its new gTLD application: the .KERASTASE.

Since 1964, Kérastase has been creating new haircare services developed with the most advanced formulas, dedicated to enhancing the natural beauty of the hair. Kérastase sets the standard in luxury haircare with the promise of an elevated salon experience:

• Hair transformation with immediate, visible results;
• The latest innovations from la Recherche Avancée L’Oréal;
• Tailor-made treatments for every hair and scalp diagnosis by trained stylists;
• Comprehensive professional service for the ultimate salon experience.

More info:

• The Kerastase web site;
• The withdrawn new gTLD application.

I just pre-ordered whatever.wine and a few others

I just pre-ordered domain names with this new portal at 1and1. Below is the message received. At least, it is clear and there is no misunderstanding in the message. I printed in red a few things to pay attention to. I processed like this with a few other Registrars offering pre-registrations.
Pretty much familiar with how certain Internet service providers behave during a LandRush Period, it will be interesting to track which of them forwards these pre-registered domain names to auction once they have been grabbed by them.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Mr Jean Guillon,

Thank you for pre-ordering the following domains on a free and non-binding basis:

whatever.PUB
whatever.BAR
whatever.PIZZA
whatever.BIO
whatever.CAFE
whatever.CATERING
whatever.VODKA
whatever.EAT
whatever.RESTAURANT
whatever.DELIVERY
whatever.WINE
whatever.COFFEE
whatever.COOKING
whatever.DIET
whatever.FOOD
whatever.KITCHEN
whatever.MENU
whatever.ORGANIC
whatever.REST
whatever.RECIPES

As soon as the relevant registries publish their terms and conditions, we will inform you and offer you the chance to confirm the purchase of your pre-ordered domains.

You are now in an excellent starting position in the race for the best "new" domains, with no obligations or risks involved.

You can view your domain portfolio at:

www.ntld-status.1and1.co.uk

However, we cannot guarantee at this stage that your pre-ordered domains will actually be registered by the registry.

Best regards,

Your 1&1 Internet Team

.WINE passes Initial Evaluation (IE)

.WINE new gTLD application by "June Station, LLC" (Donuts) passed its initial evaluation today. Donuts now has both of its two wine application to have passed IE.

1. .VIN new gTLD passed;
2. .WINE new gTLD passed.

Remain two other candidates for their .WINE application to pass IE.

The Aggregated Registration Data Service (next Whois platform) is for sale

The debate starts to be around the next Whois, the Aggregated Registration Data Service, also known as ARDS. Basically, the ARDS is the name of a new central platform which should replace the actual Whois system with more security: Registrars and Registries would update this platform with information about their Registrants.
Many articles have been published already so I will let you read them to understand what the next Whois will be:

• http://lnkd.in/GMi6Ky;
• http://lnkd.in/qghZc3;
• http://www.numerama.com/magazine/26368-le-whois-des-noms-de-domaine-pourrait-disparaitre.html (in French).

For sale

When a 4 letters name is announced ("ards"), I like to search for its .COM* domain name and guess what: "ards.com" is for sale. Once you have submitted an offer (mine was $100), you are informed about a start price which is, most of the time, much higher than the offer submitted. That was expected.

But today, I received another email from the platform selling this domain name:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Hello Jean, Thank you for your interest in ards.com. The seller has advised us he is seeking $50,000.00 USD for this domain name. If this is within your budget and you would like to proceed with the purchase of this domain name I'm happy to set up a transaction for you via Escrow.com. If not I'd be happy to help you find another name or weigh the merits of a counter offer. I hope to hear from you soon. XXX (name changed) Review & Respond Online

Sent using the DomainNameSales.com platform. A Trusted Marketplace for Premium Domains

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

It is possible the service provider to be selected by ICANN to manage the ARDS want to use that name. I seriously doubt anybody will pay that price but, who knows, maybe ICANN will (unless it is decided to use ards.icann, which I would love for less confusion, but since the service provider should be external to ICANN, I doubt it).

Remember when the Trademark Clearinghouse launched, a 2 words domain name (also difficult to protect), was chosen for this database: trademark-clearinghouse.com (not trademarkclearinghouse.com). Reading this name, I like it better than tmch.com (which must probably be for sale too by the way). I understand it better.

So, will the new service provider want to use aggregatedregistrationdataservice.com or aggregated-registration-data-service.com ? I personally find these names - still available for registration** - far too long. 

Let's see what happens with ards.com.

* I had done the same for rrdrp.com and pddrp.com

** I guess this is changing soon (today is 27 June 2013)

New gTLDs Infographics

Have you ever tried buying a domain name?

If yes, then you know the pain that comes along with it. Everytime you think of a name and assume that it can’t be taken, you end up being wrong. Almost anything imaginable has been taken by someone and some of them are just hoarding it. They buy the Top Level Domains and hold on to it like their life depended on it.

So with the popular TLDs almost impossible to acquire, what new extensions will make an appearance in this field? Let’s have a look.

New TLDs: The Future of Domain Names

L'Oréal to withdraw its .GARNIER new gTLD application

"Prends soin de toi. - GARNIER"

L'Oréal withdraws another of its new gTLD application. The .GARNIER Top-Level Domain. The question remains on every lips in the new gTLD industry: why?

Check the Garnier web site here. The withdrawn application is available here.

L'Oréal to withdraw its .MAYBELLINE new gTLD application

L'Oréal has just withdrawn another of its top brands: the .MAYBELLINE application. Maybelline is a family-owned business and the number one cosmetics company in America.

Surprisingly, L'Oréal seems to withdraw more and more applications. There are rumors about the reasons why more and more brands are withdrawn but unless L'Oréal gives a reason*...

Review the new gTLD application here and Maybelline web site here.

* Don't call me, I won't talk :-)