Tag: Top Level Domain Holdings

Beckstrom Defends gTLD Application Process As “Fair” And “Level Playing Field”: FT

With the “Big Reveal” happening today, ICANN’s CEO and President has defended the process that has been developed to process applications for generic Top Level Domains telling the Financial Times it is “fair” and “a level playing field” following harsh criticism from several critics.

With the “Big Reveal” happening today, ICANN’s CEO and President has defended the process that has been developed to process applications for generic Top Level Domains telling the Financial Times it is “fair” and “a level playing field” following harsh criticism from several critics.With around 1900 applications for gTLDs to be announced today, there will at least three and most likely four batches of applications to be processed over the next two years.”The consequences of batching are severe,” Peter Thrush, chairman of Top Level Domain Holdings and a former chairman of Icann, told the FT. “People who don’t get in first will suffer commercially, and in some cases fatally, against those who get into the first batch.””Whoever gets out of the gate first is going to get a significant advantage,” he said.But Beckstrom defended the process saying “The batching system, as we’re currently administering it, was approved and was publicly posted before anyone filed an application. If anyone didn’t like the batching solution they could have expressed their views back in December.”Beckstrom also defended the use of “digital archery”, whereby applicants are told to click a button on a website at a certain time, with those closest to the mark being processed in the first batch.”On average, it’s fair,” said Mr Beckstrom. “Even if you used a random number generator, random generators aren’t perfect. [With digital archery] everyone has an equal ability. It’s a level playing field.”Beckstrom also told the FT that the application process is expected to be discussed by the board at the ICANN meeting to be held in Prague from 24 June, and that “if the board wishes to change it, they can, and then we’ll have to review the whole programme.”Other options, including processing all applications together, would slow down the process Beckstrom also noted.To read this article in the Financial Times in full, see:
www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/698a1d5c-b4a5-11e1-bb2e-00144feabdc0.html

LOL! Google, ARI, TLDH And More Burst Out With TLD Announcements

With applications finally closing for good on ICANN’s troubled application process for new generic Top Level Domains, the big guns, and some smaller ones too, have come out trumpeting their achievements in submitting their applications.

With applications finally closing for good on ICANN’s troubled application process for new generic Top Level Domains, the big guns, and some smaller ones too, have come out trumpeting their achievements in submitting their applications.In total there were just over 1900 applications, although a small number of these will be applications for the same gTLD string, and ICANN have yet to release an exact number.But when the applications closed, a number of the major players were quick to trumpet their applications submitted.The most prominent and newsworthy was possibly Google. Commenting on the Google Blog, the former ICANN chair and now chief internet evangelist for Google said that “despite the great opportunities the web has enabled for people around the world, there is still a lingering question about the diversity of the domain space (given that the number of generic TLDs has only increased by 14 in the last 28 years).”Google submitted a total of 50 applications for gTLDs in four categories:

  • trademarks, like .GOOGLE
  • gTLDs related to their core business, like .DOCS
  • domains to improve user experience, such as .YOUTUBE, which Google believes can increase the ease with which YouTube channels and genres can be identified
  • domains Google think have interesting and creative potential, such as .LOL.

