.uk .UK Announced

[DarrenTSO]

Who will be the winners from such a proposal?

* Nominet - the last year has seen a massive slow down in growth of the .uk register. This will inject a (probably temporary) growth spurt in to the register.
* Registrars - end users will need to register the .uk as well as the .co.uk they already own, or when it comes to a new registration, register both to avoid confusion.

I can't see that consumers or the UK internet as a whole benefits from this. It just seems to be a money making exercise.

I applaud the efforts to make the .uk namespace a safer place for consumers to shop, but that doesn't require opening up second level registrations in my opinion.

 

[julian]

I'm not talking about generics or anything decent thats already reg'd, i'm talking about the future joe bloggs SME type of domains.

There will always be some derivative available:

e.g. Janes Flowers Ltd wants a domain.

janesflowers.co.uk - taken
janesflowers.uk - taken
janesflowers.com - taken


janesflowersdirect.com
janesflowershop.com

etc, etc

Thus bypassing out glorious .uk namespace with a totally personal, distinct domain name avoiding all the confusion of not owning the .co.uk, or .uk

Its unlikely that a name that is already registered in .co.uk and .uk will be available in .com

 

[EdwinEdwin is verified member.]

I'm not talking about generics or anything decent thats already reg'd, i'm talking about the future joe bloggs SME type of domains.

Thus bypassing out glorious .uk namespace with a totally personal, distinct domain name

But they can do that right now, and adding one more possibility (.uk) does nothing to change the situation in that respect...

 

[julian]

it does because they might avoid any sort of .uk now because of the confusion in extensions - you can't confuse .com

But they can do that right now, and adding one more possibility (.uk) does nothing to change the situation in that respect...

 

[cavcav is verified member.]

I think it's a good thing; looks nice and clean like the .de

No need for mass domain panic as the kind of businesses/organisations that buy domains from traders like us are still likely to favour a .co.uk or a .org.uk as the keyword .uk will be devoured by the large corporations.

 

[anthony]

Credit where it's due, I mean whoever thought this one up at Nominet should be in marketing in the city. It's like bringing out new improved washing powders, always washing whiter than the last, only this time the .co.uk is the cheap & sh1tty unsecure crap we've been buying for years, whereas the .uk is the only way forward.

Thank the fook I don't have 1,000's of the beggers, they'll be rendered sub-standard to useless 'B' stock items at this rate!

 

[chrisduggan]

Call for an EGM At Nominet?

Disclaimer : Posted on behalf of a retired member.

 

[Bailey]

Call for an EGM At Nominet?

Disclaimer : Posted on behalf of a retired member.

I would have thought he meant the opposite

1) There is no widespread objections to the direct.uk extention.

Mind you I like that comment about shafting everyone by releasing 10 year registrations when they knew this was in the pipe

 

[Bailey]

I think it's a good thing; looks nice and clean like the .de

No need for mass domain panic as the kind of businesses/organisations that buy domains from traders like us are still likely to favour a .co.uk or a .org.uk as the keyword .uk will be devoured by the large corporations.

In your dreams

What this says is Nominet " GOT everything wrong in the first place"

How long ago was the OBE awarded to the head of Nominet - Lets hope that to had an expiry date on it that wasn't mentioned either

 

[anthony]

And it'll be a sure thing you won't be able to trade .uk domains anywhere near as easy as currently!

 

[Bailey]

I think theRegister sums it up correctly in its Heading.

Nominet mulls killing off the .co from .co.uk • The Register

Don't forget it was only as a short-time ago that Nominet was 'allegedly' seeking protection from what it seen as a takeover of both the UK Internet and Nominet itself by the Domaining fraternity (Plan G) As was mentioned in a statement by Emily (the former Nominet Executive that was sacked) then won her case for unfair dismissal

This is an attempt to rectify what Nominet have always seen as a problem - too much ownership of the UK space by domainers...

Yep that includes me but it also includes all those that do spend a lot of time developing sites but garner an income from links and affilate sales. ie ' IF it's trading primarily because of the value of the domain - your the enemy

 

[arkvard]

I think theRegister sums it up correctly in its Heading.

Nominet mulls killing off the .co from .co.uk • The Register

Don't forget it was only as a short-time ago that Nominet was 'allegedly' seeking protection from what it seen as a takeover of both the UK Internet and Nominet itself by the Domaining fraternity (Plan G) As was mentioned in a statement by Emily (the former Nominet Executive that was sacked) then won her case for unfair dismissal

This is an attempt to rectify what Nominet have always seen as a problem - too much ownership of the UK space by domainers...

Yep that includes me but it also includes all those that do spend a lot of time developing sites but garner an income from links and affilate sales. ie ' IF it's trading primarily because of the value of the domain - your the enemy

Yep I totally agree with you that it's to sort out the problem of domainers owners owning a huge chunk of domains that are just sitting there, especially the good ones. As we all know most domains are parked for profit, either by being used to generate income through advertising or to flip for massive profits.

