NEW gTLDs ARE COMING!Gearing up for exciting changes in the domain name business

Abhijit RelekarProduct Manager, DomainsResellerClub

Agenda

• Overview of the new gTLD program

• Understanding the various types of TLDs

• Major registries and platforms

• What’s different?

• When will the new gTLDs go live?

• What we’re doing about it

• What you should do next

New gTLDs: An Overview

What is the What is the newgTLDnewgTLD program all program all about?about?

About the New gTLD Program

The need

• 22 generic TLDs, 200 million registered domains

• Nearly 60% .COM, renders naming convention meaningless

• Greater diversity to promote choice for domain name buyers

The solution

• Thousands of new extensions will be created

• Variety of commonly used terms to have their own TLD

• Non-latin extensions (.IDN) will also be allowed

Where the program stands now

• Nearly 2000 applications initially received, ultimately reduced to under 1300

• Each application goes through multiple evaluations before the TLD can be delegated

• Large number of TLDs have multiple applications (contested), will go through auction

• Evaluations based on assigned priority number

• Uncontested TLD applications with low priority number most likely to be delegated sooner

– First of such TLDs being delegated as of Nov 2013

A deeper look into new gTLDs

Understanding various types of new Understanding various types of new gTLDsgTLDs

A broad classification of new gTLDs

•Representing a particular brand•Closed operation•e.g. .APPLE, .SAMSUNG, .BESTBUY

Brands

• General purpose names with wide usage possibilities• Open or restricted operation• e.g. .CAR, .FILM, .SPORT

Generics

• TLD for a specific geographical area• Open or restricted operation• e.g. .NYC, .BERLIN, .SYDNEY

Geographic

• Intended for specific communities• Open or restricted operation• e.g. .LGBT, .ISLAM

Community

• Non-latin characters in the TLD• Intended for internationalized usage and acceptance• e.g. .شبكة (Shabaka)

IDN

A deeper look into new gTLDs

Major Registries and PlatformsMajor Registries and Platforms

Notable new gTLD Registry Applicants

• Donuts– Applied for 307 TLDs– All generic strings, 149 uncontested include .bike, .camera, .guru, etc.– Developed their own registry back-end

• Top Level Domain Holdings– Applied for 92 TLDs– Generic and some geo strings. 13 uncontested include .london, .beer– Developed their own registry back-end

• Famous Four Media– Applied for 57 TLDs– Mostly generic strings, 10 uncontested include .bid, .date, .men– Using Neustar (or ARI in some cases) as Registry back-end

• UniRegistry– Applied for 54 TLDs– Only generic strings, 9 uncontested include .sexy, .link, .photo– Developed their own registry back-end

Notable new gTLD Registry Applicants

• Radix Registry– Applied for 29 TLDs– Generic strings, 4 uncontested - .press, .space, .host, .website– Registry back-end to be confirmed

• United TLD (Demand Media)– Applied for 26 TLDs– 16 uncontested strings include .army, .dance, .ninja, .social– Developed their own registry back-end

• Google– Applied for 101 TLDs– Mix of brand and generic TLDs, 43 uncontested include .eat, .fly, .new– Developed their own registry back-end

A deeper look into new gTLDs

What’s different about these gTLDs?What’s different about these gTLDs?

Trademark Clearing House (TMCH)

• Simplify registration process for trademark holders• Additional oversight to ensure trademarks are not misused

• TMCH Sunrise Registrations process– Trademark holder must register mark with TMCH– Will be allotted an SMD file– SMD to be used for any newgTLD Sunrise registration

• TMCH Claims process– Applicable for 90 days post Sunrise– Any domain registration request matching a TMCH mark must

be alerted– Registrant can still register, mark holder is notified

Landrush Registrations

• Implementation will depend upon Registry

– may not have any Landrush period at all

– may have a shortened early-access program

• Auctions vs. Buy-it-now

• May have a significant application fee along with registration cost

• May also have higher renewal and transfer price than domains registered under general availability

Premium Name Registration

• Premium status for specific names designated at registry level

• Premium pricing may be applicable for registration, renewals as well as transfers

• Registration may be offered directly, or through service providers like Sedo, AfterNIC

• Multi-tiered pricing models being adopted by Registries

– E.g. Donuts

Gearing up for new gTLDs

When will these new When will these new gTLDsgTLDs go live?go live?

Launch Timelines

• Launch timeline may range from few weeks to few years, depending on ICANN approval and Registry plan

• Uncontested gTLD applications likely to launch sooner

• First newgTLD: شبكة. (.shabaka, Arabic for Web), Sunrise now underway

• Generic TLDs to launch in batches starting late November –early December

• 40+ new gTLDs expected to launch over the next 6 months

Launch Process for each new gTLD

• Launch Notice– 30 day notice before Sunrise

• Sunrise period– 30 or 60 day Sunrise depending on Registry

• Landrush period – On discretion of registry– TMCH Claims process may apply– Buy-it-now, or auction process depending on Registry

• General Availability– All names become available– TMCH Claims process may apply

Gearing up for new gTLDs

What we’re doing to bring What we’re doing to bring newgTLDsnewgTLDs on to the platformon to the platform

Pre-ordering New gTLD Domain names

• Available through Supersite 2 and API

• No need to track launch plans of your desired TLD

• Give customers the ability to pre-order their domain name, for free

• Give resellers insight into what their customers are looking for

• Easily convert pre-orders into registrations when the TLD goes live

• Expected launch: 2-3 weeks

Registry Integration

• Aim to make all notable and desirable gTLDs available to our Resellers

• Integrate with technology platforms of all major new gTLD Registries

– Donuts

– Radix Registry

– Famous Four

– Demand Media

– Minds + Machines

– Google

– UniRegistry, and several others

Trademark Clearing House Integration

• Available through Supersite and API

• Trademark SMD engine for Sunrise registrations

• Trademark holder supplies SMD file, we provide a list of names they can register

• TMCH database integration to comply with claims process

• Expected launch – December 2013

Revamped Check Availability Flow

• Traditional check availability not ideal with vast array of available options

• Customer only needs to suggest keyword

• Check availability engine suggests ideal options on both sides of the dot!

• Ultimate aim to increase value of shopping cart

• Available through Supersite 2 and API

• Expected Launch – Q1 2014

And more!

• DNSSEC

• Profit % based pricing

• Premium domain support

• Revised invoice structure

Gearing up for new gTLDs

What you should do nextWhat you should do next

Our recommendations

• Supersite users: Upgrade to Supersite 2

• API users: develop ability to take newgTLD pre-orders

• Review TMCH – http://www.trademark-clearinghouse.com/

• Reach out to customers and resellers to explain upcoming changes

Questions?

Contact your Account Managers, or support@resellerclub.com