.XYZ Sunrise Launches 20 March
It’s one of the more generic of the generic TLDs to launch. So it will be interesting to see how successful it is when General Availability commences. For now though .xyz is launching into a 60 day end-date Sunrise on 20 March and is inviting brands registered with the TMCH to exclusively register their trademarks before General Availability.
CentralNic is backing the gTLD’s launch with a multi-million dollar ad campaign and proactive marketing that is hoped will drive high-volume registrations.
The gTLD is being marketed as a mass-market, affordable and completely unrestricted and CentralNic is expecting over one million domain name registrations expected in the first year.
Suggestions for use of .xyz domain names are as corporate websites, new product pages, micro and promotional sites, recruiting portals and other business support services.
Priority registration will be given to Trademark Holders during the 10 day Landrush following Sunrise to secure related names and variations for a one time application fee.
TLDH Appoints Elliot Noss as ” Non Executive Director”
Top Level Domain Holdings announced today the appointment of Elliot Noss as the non-executie director of TLDH,according to a press release sent out today.
You can read the press release after the jump :
“Further to the announcement of 31 January 2014, the Board is pleased to announce the formal appointment of Mr Elliot Noss as a non-executive director of TLDH with immediate effect.
Mr Noss is President and CEO of Tucows, Inc (NASDAQ:TCX), one of the larger domain registrars, and has served in such capacity since the completion of Tucows, Inc’s merger with Tucows Delaware in August 2001. From May 1999 until completion of the merger in August 2001, Mr Noss served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tucows Delaware. Before that, from April 1997 to May 1999, Mr Noss served as Vice President of Corporate Services of Tucows Interactive Ltd., which was acquired by Tucows Delaware in May 1999. Mr Noss received an MBA/LLB from University of Western Ontario and Bachelor of Arts, Commerce and Economics, from University of Toronto.
Fred Krueger, Chairman of TLDH, commented:
We are delighted that Elliot’s appointment to the Board as a non-executive director has formally been completed. Elliot provides excellent balance at a time when we are building out our registrar operations and bringing our portfolio of new top level domains to launch.
Mr Noss has held the following directorships and/or partnerships in the last 5 years:
Current
Past
Contact Privacy None
EPAG Domainservices GmbH
Infonautics Corporation
Ting Inc.
Tucows Corp.
Tucows Domains Inc.
Tucows Inc.
Tucows International Corporation
Tucows TLDs Inc.
Tucows (Australia) Pty Limited
Tucows (Delaware) Inc.
Tucows (Germany) Inc.
Tucows (UK) Limited
Mr Noss currently holds no shares in the Company.
There is no further information on Mr Noss required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) (i)-(viii) of the AIM Rules for Companies.”
Donald Trump Awarded $32,000 in cybersquatting case over domain names
J. Taikwok Yung, a cybersquatter who registered four domain names related to Donald Trump must pay him $32,000 in damages, after a judge ruled in Trump’s favor.
J. Taikwok Yung registered the four domain names : trumpindia.com, trumpbeijing.com, trumpabudhabi.com and trumpmumbai.com , in 2007,according to whois records.The websites were also developed in 2007 .The cybersquatter used the domain names to post insults against Donald Trump and his show, “The Apprentice”.
Donald Trump offered Yung $400 to sign over control of the four website. However, the man refused the offer ,asking a bigger payout. This is when Donald Trump decided to sue the man.Now, Yung has to pay Donald Trump $32,000 in fines,after the judges ruled in the mogul’s favor.
.CLUB Sunrise Registrations Please Registry Operator
While not revealing numbers, the operators of the .club gTLD are particularly pleased with the number of Sunrise registrations since the Sunrise period began on 28 January.
Sunrise registrations will not be formally released until the end of the Sunrise period on 29 March, but the registry claims they include many high profile brands that already use the word “club” in some form for their consumer focused loyalty, reward or affinity programs.
For more information, see the news release below:
NEW gTLD .CLUB SHINES DURING TRADEMARK SUNRISE PERIOD
Registrations of .CLUB Web Addresses Come from Broad Range of Verticals, including Global Sports Teams, Luxury Brands, Retail Loyalty Programs and More
[news release] Early Sunrise registrations of the new “.CLUB” generic top-level domain name (gTLD) are already signaling demand for the new web address from a broad range of vertical industries across the globe, including high-profile sports teams, auto manufacturers, major consumer and luxury brands, private clubs and more, said executives at .CLUB Domains, LLC, the company formed to own and operate the new “.CLUB” gTLD.
.CLUB’s Trademark Sunrise Period began on January 28th and ends on March 29th. During this period trademark holders who have registered their marks with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) have the opportunity to register their “Trademark.club” names before the new domain extension is offered to the general public. In the first 30 days of its Sunrise period, .CLUB has attracted registrations from trademark holders that represent the broad spectrum of vertical markets that actively use and understand the value of the word “club” to represent their community of customers and fans. The .CLUB Sunrise Registrations, which will not be formally released until the end of the Sunrise period, includes many high profile brands that already use the word “club” in some form for their consumer focused loyalty, reward or affinity programs.
“We’re excited but not surprised to see the strong response for .CLUB domain names during Sunrise thus far, as the word has recognition around the globe and relevance to virtually every person, company and brand in the world,” said Colin Campbell, CEO of .CLUB. “Trademark holders are recognizing that a .CLUB domain name is a valuable asset they can use to market to and represent their community of customers and loyal followers.”
One of the first 100 new top level domain names to enter the Internet root zone, the .CLUB extension has consistently ranked among the Top 10 or most popular new extensions to be applied for during registrar pre-registration periods over the past several months, making it the first top level domain to come to market that has mainstream global appeal.
.CLUB Domains’ CMO Jeffrey Sass will be a speaker at the Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress in New York on March 3 and 4th,, and .CLUB Domains is a sponsor and will be in attendance at the INTA: Maintaining The Perfect Partnership Conference also in New York on March 4th and 5th.
.CLUB’s Trademark Sunrise Period ends March 29, 2014. Brands and other trademark holders can find a list of .CLUB featured Sunrise registrars and TMCH Agents here.
About .Club Domains, LLC
Led by Internet entrepreneur Colin Campbell, whose prior successes include Tucows Interactive and Hostopia.com, .Club Domains, LLC was formed for the purpose of becoming the .CLUB gTLD registry. Fully understanding the inherent marketing value of a .CLUB domain for any membership organization, .CLUB is also building a comprehensive social platform for club management. .CLUB is a one-stop shop for clubs of all sizes to secure a great domain, grow club membership, improve member engagement and reduce management costs. By combining an easy to use web services platform with a top level domain based on a globally recognized term, .CLUB is “the easiest way to find, join or start a club.” More information and links to register .CLUB domains are available now at www.nic.club.
Afilias Wins Auction for the new gTLD .Green
Afilias won the auction for the new gTLD .Green , after Rightside withdrew its application for the new gTLD a few days ago.
Top Level Domain Holdings lost the private auction with Rightside and Afilias on the new gTLD .Green and the fourth applicant, DotGreen withdrew its application last year.
It is unknown yet how much Afilias paid for the new gTLD .Green, but it is believed to have been in the million.
