What do big companies that use brand protection company's to register and buy domain names spend to protect, acquire, register and renew domain names? WikiLeaks.org published invoices from MarkMonitor to Sony, documents (PDF) In those invoices published by WikiLeaks , MarkMonitor.com billed Sony $1,000 several times for a “Domain Acquisition Fee" for domain names that are not owned by … [Read more...]
Namecheap Launches Respectourprivacy.com To Save Private Whois Registrations
Namecheap.com, in association with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Fight For The Future (FFTF), launched the website Respectourprivacy.com to allow people to file a comment with ICANN letting them know they object to the proposed rule that would greatly restrict the use of privacy or proxy services on whois records of domain names. ICANN public comment period closes on July 7th … [Read more...]
GMO Internet (Largest Registrar in Japan) Raises $65million
GMO Internet is the largest registrar in Japan, they made news last November purchasing Z.com for JPY800 million or $6,776,448 USD. The dollar amount is the exchange rate at the time of the transaction. Today it would be $6,506,768. TechInAsia.com reported today that the company just received a $65 million investment from Mitsui Sumitomo to provide the financial wherewithal to strengthen their … [Read more...]
State of Washington Says Domain Registrations Are Subject To Sales Tax
According to a ruling from the State of Washington this week "Internet domain name registration services are generally subject to retail sales or use tax. This article only addresses the initial sale of a domain name by a registrar. The Domain Name System helps users find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address, called an Internet Protocol (IP) … [Read more...]
Report: Only 14 TLDs Are “Legal” in China
Allegravita published a paper that looks to be a bit troubling for registries looking to do business in China moving forward. The Chinese government is looking to regulate the Chinese domain industry while The MIIT will not interfere with existing domain registrations for unapproved registries; however, new registrations will not be permitted to be sold by Chinese registrars to Chinese … [Read more...]
AlpNames.com Becomes 2nd Largest New gTLD Registrar In The World
AlpNames.com has become the 2nd Largest New gTLD Registrar In The World according to ntldstats.com. The domain name registrar which was little known and used before the new gTLD program has skyrocket into having the 2nd most new gTLD registrations with over 430K registration passing Network Solutions that has over 427,000 registrations. Alpnames.com now accounts for over 7.5% of all new … [Read more...]
Name.com: 50% Off Premium Priced Domains On 4 New gTLD’s Extension For 2 Hours Today
The domain name registrar, Name.com is offering 50% of of premium registrations (first year only) for the following new gTLD extensions today only for 2 hours: .CONSULTING .SOFTWARE .MARKET .REVIEWS. The Domain Happy Hour is from 3–5 p.m. MST today. "That includes some pretty great available premiums, like Colorado.market, StockMarket.consulting, Action.software, and … [Read more...]