Re: .cc domain names

From: Matt Magri <matt_at_netmeg.net>
Date: Thu 18 Nov 1999 11:49:56 -0500

JILL PASKOFF WROTE:
> I recently received a notice from E-NIC that said I
> could register my existing domains with the .cc
> extension (as opposed to .com, .org, .net, etc.). We
> own a number of domain names and just wanted your
> opinions as to whether this was something that should
> be done. With .com being so familiar, is it important
> to also have each variation of our name? [ ... ]

The thing is, if someone is going to make a mistake in
entering a domain, it will be to use the .com instead of
some other top-level domain (TLD)... unless you are some
well-known nonprofit or something. So, if you have the
.com (even if you are only redirecting it to the one you
-normally- give out (like .net or .org or whatever)) then
99.9% of the potential problem disappears. The rest is
just an attempt by InterNIC, E-NIC, nunames.nu, etc. to
come between you and your money.

> [ ... ] Personally I
> don't want to be confused with someone else who has the
> same domain name but a different extension [ ... ]

The cases where that has been a big problem have been things
like internic.com, nasa.com, whitehouse.com, etc. where
someone got the .com and took advantage of the common mistake
mentioned above. altavista.com was also a problem for quite
a while until the real Altavista finally got control of it.

If a site using an alternate TLD ever gets -really- popular,
the chance exists for confusion, I suppose. If it's innocent
confusion, you can usually work out an arrangement where each
site has a small link to the other one (of the "If you are
looking for..." variety). If you think someone is maliciously
trying to confuse people, there are steps you can pursue to
protect your brand, etc. The odds of that even coming up if
you have the .com are pretty slim, tho. Without taking advantage
of the ".com" mistake there isn't much chance for an alternate
TLD site that -wants- confusion to get hits without a literally
unprecedented amount of work.

> [ ... ] but taking a
> broader view, I also don't see the point in opening up
> new extensions and then having all of the same people
> buy them each time.

That's the big problem with all the new TLD schemes. There's a
big incentive for companies like E-NIC to just duplicate the
existing namespace and enough people who will buy the scare
tactic to make it worth E-NIC's while to try for it.

Matt
--
Matt Magri
Netmeg Internet




Received on Thu Nov 18 1999 - 10:49:56 CST