NeuStar asks for prompt approval of plan to release one and two character .biz domain names.
.Biz registry NeuStar has sent a letter to ICANN expressing its disappointment that the ICANN board delayed approving the release of one and two character .biz domain names (pdf).
According to the letter, the ICANN board was supposed to vote on NeuStar’s proposal at its April 23 meeting but time ran out before a vote was held.
NeuStar wants to request proposals from parties interested in registering one and two character domain names to ensure they are used in a way that promotes the .biz brand. The company says any money earned from the release of these domain names will be funneled back into promotion of the .biz domain. Some of this will be used to pay registrars to promote .biz (this is a common promotion practice). The letter spells out some of the difficulties facing registries for “new” top level domain names:
If there is any concern among ICANN Board members about a financial windfall to NeuStar or whether approval of the .BIZ proposal somehow sets a precedent for similar auctions in market-dominant TLDs, we urge you to consider the realities of the marketplace. Under the Registry/Registrar construct designed by ICANN, registries like .BIZ are reliant on marketing by registrars. Given that .BIZ has such a small percentage of the market, registrars are generally reluctant to spend marketing dollars on the promotion of .BIZ relative to .COM. Smaller registries like .BIZ require greater flexibility relative to those with market dominance, particularly when registrars demand greater compensation to promote our brand to registrants. Therefore, any proceeds derived from the .BIZ auction would be used to make up for this shortfall by registrars and to engage in branding efforts at the registry level.
Domain Investor says
Neustar should do more to build the prestige and use of .biz rather than trying to figure out how they can add more profit to their bottomline.
.biz is an example of what will happen with all of the “new” gtlds being proposed.
Furthermore, Neustar is responsibile for the management of .us. They have done NOTHING to build the use of .us.
Anna Shillhill says
It looks to me that Neu star .biz sealed the answer to their request with this letter by taking the position that they have been ‘prejudiced’ by delay, despite certain admissions on their part.
Is it true that the .biz reputation among namespace developers is that .biz domains are a prefered choice of the spammers? I have been told so by someone who reads alot of message boards. If that is true, then that alone is enough to explain any lack of interest on the part of the (legit business) public in investing in the .biz ‘brand’ considering how much people hate spam, and the often times criminal nexus involved with the spammers activities… ie virus, scams, dos attacks etc.
Additionaly, decisions like the paint.biz arbitration decision combined with the SMILEY case involving CRIMINAL lottery (gambling?) type determinations, would in my mind give anyone pause when considering investing in .biz. or even approving any more auctions.
If the initial launch of .biz was determined to involve criminal activity, then is there a legal cloud that will alway underpin the future development of the namespace or is this the type of thing that passes with time? Any lawyers on this board?
The .us is where the future is IMHO. People will love it.
P.S. I did not know about any such public comment period. After the ICANN meeting in mexico where the at least perceived risk of being shot and or infected with human/pig/bird virus, I have questioned the feasability of public participation.
One of the public forums actually showed a picture of someone held with a gun to the back of their head, with the depicted person being someone considering attending ICANN mexico for the article announcing the meeting and how to attend. DAMN MEXICAN DRUG LORDS.
Andrew Allemann says
“Is it true that the .biz reputation among namespace developers is that .biz domains are a prefered choice of the spammers?”
No, that was .info
M. Menius says
@Shillhill – I try to stay away from personal insults, but your comments qualify as some of the most moronic accusations ever posted here. “The initial launch of .biz was determined to involve criminal activity?” Completely baseless drivel.
As a side note, you might pay more attention to your alias “Shillhill”, also posted as “Hillshill” in the 4/28 thread on UDRPFail.com. Most people remember how to spell their own name.
iGoldrush says
@Anna – Criminal activity is way too harsh…
Neulevel and .biz registrars got hit with a class action lawsuit claiming that the launch was in violation of California lottery laws because registrants were permitted to submit and pay for multiple applications in order to increase their chances of getting their desired domain. The suit was settled.
It was news at the time but I doubt anyone takes this into consideration when choosing whether or not to register a .biz domain nowadays.
On another note, I agree with those who feel that .us could and perhaps will (one day) be a whole lot more than it is today.
Marg says
I had registered several .biz domains for my company when the TLD was first released. I have been somewhat hampered in using it, as most customers have never heard of it. When I spell it out for any US customers I have to remember to say ZEE instead of ZED (UK and Canada, so much for the radio test)…Also I read once on a forum posting that .biz was only used by companies like “Uncle Gary’s shoe repair business trying to get online”..Not quite the image I was looking for. However, I would probably be tempted by a 1 or 2 character regardless of TLD.
Esahaque Eswaramangalam says
Hello,
After strenuous effort spaning an year and more, I found out an unreserved two character .com domain name contains an alphabet and a numeric. However upon registering the domain name my request was declined by net4.in. What valid reasons (leagally or otherwise) exist that prevent me from registering this domain name. Kindly advise. Please treat this as urgent
Esahaque Eswaramangalam
Andrew Allemann says
Esahaque – two character .com domain names cannot be registered per ICANN policy.