 

[arkvard]

In my opinion Nominet made a right balls up from the start and they are trying to put right what they done wrong in the 1st place.

How comes all the major countries other than international extensions like .com, .net, .org have only 2 letters ex. .de, .es, .jp etc etc and a great country like ours ends up with .co.uk??

Didn't .co.uk look like a mess from the very start...and now after all theses years they finally decide to release .uk which they should of done from the very start.

Doesn't seem right either than anyone can register .co.uk domains if you are a non UK resident or have no business/company ties here..So surely thats gotta change anyway.

I don't think the searchers will care as .uk to them looks much better than .co.uk anyway.

Looks like Nominet have made up their mind already and the survey thing is just a formality and it will not be that long before when you are searching in one of the search engines the .uk will be in all the results with the .coms .

Nominet have stated many times how great an advantage it was for branding and peoples awareness and trust to have the .co.uk over a .com or other extension...but that was before the possibilty of the .uk coming up. How long before that changes and they then to push for the .uk over a .co.uk? Not long i bet.

Who does this really have the worst effect on anyway? Not the business owner as much if he gets 1st refusal on the .uk domain as all it costs him is 20 bucks to have the .uk and then they just redirect to their .co.uk or vice versa after time. If the existing owner is not allowed the chance at 1st registration stage then if its a brand or established business and someone else is registering it just for finacial gain to flip then i'm sure they could appeal to get it back.

Surely its going to be the big portfolio holders who take the biggest hit as they are the ones that can hold 1,000s of domains at anyone time...So what do they do? Spend millions to protect the ones they already have if they get the opportunity? And surely it must devalue the .co.uk domain.

Lets face it, a vast amount of domains are held by domainers which Nominet has never really liked and are either parked for profit or held to be flipped for massive profit anyway so why should the existing holder of a .co.uk get 1st refusal to begin with? What so they can just park more domains for profit? Doesn't seem right anyway...

Fair enough if you are a legimate business holder and the domain is an established brand and you can prove that, then you should have the right to get it. But just to park or sell on for a massive profit like we all have done at sometime?

Looks like the times ahead is going to be tough for existing domain traders with existing portfolios and especially in tandam with what looks like a harsh penalty now for EMDs in Google, but on the flip side though this will almost certainly be a good time soon for new domainers that missed the boat as there is surely going to be some great domains that become available to register for a bargain of just £20 instead of the £100s or £1000s that it can currently cost.

 

[arkvard]

Heres an one interesting Q&A from the FAQs of the Nominet electronic form:

"Q Why wouldn't you just let everyone with a .co.uk have automatic rights to the .uk?

A The proposals we have outlined acknowledge that existing registrants with domain names registered in the third level may have an unregistered right provided evidence of use could be shown prior to a qualifying date. We also believe that it is appropriate to recognise trademark holders as having prior rights to registering a domain, followed by those with unregistered rights. Our current rules provide that a registrant does not have any rights in any words within a .uk domain, and that Nominet does not authorise registrants to use the domain name as part of a business. However, as part of the registered rights phase of sunrise, we would generally accept evidence of use as a valid unregistered right. We believe this approach fits with a digital economy where innovation and intellectual property are championed and to supporting existing registrants who might want to take up such a new service."

From reading that looks like they will not look to favourable on existing domain holders who are just sitting on a domain to make a profit, from i.e parking or flipping for a profit...

 

[bensdbensd is verified member.]

Not sure if this has already been said as I've not had time to read the whole thread.

If the decision (which sounds like it has already been made) goes ahead to release .uk domains this will massively decrease the .co.uk brand. Huge confusion, email typos going to the wrong people - what a mess.

And I can't actually believe I'm saying it as an avid lover of UK domains however, if you can't have the .co.uk and .uk will .com be the best way to go?

 

[fozfoz is verified member.]

.co.uk has devalued right now with just the consultation.

Any way it goes, my feeling is to focus my resources and time elsewhere being .com

 

[arkvard]

Not sure if this has already been said as I've not had time to read the whole thread.

If the decision (which sounds like it has already been made) goes ahead to release .uk domains this will massively decrease the .co.uk brand. Huge confusion, email typos going to the wrong people - what a mess.

And I can't actually believe I'm saying it as an avid lover of UK domains however, if you can't have the .co.uk and .uk will .com be the best way to go?

Certainly the .com is more stable with no confusion and you can count on the fact its always going to be no.1 and thats why most big Uk companies use a .com as a preference even if they are not international with just the .co.uk version being redirected to it.

 

[fozfoz is verified member.]

Ironically Nominet's attempts to stay relevant (perceived against the new gtlds) could just drive users away.

 

[anthony]

It would be interesting to find out what discussions have been taking place within Nominet about why they are introducing this.

 

[fozfoz is verified member.]

It would be interesting to find out what discussions have been taking place within Nominet about why they are introducing this.

Same. But would bet its the new gtlds coming out and money lust taste from the short domain auctions.