Recently in Domains Category

The full list of domains that are going under the hammer at TRAFFIC Dublin was released before the weekend.

While it is an impressive list I would wonder how many of these names will find buyers this week.

Here is the full list:

SeoulKorea.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

MunichGermany.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

WhiskeyExporters.com, WhiskeyDistributors.com WhiskeyExporters.com, WhiskeySuppliers.com, WhiskeyDistributors.com,

WhiskeyWholesalers.com, WhiskeyProviders.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

UI.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

NicotinePatches.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

iStockmarket.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

NPR.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DebitCard.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DebtSolutions.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

4wd.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Cheesecakes.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

BS.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Italian.net Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

OrganicBabyfood.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

GJ.net Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Mouse.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

CreditAlerts.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Lover.net Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

iDublin.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

SaaS.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Bankers.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

DA.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

PregnancyTest.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

X2.net Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

MedicalDisability.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Dublin.net Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Models.co.uk Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Headache.org Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

ER.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Career.co.uk Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

HumanResources.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

IrelandProperties.eu Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

BookShops.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

74.co.uk Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

ArtificialSweetener.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Outsourcing.in Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

HomeSchooling.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

LDV.asia Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

7 Domain Disc Golf Lot including: DiscGolfDrivers.com, DiscGolfCarts.comDiscGolfDrivers.com, DiscGolfPutter.com, DiscGolfPutters.com,

DiscGolfMidrange.com, DiscGolfCarts.com, DiscGolfShoes.com and

MissouriDiscGolf.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000

Euro

eFilms.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

JG.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Motorbikes.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Calculators.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Dominatrix.com, Dominatrix.us,

TheDomina.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

NBAUpdates.com,

NFLUpdates.com, MLBUpdates.com and NHLUpdates.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Restaurants.im Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

EQI.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

GrapeDrink.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

BrewersYeast.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Seasonings.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Inns.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Andre.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DublinAccommodations.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DisposableIncome.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

ScotlandTours.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Java.in Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Ulster.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Balding.co.uk Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Musician.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Customer-Support.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

TrackAndField.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Lifts.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

WV.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

StopSmokingSupport.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

PetShops.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Doma.in Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Recados.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

L.biz Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

AER.asia Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Strippers.se Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

HawaiiBeaches.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

PreLaw.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

SEO.in Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

CreditCardMachines.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

NorthernIreland.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

ForexExchange.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

TaxConsultants.co.uk Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

CTR.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

CBD.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

VideoPoker.asia Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

AXJ.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Microphones.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

MakeMoney.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

iAntiques.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Keyboard.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Gold.co.uk Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

GreensFee.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Disabled.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

GreensFees.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

BankAuctions.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

WomensNutrition.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

LHS.asia Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Cruise.lc, Cruises.lc and

Golf.lc Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

BreastEnhancement.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Catamarans.co Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

eAutoLoans.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Music.co.uk Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Pedicure.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Shut.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Kyiv.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

DublinConcerts.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Portugal.biz Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Pearl-Earrings.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Consolidate.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Html.in Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Taurine.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

BJD.com, .net, .org, .info,

.us Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Majors.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

ShortFilms.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Flori.st Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

AutoInsuranceCompanies.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Folders.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

KAS.asia Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

BullRiders.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Crunchy.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Saws.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

D3.eu Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

NRR.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

SupremeCourt.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

UNP.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Installs.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Cashout.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

HedgeFundBroker.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

VancouverFishing.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Kleptomania.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

RateQuote.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Anniversary.org Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Enlist.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

75.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

8.ag Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

TBU.de Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

GiantPanda.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

iApartment.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Planners.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

CorkDoctors.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

IrishBlog.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

BreastCancer.net Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Tower.us Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

ChocolateDrink.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

HomeRefinancing.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Luimneach.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Recovery.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

ChildrensNutrition.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

WiFiSupport.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Dublin.co.uk Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

WorkAtHome.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

AXQ.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

DublinProperties.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

LAC.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

CollegePorn.eu Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Affiliates.co.uk Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Breaks.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

BusinessApparel.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

CabinRentals.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Rankings.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

SnoringMedication.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

PHP.in Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Congress.co.uk Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Photograph.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

BioMeds.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Disk.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

IrelandProperties.org Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

GourmetSnacks.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Effort.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Marina.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

AutoLoanCalculator.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

USK.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Pickles.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Discs.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Password.net Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

