.SCOT Pioneer Domains Go Live As Independence Referendum Pushes Scottish Identity
The .scot Pioneer Programme goes live today with the 50 or so registrants picked to be part of the programme seeing their domain names, and websites, up and running.
Among those who have signed up and are part of the Pioneer Programme for the new gTLD are the Scottish government, the main yes and no campaign groups for the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence, Yes Scotland and Better Together, as well as WWF Scotland, NHS Scotland and Scouts Scotland. International pioneers include the Louisiana Scots and the Clan Wallace.
The launch of .scot has come at a perfect time with Scottish identity a big issue due to the upcoming referendum and the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow next week. The gTLD is being pushed as for use of the Scottish community around the world whose online activities:
- contribute to Scottish social, cultural, business or academic life
- utilise the spoken and visual languages of Scotland
- explore Scottish heritage
- have made Scotland their home.
The launch has the support of Scottish politicians including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who said:
“It is entirely right that Scotland should have its own distinctive and recognisable internet domain – in particular, one that will resonate internationally, helping to promote Scottish business and culture throughout the world.”
“I am confident that the .scot domain name will prove to be a real asset to the people of Scotland and to the worldwide family of Scots. I am looking forward to the Scottish Government being able to make use of this new domain, and to having gov.scot up and running before the end of the year, as well as our pioneer domains including welcome.scot, which go live today.”
Speaking of the launch of the Pioneer Programme, Dot Scot Registry director Gavin McCutcheon described it as a “fantastic day for Scotland online”.
“Owning a .scot domain will allow people and organisations a new unique way to express their identity online.”
“It’s a community domain intended for everybody who lives and works in Scotland – and for the 50 million people around the globe who are part of Scotland’s diaspora.
“After such a long campaign to secure the new .scot domain, we’re delighted that we can launch when the eyes of the world are on Scotland, with the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow next week.”
The Scottish branch of WWF is also in on the act with WWF Scotland director Lang Banks saying:
“From world-leading climate change targets to innovative approaches to securing more fish and healthier seas, Scotland is a pioneer in creating solutions to some of the most important environmental challenges facing the planet. However, as well as being able to learn from others globally, we’d like these examples to help provide inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
“By using WWF.scot we hope to create a space to better share these and other great ideas so that everywhere people and nature can thrive.”
For the next 60 days only launch pioneers’ domains will be online, but from 23 September General Availability will commence for anyone who wants to be part of the Scottish community around the world.
Domain Names Could Include Armenian Alphabet Starting Next Year
According to a press release sent out today, internet domain names may appear written in the Armenian alphabet starting next year.
You can read the press release after the jump:
“Internet URL’s may appear written in the Armenian alphabet starting next year, as the governing body of Internet domain names continues to announce major changes to the system, Deputy Director of the Internet Society of Armenia Grigori Saghian told reporters.
According to Saghian, Armenia has applied to ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) – the non-profit organization that governs the Internet’s domain name system — for the possibility of registering domain names in the Mesrobian alphabet.
“According to procedure, we should receive an answer within one year after applying,” Saghian said, noting that Armenia applied at the beginning of 2014. “Having domain names in the Armenian alphabet is inevitable, and, to some extent, necessary,” added Saghian.
ICANN has been a focus of discussion in the news recently after announcing a host of proposed changes to the domain name system, including the introduction of a plethora of new suffixes like .wine and .London, some of which have produced controversy.”
.MOSCOW and .МОСКВА Sunrise Shows Latin Characters Most Popular
The Sunrise period for the .moscow and .москва gTLDs has ended resulting in in 154 domain name registrations in .MOSCOW and seven registrations in .МОСКВА. Which is not overly surprising given those registered within the Trademark Clearinghouse are more likely to be for larger brands.
The Sunrise period in .moscow and .москва was popular mainly among global brands including Gucci, McDonalds and H&M. The applicant with the most domains applied for was Apple with 11.
There were also a couple of generic terms registered, these being МЫ.МОСКВА (which can be translated as we.moscow) and скачать.москва (download.moscow).
Commencing 15 July, and ending 13 August, the first limited registration period commenced for the owners of trademarks and service marks valid in the Russian Federation.
The second limited registration period will run from 19 to 25 August and this will be limited to trade names, media and non-profits registered in Moscow as well as Moscow appellations of origin.
To register a domain name, a trademark owner shall contact one of the registrars accredited for the Moscow’s domains and submit the following documents:
- a document confirming the trademark owner’s registration as a legal entity or a sole trader
- a trademark certificate or an enacted judicial decision on the exclusive right to a trademark protected in the Russian Federation.
Then from 24 September to 18 November will be a Landrush period and finally General Availability will commence on 1 December. Both of these will be on a first-come first-served basis for individuals and legal entities from anywhere.
“Domain names in the Moscow extensions will now be available for a wider range of users, because they won’t have to pay for including their trademarks in the Trademark Clearinghouse,” says Dmitry Burkov, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Assistance for Internet Technologies and Infrastructure Development (Registry Operator for the .MOSCOW and .МОСКВА TLDs).
“We hope that this limited registration period in the Russian capital domains will be especially popular among Russian trademark owners associated not only with large businesses but also medium-size and small businesses.”
Top 20 Most Expensive .COM Domain Names in The First Half of 2014
MI.com was the highest reported .COM domain name sale in the first half of 2014. The domain name changed hands for a whopping $3,6 million.
Most of the big-value .COM domain name sales in the first half of 2014 were brokered by Sedo.The top 20 .COM domain name sales add up to a total of over $21 million in the first half of 2014.
Here are the highest reported .COM domain name sales in the first half of 2014.
1. MI.com $3,600,000
2. Whisky.com $3,100,000
3. Youxi.com $2,430,000
4. 37.com $1,960,800
5. MM.com $1,200,000
6. 100.com $950,000
7. Wan.com $800,000
8. Teamwork.com $675,000
9.DataCenter.com $500,000
10. Symphony.com $375,000
11. True.com $350,000
12. Malls.com $320,000
13. LK.com $287,500
14. Accommodation.com $286,000
15.tie FlashCards.com $250,000
16.tie BitcoinWallet.com $250,000
17. Mob.com $220,000
18. DL.com $210,689
19. Gab.com $200,002
20. YouPay.com $200,000
Microsoft Files UDRP Complaint For 26 Office-Related Domain Names
Microsoft has filed a UDRP complaint with the National Arbitration Forum, seeking control of 26 Office-related domain names.
The 26 disputed domain names are:
microsoftoffice365la.com
microsoftoffice365miami.com
microsoftoffice365nyc.com
microsoftoffice365phoenix.com
microsoftoffice365phx.com
microsoftoffice365sandiego.com
office365atlanta.com
office365boston.com
office365chicago.com
office365consultant.com
office365dallas.com
office365denver.com
office365forbusiness.com
office365houston.com
office365kc.com
office365la.com
office365lasvegas.com
office365losangeles.com
office365newyork.com
office365phoenix.com
office365phx.com
office365sandiego.net
office365scottsdale.com
office365seattle.com
office365sf.com
office365techs.com
According to whois records, the disputed domain names were registered in 2011,2012 and 2013.
The National Arbitration Forum will examine if the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to Microsoft’s trademark,if the current owner has rights over it and if the domains are being used in bad faith .The disputed domain names will be passed over to Microsoft if it falls under all three of these stipulations.
The case is still pending compliance checks with the National Arbitration Forum
