.web
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Introduced | Not in official root; run as alternative registry since 1995 |
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| TLD type | Proposed top-level domain; alternative registry domain |
| Status | Run as alternative registry accessible only to those configured to use DNS roots other than the official ones; has been attempting unsuccessfully to get into official root since founding; still has pending application before ICANN |
| Registry | Image Online Design |
| Sponsoring organization | Image Online Design |
| Intended use | For Web sites of all sorts |
| Actual use | Only usable if you don't mind being accessible to a minority of users; some have registered names speculatively in the hopes it eventually makes it into the root and existing registrations are preserved |
| Registration restrictions | None; however, new registrations don't seem to be being taken at the present time |
| Structure | Registrations are directly at second level |
| Documents | Application to ICANN to be admitted to root |
| Dispute policies | UDRP |
| Web site | The .web registry |
.web is a generic top-level domain operated as an alternative registry, not in the official root, by Image Online Design since 1995. It originated when Jon Postel, then running the top level of the Domain Name System basically single-handedly, proposed the addition of new top-level domains to be run by different registries. Since Internet tradition at the time emphasized "rough consensus and running code", Christopher Ambler, who ran Image Online Design, saw this as meaning that his company could get a new TLD into the root by starting up a functional registry for it. Therefore, IOD launched .web, a new unrestricted top level domain which could only be accessed by users who pointed their computers at an alternative DNS root that included this domain (or their ISP did so).
Since then, IOD has tried unsuccessfully to get their domain into the official root, through several plans and schemes to admit new top-level domains. Several new-TLD plans in the late 1990s, including Postel's original proposal, failed to reach sufficient consensus among the increasingly contentious factions of the Internet to admit any new TLDs, including .web. When ICANN accepted applications for new TLDs in 2000 which resulted in the seven new domains added soon afterward, IOD's application was not approved; neither was it officially rejected, however, since all unapproved applications remain in play for possible future acceptance. A second round of new TLDs, however, was done entirely with new applications, and only for sponsored domains (generally intended for use by limited communities and run by nonprofit entities). The .web registry remains hopeful, however, that their application will eventually be approved.
At times IOD has claimed priority rights to the TLD string .web, although any legal basis for such a claim is questionable given that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has stated that top-level domains are not trademarkable in themselves. When, at various times, proposals were made to add a .web domain not operated by IOD, they have objected, and to date, no such plans have been approved; an application by Afilias to operate a .web domain was turned down in favor of their running .info instead.
It has in the past accepted registrations, and intends to allow them to continue in force after entering the root, although some commentators feel that ICANN ought to require them to discard existing registrations and proceed with a startup procedure as with other new TLDs, so as not to grant any legitimacy to unofficial registrations under a "nonstandard" alternate root.
[edit] External links
- The .web registry
- Court ruling dismissing case where IOD asserted trademark rights over .web - the case was dismissed when the CORE memorandum of understanding was rejected by the United States, rendering their attempt to take .web no longer moot.
| Generic top-level domains | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unsponsored | .biz .com .edu .gov .info .int .mil .name .net .org | |
| Sponsored | .aero .cat .coop .jobs .mobi .museum .pro .travel | |
| Infrastructure | .arpa .root | |
| Startup phase | .asia .tel | |
| Proposed | .berlin .bzh .cym .gal .geo .kid .kids .mail .nyc .post .sco .web .xxx | |
| Deleted/retired | .nato | |
| Reserved | .example .invalid .localhost .test | |
| Pseudo-domains | .bitnet .csnet .local .onion .uucp | |
| Unofficial | see Alternative DNS roots | |
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See also: Country code top-level domains |
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