One of the biggies when it comes to the number of applications submitted is ARI Registry Services. ARI Registry Services signed contracts to provide back-end domain name registry services for 161 gTLDs. This breaks down to 85 generic, 70 brand and six geographic TLDs. However ARI has taken a cautious approach and stated that non-disclosure statements restrict them from revealing their full client list until the Big Reveal day on 13 June.”When applications opened in January, our target was to secure around 100 TLDs, so to reach 161 has far exceeded our expectations. Our goal was never to become the biggest, but we did want to be the best. I believe the results of our efforts and the caliber of our clients demonstrates that we are well on the way to becoming a force to be reckoned with,” Adrian Kinderis, CEO of ARI Registry Services, said.”Our numbers are pleasing, but they will become even more significant when the global brands and high profile entrepreneurs we are supporting are made public in a couple of weeks.””Non-disclosure statements restrict me from revealing our full client list at this point in time, but what I can say is that our technology will support some of the world’s largest and most recognised brands within the electronics, media, telecommunications, automotive and banking segments.”However some of the gTLDs that ARI has gone public with include .AFL, .SYDNEY, .MELBOURNE, .BRAND, .ARAB .IINET and .STARHUB.However ARI are topped by Verisign who announced back in April they have applied for over 230 gTLDs. These are 14 gTLDs including 12 transliterations of .COM and .NET as well as being selected to provide back-end registry services for approximately 220 new gTLDs.Top Level Domain Holdings (TLDH) submitted 92 applications through their registry services business Minds + Machines on behalf of itself and its clients which includes a wide range of generic words as well as specific cities including .LONDON, .MIAMI and .BAYERN.”We are very pleased with the momentum of the new gTLD program,” said Peter Dengate Thrush, TLDH Chairman. “We have applied for a substantial and diverse portfolio of new gTLDs and are excited about the prospects for the Group.”TLDH submitted five gTLD geographic applications for or in association with the cities of London, Miami, and Budapest, together with the German States of Bayern and Nord-Rhein Westfalen, all with the backing of each city or region’s governing body. The company is also providing back-end registry services for a further 18 applications made by clients of the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Minds + Machines, including .RUGBY (which should please Dengate Thrush being a New Zealander and keen rugby fan) by the International Rugby Board and .BASKETBALL with FIBA, the International Basketball Federation.TLDH has submitted a further 68 gTLD applications on its own behalf, and one application as a joint venture in .music. In aggregate, the company’s application fees amounted to $13,597,500. However this will only be a small portion of the development fees associated with getting the expected new gTLDs online. A complete list of the gTLDs TLDH has applied for on its own behalf are below.Another of the bigger players is Directi, a developer of innovative mass-market web products serving millions of customers worldwide. Directi have applied for 31 generic strings, which are listed below.The gTLDs that TLDH has applied for on its own behalf are:
1. ABOGADO
2. .APP
3. .ART
4. .BABY
5. .BEAUTY
6. .BEER
7. .BLOG
8. .BOOK
9. .CASA
10. .CLOUD
11. .COOKING
12. .COUNTRY
13. .COUPON
14. .CPA
15. .CRICKET
16. .DATA
17. .DDS
18. .DEALS
19. .DESIGN
20. .DOG
21. .ECO
22. .FASHION
23. .FISHING
24. .FIT
25. .FLOWERS
26. .FREE
27. .GARDEN
28. .GAY
29. .GREEN
30. .GUIDE
31. .HORSE
32. .HOTEL
33. .HOME
34. .IMMO
35. .INC
36. .LATINO
37. .LAW
38. .LAWYER
39. .LLC
40. .LOVE
41. .LUXE
42. .PIZZA
43. .PROPERTY
44. .REALESTATE
45. .RESTAURANT
46. .REVIEW
47. .ROMA
48. .RODEO
49. .SALE
50. .SCHOOL
51. .SCIENCE
52. .SITE
53. .SOCCER
54. .SPA
55. .STORE
56. .STYLE
57. .SURF
58. .TECH
59. .VIDEO
60. .VIP
61. .VODKA
62. .WEBSITE
63. .WEDDING
64. .WORK
65. .YOGA
66. .ZULU
67. 购物 (“SHOPPING”)
68. 网址 (“SITE”).The gTLDs that Directi has applied are:
1. .WEB
2. .SHOP
3. .BANK
4. .LAW
5. .MUSIC
6. .NEWS
7. .BLOG
8. .MOVIE
9. .BABY
10. .STORE
11. .DOCTOR
12. .HOTEL
13. .PLAY
14. .HOME .SITE
15. .WEBSITE
16. .CLICK
17. .ONLINE
18. .ONE
19. .PING
20. .SPACE
21. .WORLD
22. .PRESS
23. .CHAT
24. .CITY
25. .DEALS
26. .INSURANCE .LOANS
27. .APP
28. .HOST
29. .HOSTING.

IRB applies for .RUGBY Top Level Domain

International Rugby Board logoThe International Rugby Board has announced that it is applying to the ICANN to acquire the .RUGBY generic top-level domain name (gTLD).

International Rugby Board logoThe International Rugby Board has announced that it is applying to the ICANN to acquire the .RUGBY generic top-level domain name (gTLD).

