TMCH numbers from the new gTLD Program

and finally some #TMCH numbers from the gTLD Program Update session #ICANN48 pic.twitter.com/GkhFmiDlPV

— ICANN for Business (@ICANN4biz) November 18, 2013

.VIN & .WINE new gTLDs: NEELIE KROES writes to ICANN (again)

Here is the copy of a letter from NEELIE KROES, Vice-President of the European Commission to ICANN regarding .WINE and .VIN new gTLDs.

A few paragraphs I picked up. The complete letter can be downloaded down this page:

1. "This letter aims at providing some clarifications concerning the need for additional safeguards for these strings and suggests possible solutions".
2. It also highlights procedural problems concerning the functioning of ICANN'S Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC)".
3. The EU has a large market share (around 75% globally) and has an established system of Geographical Indications (GIs) that guarantees the nature and quality of the wine products.
4. The global scope of the gTLD and a lack of clear rules and safeguards can only amplify these problems.
5. Without an adequate dispute resolution procedure, the legal burden placed on title-holders of potentially misused GI names is disproportionate.
6. I still believe that agreeable solutions can be found among interested parties so that the strings can be delegated in a safe manner for both GI right holders and consumers.
7. Someone did a very bad job on this one: The Beijing consensus advice was that further consideration was needed regarding the .wine and .vin strings and that the Board should be advised not to proceed beyond initial evaluation. There is no reason why this advice should be overruled, especially if some solution can be found between the parties.
8. OUCH: The only possible default in case of no GAC consensus should be no advice. This is why the current discussion around .wine and .vin also raises questions concerning decision­ making procedures in the GAC, preparation of meetings by the secretariat, the role of the chair and the possibility and conditions for GAC members to vote.
9. If there was no possible solution among interested parties because of the complexity of the matter, our position remains that the strings should not be delegated.

The letter can be downloaded here.

The SEO benefits of Dot Chinese Online (.在线) & Dot Chinese Website (.中文网)

List of new gTLD Pioneer Programs

A Pioneer Programs is sometimes offered by new gTLD applicants to give a privileged access to certain domain names. It is a specific procedure and interested parties must fulfill certain conditions.

Some are not yet ready and others should be launched soon. I was informed about 3 official ones and will try to maintain this list according to the info I receive:

1. .PARIS : http://mondomaine.paris.fr/appels-a-projets
2. .KIWI : http://www.dot-kiwi.com/pioneers
3. .CLUB : www.dotclub.com (ask for "The "Founders Club").

More to come soon.

> Sunrise Launches with Lexsynergy

The Sunrise is the trademark priority period during which a trademark owner can apply to register a domain name that matches its verified registered trademark.

TLD	Sunrise Period	New gTLD Page
شبكة (.shabaka)	31 Oct 2013 - 29 Dec 2013	More information
.ventures	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.holdings	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.clothing	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.plumbing	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.bike	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.singles	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information
.guru	26 Nov 2013 - 24 Jan 2014	More information

http://www.lexsynergy.com/new-gtlds/sunrise-launches

When can I register a new domain name? (Infographic)

The new domains – what’s taking so long?

Nice Infographic by eurodns here.

Donuts had been thinking about new gTLDs for a long time

Donuts list of applications.

Announcing NEWSgTLDs.com by Jean Guillon

I am happy to announce a new website dedicated to NEW gTLDs info only.

When I launched the "new generic Top-Level Domains" group on LinkedIn, I thought it could be the place to network and share knowledge about new gTLDs but I also noticed that readers (Journalists, IP departments, Back-end Registries, new gTLD applicants, Registrars and many others) subscribed just "to be informed" about what is going-on in the new gTLD world.

For this reason I decided to create a place where readers could come, without having to log-in and provide a password and just "click and read". This is what NEWSgTLDs.com is about:

1. Find the info;
2. Click on a hyperlink;
3. Read the info.

Welcome to NEWSgTLDs.COM: a website updated DAILY

I am also happy to welcome my first sponsors:

1. TLD Registry Limited, the essential new Chinese TLDs (Dot Chinese Online & Dot Chinese Website / .在线 and .中文网);
2. Centralnic Group PLC, an Internet Registry service provider recently admitted to trading on AIM, also launching .WIKI - .XYZ - .INK - .COLLEGE (and many others);
3. DomainDiction, a marketing consultancy, solely dedicated to Top Level Domains;
4. eurodns, "the world of domain names", a major Registrar based in Luxembourg who will offer ALL new domain names.

Sponsoring NEWSgTLDs.com starts at the price of 320 € / YEAR. More info here.