Is .NGO the First Defensive TLD Registration Announcement?
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Registry behind .org wants .ngo.
This week Public Interest Registry (PIR) announced it will apply for the .ngo top level domain name when ICANN opens up its application process next year.
Could this be the first example of a “defensive” TLD registration?
PIR runs the .org registry, and .ngo for non-governmental organizations is definitely competitive to .org. Others had expressed plans for .ngo as well, and PIR certainly doesn’t want another group running a TLD so similar to .org.
That’s not to say .ngo doesn’t make business sense standalone for PIR. It plans to operate it with some registration restrictions, which .org doesn’t have. It will also be a new TLD, which means it won’t be encumbered by any of the limitations of the .org gTLD.
Still, I suspect a primary reason for applying for this TLD — and particularly for pre-announcing it — is to ward off any competition.
Further Reading:
I think there’s been a few other announcements that would meet that definition of “defensive”.
Some of the city TLDs, for example.
Definitely .bank and .hotel, maybe .radio. Maybe others.
Thank you for your post. In answer to your question, our mission at PIR, as stated in our charter, is to run a “registry service, operate in the public interest, and [be] responsive to the unique needs of the noncommercial, NGO, and non-profit community worldwide.â€
Through our engagement with the NGO community, it has become clear that .NGO will benefit these organizations worldwide and is a natural next step in our commitment to providing a stable, trusted registry that not only meets their unique needs but also empowers the non-profit, noncommercial, and NGO community.