The application is being submitted by Rugby’s global governing federation to keep the .RUGBY domain within the sport for the benefit of the global Rugby family and uphold and promote its values, protecting the sport, its trademarks and the interests of its core stakeholders.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “With an 18 per cent increase in participation over the last four years we now have more than 5.5 million players participating across 117 countries affiliated to the IRB. Rugby is engaging with more men, women and children than ever before while the profile and commercial reach of the sport continues to go from strength to strength.”

“This application is for the Rugby family and underscores our continued commitment to protecting and promoting Rugby’s values and ethos. It is our ambition to ensure that the .RUGBY domain resides within the sport in order that all involved in Rugby can benefit.”

The application follows the opening of the application process being conducted by ICANN to expand the availability of domain names to the public sector beyond the current portfolio of 22 domain names (including .com, .net and .org) to include almost any word. This process has been initiated by ICANN as availability reaches capacity within the traditional domains.

The IRB has partnered with ROAR Domains, LLC and Top Level Domain Holdings, the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating new generic top-level domains. TLDH’s wholly owned registry services company, Minds + Machines, will provide back-end registry services for .RUGBY.

IRB Acting CEO Robert Brophy added: “If we are successful in our application we propose to work in partnership with our national federations to make the .RUGBY domain name available to the global Rugby family at all levels, including, players, from amateur to professional, tournament owners, organisers and, of course, fans.”

The IRB in partnership with ROAR Domains, LLC and Top Level Domain Holdings, will be able to supply relevant and available domain names for people, entities and organisations with an affinity for Rugby, that do not currently have any particular domain space catering to their specific needs. The IRB will provide those users with a trusted and secure domain space that is consistent with the industry standard service levels.

Antony van Couvering, CEO of TLDH, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the IRB on this sporting domain name. This partnership brings the legitimacy and marketing power to a new class of sporting TLDs.”

Hamish Miller, Director of ROAR Domains, said: “We are excited about the partnership with the IRB and look forward to working closely with them to ensure the proper stewardship of the .RUGBY gTLD.”

This International Rugby Board news release was sourced from:
www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2061834.html

Minds+Machines Wins Contract For .LONDON

Minds+Machines has won the contract to be registry operator for .LONDON in the current round of applications for Top Level Domains, assuming the application is successful

Minds+Machines has won the contract to be registry operator for .LONDON in the current round of applications for Top Level Domains, assuming the application is successful.

The Contract, won by Minds and Machines (a subsidiary of Top Level Domain Holdings) through a competitive tender process, is for a seven year period, with a three year renewal period which is subject to certain conditions.

“We are delighted to be working with Minds and Machines on the dot London Application and are confident that the initiative will bring important additional revenue and jobs to the capital,” said Gordon Innes, CEO at London & Partners.

“The dot London domain provides a tremendous opportunity to extend the global presence of London across the Internet, and likewise position it as a centre of digital innovation. We believe we are now excellently placed to benefit from the unprecedented opportunities provided by the de-regulation of the Internet naming system.”

Meanwhile Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of TLDH, said TLDH is “proud to be partnering with one of the greatest cities in the world. We are committed to working with London & Partners and DLDL to ensure that dot London becomes a central part of the city’s promotion and a resource that is of real value to the people, businesses and communities of London. We are honoured to have won this contract in the Olympic year which places London at the centre of a global audience.”

Minds+Machines Signs Agreement with Bavarian Government to Manage .BAYERN

The Directors of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited have announced that Bayern Connect GmbH, the German operating company in which TLDH has a majority holding, has been exclusively awarded the contract to apply for the .BAYERN gTLD string by the Bavarian State Government

The Directors of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited have announced that Bayern Connect GmbH, the German operating company in which TLDH has a majority holding, has been exclusively awarded the contract to apply for the .BAYERN gTLD string by the Bavarian State Government.

Top Level Domain Holdings’ wholly owned registry services company, Minds+Machines, will provide the back-end registry services for the proposed new domain. Revenue to the Company will be based on a share of the revenues generated by the domain.

“We view .BAYERN as a very significant win for Bayern Connect and for TLDH,” said Antony Van Couvering, CEO of Top Level Domain Holdings.

