GB.com among domain names that will no longer operate like a registry.
CentralNic (LSE:CNIC) is going to terminate a handful of third level domain name options it offered to registrants the same way second level domain names are registered.
Domains registered under .AR.COM, .GB.COM, .HU.COM, .KR.COM, .QC.COM, .NO.COM, .SE.COM, AND .UY.COM will no longer work after April 30, 2017.
CentralNic offered domains like example.gb.com and example.se.com through registrars, the same way you would register example.com or example.info.
As CentralNic CEO Ben Crawford explained on Domain Name Wire Podcast #79, CentralNic owns some of the second level domains it operates as registries, and partners with third parties for others.
The appreciation of two letter domain name values probably means that most of them have more value being sold than operated as a registry.
CentralNic is trying to make amends to registrars’ customers by offering another third level domain for free for two years. .XYZ and .co.com are also offering free registrations to CentralNic’s customers.
Of course, changing domain names is a real pain. I would recommend that customers not transition to another pseudo domain name, and instead, switch to a true second level domain choice.
Users of GB.com domains have been inconvenienced before. Their websites stopped resolving when there was a dispute over control of the domain name.
I suspect the termination of these other strings will also give pause to registrars that offer CentralNic’s third level domains. Is it worth the customer backlash?
I wonder why .de.com and .co.com is not in this list ?
Centralnic handles the registry functions but those are operated by separated companies to my understanding.
Because their owners haven’t decided to shut them down.
Canadian Registrar Sibername posted the email from Centralnic on their blog. It can be read here.
http://www.sibername.com/blog/qc-com-will-sunsetted-along-ar-gb-hu-kr-no-se-uy-com/
this is no one should ever buy such names.
It is outrageous, they are casuing massive inconvenience and business and branding disasters for their registrants. They decided to sell the subdomains and that means they committed long term to providing their customers with a domain name. There will be a huge backlash from registrars.
The ICANN Accredited Registrars are complicit in CentralNic’s racketeering, as is ICANN.
Read brilliant article written by Jones Day, that educates the reader on all things equaling Contributory Infringement.
http://www.jonesday.com/files/Publication/cb405aa3-30fc-45b0-a025-6bd42493221c/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/b60b2502-8558-42ba-b2f3-447269e2d6b6/CombatingContributoryInf.pdf
I can see a lot of law suits coming their way!
Yes, there is! And it’ll also include the ADR Forum.
Hi Andrew:
Thanks for the article; and to the point of * “You cannot trust centralnic says” ~ Yes, they are in fact creating a massive inconvenience to businesses; and to Joe’s observation, yes one is!
Thanks to the newest Trade Agreement, known as the TPP, ICANN are now subjects of the Canadian Court; and if SCOTUS don’t protect American USPTO Trademarks & In Rem / In Personam .COM Domain Names the Canadian’s Court will.
The TPP identifies Geographical Indications (GIs) which mirrors the WTO TRIPS agreement, that talks of “Misleading”
“In respect of all geographical indications, interested parties must have legal means to prevent use of indications which mislead the public as to the geographical origin of the good, and use which constitutes an act of unfair competition within the meaning of Article 10bis of the Paris Convention (Article 22.2).”
WTO: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm#top
TPP 1: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/TPP-Chapter-Summary-Intellectual-Property.pdf
TPP 2: https://medium.com/the-trans-pacific-partnership/intellectual-property-3479efdc7adf#.eemcmnig1
I’m also amused that Kieren McCarthy wrote of CentralNic, “The way the domain name system works, however, there is an owner of the each second-level domain and they are ultimately in charge of everything underneath it.”
In other words, CentralNic [ with ICANN Et Al ] are Liable for / as Contributory Infringers, based on the Inducing language used to market the fake cc.COMs!
Which means, contrary to what ICANN’s IPC, Brian Winterfeldt told the VaED Court, on behalf of BOTH Network Solutions & CentralNic, the uk,COM is a Domain Name; and it IS subject to the Lanham Act’s ACPA.
Also ~ The United Kingdoms IPO will be terminating the TM® given to CentralNic’ Client, because the Application was filed & communicated via emails; and those emails used the uk.COM Domain Name, with the SubDomain Name of Landcruise, coupled with the Applicants Formal Name!
In due course, the Guy Mad, will be the Guy Vindicated.
Cheers, Guy Mad.
* Is not me! I’m forthright.
your education on the WWW and the Internet is missing a few periods in time, namely when it was actually going to be CC.COM instead of the vast array of ccTLDs we have. Maybe if you knew what you were talking about and stopped talking absolute crap you’d notice this. You’re also the chap who tried to sue Nominet, aren’t you? I don’t think you understand how the Internet works, maybe should try sticking to offline mode.
Also – what’s “Landcruise” got to do with anything? Isn’t that trademark owned by Jeep? It sounds confusing similar to Jeep’s TM if not… looks like the pot calling the kettle black here.