WorkOnline.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

DigitalImaging.com Reserve Range: 100,000+ Euro

Reference.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

PreSeasons.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Skaters.com Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

Skills.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Classy.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DublinStorage.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Vouchers.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Magazines.us Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

WeLoveDublin.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

ShannonTourism.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

MobilePhone.bz Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

N.biz Reserve Range: 20,001 – 100,000 Euro

InternationalFlights.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Programming.in Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Incompatible.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Copper.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

EIU.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

DrinkMix.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

DublinDoctors.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Nr1.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Occupations.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Chamber.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Messages.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Advertisements.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Literary.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

GEQ.com Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Talking.net Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

DublinGuide.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Employee.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

eNetwork.com Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

Equity.us Reserve Range: 5,001 – 20,000 Euro

PDFReader.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

CMT.co.uk Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Party-Costumes.com Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Clip.us Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Pendulum.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Funds.us Reserve Range: 1,501 – 5,000 Euro

Waiver.net Reserve Range: 1 – 1,500 Euro

Some ideas are so incredibly simple, yet they solve a very obvious problem.

One such problem is domain name statistics.

In this case I'm talking about parked domains. If you buy and sell domains it can help both parties to know how much traffic (and revenue) a domain is actually getting - as opposed to what the seller might like you to think. And of course getting those figures from an independent 3rd party makes them a lot more meaningful.

Andrew from DomainNameWire has recently launched a new service that does just that - and only that. It provides domain owners with a very simple tool to create certificates showing how much traffic, revenue etc., a domain is actually getting.

The system is very very easy to use.

Simply signup and confirm your email address.

Once you're logged in you can create certificates either for one domain, multiple domains or your entire portfolio (you can upload a text file).

The system currently supports Sedo, Parked.com, DomainSponsor and Skenzo, but other parking companies will be added over time.

Here's one I made earlier (click to enlarge) showing traffic only (some details have been obfuscated):



It's an interesting and useful service, so I'll be keeping an eye on it in the months to come.

Since switching domains over I've been planning on a complete revamp of this site's look and feel. The first place to start with this is with the logo.

So this is the current one I'm thinking of using:



What do you think?

ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO) has formed a working group to consider changes to the domain transfer process to enhance security and reduce hijacking.  The working group consists of registrars, aftermarket players, domainers and other members of the ICANN Community.  The group published its preliminary recommendations at the ICANN meeting in Brussels two weeks ago and the 20-day comment period has just begun.

The key areas of focus for the working group are as follows:

 a.    Whether a process for urgent return/resolution of a domain name should be
developed, as discussed within the SSAC hijacking report (http://www.icann.org/announcements/hijacking-report-12jul05.pdf; see also http://www.icann.org/correspondence/cole-to-tonkin-14mar05.htm);
b.    Whether additional provisions on undoing inappropriate transfers are needed, especially with regard to disputes between a Registrant and Admin Contact. The policy is clear that the Registrant can overrule the AC, but how this is implemented is currently at the discretion of the registrar;
c.    Whether special provisions are needed for a change of registrant near a change of registrar. The policy does not currently deal with change of registrant, which often figures in hijacking cases;
d.    Whether standards or best practices should be implemented regarding use of Registrar Lock status (e.g., when it may/may not, should/should not be applied);
e.    Whether, and if so, how best to clarify denial reason #7: A domain name was already in "lock status" provided that the Registrar provides a readily accessible and reasonable means for the Registered Name Holder to remove the lock status.

Comments by registrants, registrars and other interested parties are strongly encouraged and can be viewed at:

http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#irtp-b-initial-report

The deadline for submitting comments is 25 July.

Disclosure - I chair the working group

It's that time of the year again - Nominet election time!

This year there aren't any elections for the policy board, as they've changed how it's composed.

So the elections this time round are for the board.

In typical fashion, however, some of the candidates have managed to make a relatively banal election a bit more interesting ..

Check Andrew Bennett's blog for more details - this has also spilled over onto the members' forum, Twitter, Acorn Domains and a private mailing list.

Blacknight are offering .tv domain registration for €9.99 / year.

Full details here

The ICANN Board's statement on vertical integration at Nairobi has left pretty much everyone in an awkward position.