“We are fully aware of the responsibility entrusted to us and plan to fully support Bayern Connect in its mission, continued Van Couvering. “Germany has 82 million inhabitants, 62 million internet users and 15 million domain names registered under .DE. By comparison, Bavaria has 12.5 million inhabitants. We foresee a long and mutually profitable relationship with Bayern Connect and the people of Bavaria through this initiative.”

Top Level Domain Holdings is currently supporting a portfolio of gTLD applications ranging from geographic applications, wholly-owned or joint venture applications for generic word based domains, and applications by third party clients where Top Level Domain’s registry services company, Minds+Machines, provides the registry service.

Dengate Thrush Joins Top Level Domain Holdings As Exec Chair

The chairman of ICANN until last month, Peter Dengate Thrush, has today been appointed executive chairman of Top Level Domain Holdings, a company that intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top level domains

The chairman of ICANN until last month, Peter Dengate Thrush, has today been appointed executive chairman of Top Level Domain Holdings, a company that intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top level domains.

“Peter will be an outstanding asset to TLDH. Peter and I have worked together as ICANN participants since its inception, and I am very pleased to welcome him as our executive chairman,” said Antony Van Couvering, TLDH’s chief executive officer.

“Peter championed successfully the approval of the new [generic top-level domain] programme at the highest levels and with Peter on board I have every confidence we will achieve the same success at TLDH. I can’t think of a better addition to our team – Peter is a superstar in our field, and we are delighted to have him at the helm.”

At the last ICANN meeting, the last that Dengate Thrush chaired, the application programme was approved by the board and there will be an application window for new gTLD applicants for three months from 12 January.

Dengate Thrush has been involved in ICANN since its inception over ten years ago including through providing comments on the formation of ICANN and serving on the launching group of the ccNSO, who subsequently elected him an ICANN board member in 2005 and then ICANN chair replacing Vint Cerf in 2007. His term on the board, and as ICANN chair, ended at the ICANN meeting in Singapore in late June.

Dengate Thrush was also instrumental in the establishment of the Asia Pacific Top Level Domain association and was legal advisor to InternetNZ.

Top Level Domain Holdings to Capitalise on ICANN's New gTLD Introduction

Top Level Domain Holdings plans to raise about £3m via a placing at 6.5p a share to take advantage of the introduction of new generic Top Level Domains, the board of the company has announced. Continue reading “Top Level Domain Holdings to Capitalise on ICANN's New gTLD Introduction”

Top Level Domain Holdings to Capitalise on ICANN’s New gTLD Introduction

Top Level Domain Holdings plans to raise about £3m via a placing at 6.5p a share to take advantage of the introduction of new generic Top Level Domains, the board of the company has announced

Top Level Domain Holdings plans to raise about £3m via a placing at 6.5p a share to take advantage of the introduction of new generic Top Level Domains, the board of the company has announced.

The company said it was excited about prospects now that ICANN had approved the timeline for the introduction of new gTLDs in 2011.

The company said it intends to raise approximately £3 million by way of a market placing of new ordinary shares of no par value (“Ordinary Shares”) with existing and new shareholders at an indicative placing price of 6.5p per new Ordinary Share (the “Placing Shares”).

The net proceeds of the proposed placing will be used, in conjunction with the Company’s existing cash balances of approximately US$5.5 million (equivalent to approximately £3.4 million at current exchange rates), to develop further the Company’s portfolio of prospective top-level domain projects ahead of the gTLD application process in Spring 2011 and provide additional working capital for the Company. The Placing Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares.

The net placing proceeds will be used together with the company’s cash balances of around $5.5m to develop its portfolio of prospective top-level domain projects ahead of the gTLD application process in spring 2011.

CEO Antony Van Couverin said, “Having reviewed ICANN’s Final Proposed Applicant Guidebook, and in view of the ICANN Board’s historic decision to do away with cross-ownership restrictions between registries and registrars, we believe that the timing is right for additional investment by TLDH.

“ICANN’s registry-registrar decision means that additional gTLD business models are now viable, and we have already seen a marked increase in interest from prospective new clients. We intend to make sure we have the resources to take advantage of this opportunity.”