ICANN Launches Global Service to Simplify Requests for Nonpublic Domain Name Registration Data

In a move that promises to revolutionize how we access online information, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has just rolled out the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS). This cutting-edge service is poised to become a game-changer, simplifying the process of accessing nonpublic registration data related to generic top-level domains (gTLDs). And guess what? It’s not just for tech gurus; it’s for everyone with a legitimate interest! [Read more…]

In a resounding acknowledgment of its commitment to financial responsibility, stakeholder ratings, and social responsibility, Identity Digital™ has proudly clinched a coveted spot on Newsweek’s 1000 Excellence Index. This prestigious annual ranking, a collaborative effort between Newsweek and the Best Practice Institute (BPI), celebrates U.S. companies that go above and beyond in setting benchmarks for corporate excellence. [Read more…]

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the force behind the .ORG domain, proudly unveiled the outstanding winners of the 5th Annual .ORG Impact Awards. This annual program, dedicated to recognizing and celebrating exceptional mission-driven organizations and individuals, showcased the incredible efforts of those committed to making the world a better place. [Read more…]

Identity Digital™, a trailblazer in linking the online world with domain names and related technologies, is highlighting the game-changing influence of new web addresses in boosting brand recognition and user engagement. Through the compelling success stories of Co.school, Cultural Currents Institute, and Levels.fyi, Identity Digital underscores the advantages of embracing new web addresses to thrive in the digital age. [Read more…]

VPN.com, a leader in premium exact-match domain name brokerage, is making waves in the premium domain name industry with the announcement of Hit.com going up for sale. This three-letter dot com domain is a real gem, and the team at VPN.com is excited to facilitate this transaction. [Read more…]

The XYZ domain registry has acquired the .CEO Top Level Domain (TLD). Following its successful acquisition and relaunch of .Lat, XYZ Registry, the innovative company behind .xyz – the world’s #1 new domain ending – has announced its 35th new domain ending: .CEO. XYZ Registry is meeting its mission to provide competition and choice to users worldwide, now by stewarding the .CEO domain, an emblematic signifier for business leaders and innovators around the world. [Read more…]

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the driving force behind .ORG, has unveiled the finalists for the eagerly awaited 5th annual .ORG Impact Awards. Furthermore, it was announced that the awards ceremony, a long-anticipated return to in-person events since the onset of the pandemic, will be hosted by none other than Padma Lakshmi. The star-studded gala will take place on November 16 in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., where the exceptional winners will be revealed. These awards commend and reward individuals and organizations worldwide for their remarkable contributions to society. [Read more…]

In a remarkable celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is acknowledging a quarter-century of international cooperation in overseeing the Internet’s naming system. ICANN’s historic journey, conceived from the vision of a unified and globally accessible Internet, underscores its unwavering commitment to this objective and the profound impact it has achieved. [Read more…]

Updated August 8, 2023

Someone stole the domain name Perl.com. They thought it was just a domain name snafu, but in fact it was stolen, transferred from one domain name registrar to another without the owner’s permission.

I am seeing more and more domain names get stolen recently, especially as the value of domain names goes up. After all, some domain names are selling hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, it’s imperative that you protect this valuable digital asset that you own. If you suddenly find that someone stole your domain name from you, then you need to act quickly. The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to recover. Here’s what you need to do if someone stole your domain name: [Read more…]

Squarespace is acquiring Google Domains. According to a press release, Squarespace and Google has “entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Google, whereby Squarespace will acquire the assets associated with the Google Domains business.” [Read more…]

Web.com has launched two new AI-powered features aimed at easing the domain creation and content generation processes, two of the first major steps in launching a website. The first is an AI-powered domain name generator, and the second tool is an AI writer. [Read more…]

Many popular web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox are now notifying users when they try to load a website that is not secure. If you try to go to a domain name that has no SSL certificate set up, you’ll get a warning message telling you the website you’re about to visit is not secure. This is a big deal for anyone who owns a domain name, especially if your domain name is just parked and doesn’t currently have a website on it. [Read more…]

There is a post on Reddit that details how a business owner lost their domain name because they relied on GoDaddy’s Auto Renew service to renew their domain name. Their credit card failed to be charged, and they lost the domain name. [Read more…]

dotDB is NOT shutting down. Emails were sent out, apparently, to dotDB registered users claiming that dotDB was shutting down. However, a statement on the dotDB website (see above) claims that a spammer sent out those emails claiming that the website and service was shutting down. dotDB is the most advanced tool for researching domain names, according to their website. I actually use the tool regularly and recommend it. [Read more…]

Tucows and GoDaddy have both recently reported their Q3 2022 financial results. For Tucows, net revenue for the third quarter of 2022 increased 2.8% to $78.1 million from $75.9 million for the third quarter of 2021. For GoDaddy, GoDaddy delivered another $1 billion revenue quarter, along with 2% year-over-year growth in net income and 15% year-over-year growth in operating profit. [Read more…]

As you may (or may not) know, I run a company called DNProtect. We protect domain names, offer a domain name protection service, but also recover stolen domain names.

Unfortunately recovering domain names takes up quite a bit of my time, as it’s a huge problem that no one talks about. People are literally waking up in the morning, their email doesn’t work, their website is down, and they quickly realize that their domain name has been stolen. DNAccess is currently the only company that currently offers a service to recover domain names. [Read more…]

GoDaddy is ending the forwarding of existing GoDaddy shortened links. So, if you were (or are) using one of GoDaddy’s shortened links, then after June 4, 2022 the shortened links will no longer work. [Read more…]

Sedo, the domain name parking and aftermarket place, has suspended trading and parking for domain names under .RU and .BY. In addition, they are currently unable to serve customers residing in Russia or Belarus, as well as corresponding bank accounts. The affected accounts will be temporarily deactivated. [Read more…]

The stolen domain name Patterns.com has been returned to its owner. The domain name was stolen from Cosmic Patterns Software, Inc. via their Network Solutions domain name registrar account. The thief and hacker accessed the account and transferred the domain name to their BizCN registrar account. BizCN was uncooperative, and refused to return the domain name to its owner. Therefore, DNProtect, with the help of Daniel Prince, a domain name attorney, filed a UDRP domain name dispute. They were successful with the UDRP, and the domain name is being returned to it’s owner. [Read more…]