Either it is:

• a masterful move by the board
• or an act of madness

I'd hope it was the masterful move, as it essentially forces everyone to reach a consensus. Failure to do so will have a negative impact on both registrars and registries, as nobody can really "win' in the post-Nairobi world.

The Board's statement is still being debated, but on the face of it they are blocking any form of relationship between registries and registrars:

5. New gTLDs Implementation – Vertical Integration

Whereas, decisions about industry structure affect many aspects of the public interest – prices, service offerings, sources and uses of data, and more;

Whereas, ICANN has obtained several studies, and heard from Industry participants about the possible benefits and detriments of choices related to ownership integration or non-integration;\

Whereas, the market for new gTLDs will be dynamic, and has yet to emerge. In particular, there are concerns about how industry structure could affect consumer data protection;

Whereas, the GNSO is in an active policy development process on the issue of Vertical Integration, and the Board does not want to create an environment in which it would be difficult to later harmonize the new gTLD marketplace with the GNSO policy result; and

Whereas, it is important to establish a baseline approach to registry-registrar separation for the new gTLD process to move ahead.

Resolved (2010.03.12.17), within the context of the new gTLD process, there will be strict separation of entities offering registry services and those acting as registrars. No co-ownership will be allowed.

Resolved (2010.03.12.18), if a policy becomes available from the GNSO, and approved by the Board prior to the launch of the new gTLD program, that policy will be considered by the Board for adoption as part of the New gTLD Program.

The second last line includes an incredibly vague reference to "registry services" without offering any definition. So is providing DNS to a registry covered? What about if I buy shares in a company that already owns shares in another company? Where do you draw the line?

The last sentence is the "opening", but based on the interactions on the mailing list so far I'd suspect that there will be a lot of squabbling ..

Hopefully, however, there will be some progress, as it is now an issue of importance to a lot of parties

Like so many other industries, the domain industry has a plethora of events every year.

Keeping track of all to them can be a chore, so a site worth bookmarking is Domain Name Calendar, which gives a fairly comprehensive listing of domain industry events. It's run by the same people who are behind Domain Name News

Nice work!

One of the topics that keeps coming up in ICANN policy discussions and as part of the new TLD application process is "transparency".

ICANN, and the internet community in general, has had plenty of issues in the past with "bad actors" who have caused a lot of issues for everyone (think of many of the registrars who have lost accreditation in the last couple of years for example).

On more than one conference call or policy discussion the issue of a company or a person's track record has come up.

Now while I personally think that anyone who has been knowingly involved in criminal activity OR who has knowingly been involved with a serious breach of ICANN policy (or any of the contracts) should be barred from any further involvement with the DNS, a blanket ban is not without its own set of issues.

The larger the company the more likely it will have been involved with litigation or criminal law suits at some point or other in the past.

And who is pushing for all these "checks and balances" within the ICANN processes? In many cases it's the big brand owners, who live in fear of "squatters" and other "evil doers".

So why do I raise this?

Well George Kirikos has, yet again, managed to dig up some quite revealing data about some of the companies that likely to be involved in new TLDs in the future and who have been very vocal in the ICANN "space" over the last few years.

You can read the full text of what George uncovered here, but suffice to say that a lot of the big brands and companies aren't as "clean" as they'd like us all to be (and no that wasn't a typo).

Unilever, Disney, Coca-Cola, Time Warner, Yahoo! and Telstra are all named and, if you'll excuse the cliche, shamed...

If you work in the domain industry it's only natural that you would put big brands' choices under the microscope to some degree.

In the case of Apple they are a very big target.

Earlier today Apple released, to much hype, their latest product offering. The iPad.

You can read all about its features here, but where would you go to find out about the product itself and actually order one?

You would assume that ipad.com was owned by Apple.

You'd be wrong.

The owner of ipad.com will probably see a huge increase in their web traffic over the next few days, but they're just an innocent bystander.

The domain ipad.com has been registered since 1997 and so any attempt by Apple to grab the domain would have been difficult, if not futile. Having said that, however, they may have tried it!

Apple is using a simple sub-directory off their main site to provide all the info about their new product.

Of course if you are in favour of new TLDs this is just another wonderful example of how a company like Apple could make use of their own TLD. If Apple owned .apple or .mac they'd have been able to launch their new product via the more memorable ipad.apple instead of apple.com/ipad