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Mediocre .vote gTLD drops restrictions
Kevin Murphy,
October 1, 2019, 11:25:49 (UTC),
Domain Registries
The .vote and .voto gTLDs have had their registration restrictions removed in a bid to increase numbers.
Both domains were previously technically restricted to those who could show they had a legitimate connection to democratic proceedings, and were sometimes used by political campaigns.
But it appears those post-registration restrictions were lightly enforced, and now they’ve been dropped entirely.
Neither gTLD has been particularly successful — .vote has been wobbling around the 3,000-domain mark for a while, while .voto (the Spanish version) has about a tenth of that figure.
Both renew at retail for about $60 a year, but first-year regs can currently be obtained for about half that amount.
They’re both managed by Afilias.
The highest-profile .vote domain I’m aware of to date was used in the spectacularly successful Hollywood-backed campaign to keep Donald Trump out of the White House in 2016.
Recent Comments
Mark has covered it far more succinctly and eloquently than I could. The constant attempt to both demonize registrar... read more
Thanks Kev for sharing this, I just joined!... read more
Theo - I focussed on the .ie domain names and found three categories in their list: 1 - domains that aren't pointing an... read more
I just parsed a few thousand domain names of the DT list and I notice that several parking providers like Efty.com are n... read more
Mike, filtering out the domains that are up for sale is no issue as they are usually parked on known platforms.... read more
Theo the majority of the domain name industry is to intelligent to register such domains, as they know they have no mark... read more
I would suggest people in the domain name industry join the Covid-19 Cyber Threat Coalition. https://join.slack.com/... read more
Your version of what happened with the Airmailchemist situation is not entirely the way it went down. The fatality wa... read more
Every registry and registrar can take a look at https://1984.sh/covid19-domains-feed.txt and look for domains under its ... read more
A change sometimes takes time and sometimes it happens all of a sudden. All suspicion towards new gTLDs will slowly disa... read more
Sites selling 10-minute coronavirus tests, while there is no such thing, is one example.... read more
What kind of coronavirus websites do you guys think should be taken down and why? Do you have any examples?... read more
I'm old enough to remember the refrain of "if you don't play along with (insert policy proposal here), then legislators ... read more
Just the ones registering corona domains.... read more
Rubens Kuhl: Are you saying all domainers should rot in hell? Or just any person who registers corona domains in h... read more
This deal is still terrible for pretty much every stake holder, outside Ethos and PIR/ISOC. No amount of time or supe... read more
check Covid19.com, they are straight up jack asses... read more
si... read more
Hope one of those is coronadomainersshouldrotin.hell.... read more
We have over 400 Corona Names for sale at http://CoronaNames.com... read more
Just some feedback on the website: covid-19.com, when you open it in China, the data in the left of your screen is the d... read more
Interesting and well-researched recap. But... First, so no one can buy a domain name with an intent to make money ... read more
"For the record, I agree with Allemann: serious domain investors should never attempt to exploit these kinds of crises f... read more
.net is the only agreement with prices set by ICANN, for now. It's probably just a calendar cycle and by the time the ne... read more
Rubens, You claim “it’s discretionary by ICANN” to control pricing. But ICANN is currently controlling pricing. I... read more
ICANN67 was a successful learning experience. There technology basically worked well on the sessions I attended. There a... read more
For the first time ever, I see people wearing masks in the Paris' tube. It happened in the past to see tourists wearing ... read more
I am sure ICANN will increase prices before we all die.... read more
The GDPR truly shows the cultural differences between American and European lawyers. American laws are more absolute, wh... read more
Contract negotiations are bilateral in nature in every industry, and the domain industry is no exception. It's not only ... read more
Rubens – but the removal of all pricing caps in .ORG is what caused this entire mess. This Ethos Capital deal would h... read more
Most importantly – if ICANN does not want to be a pricing regulator – it should have followed the United States Departme... read more
But ICANN is a price regulator. They are engaged in price regulation today. ICANN has been a price regulator since its... read more
sussexduke.com is logical... read more
Every decision based on pricing makes ICANN a pricing regulator, a role they are running from like hell. Unless the ... read more
1) Is it appropriate that there is such certainty in a registry operator’s capture of their concession that monetization... read more
The new pricing structure is now reality thanks to ICANN. Which is exactly why they should take that into consideration ... read more
I'm not sure that Kevin's statement that "ICANN has the ability, under its registry agreement with PIR, to reject a chan... read more
.org pricing caps removal is a decision already taken by ICANN Board, so pricing is not a factor for ICANN Board to appr... read more
Well he barely beat me to it on the name. I just listed the following names on GoDaddy auction for sale, and these are ... read more
Look at what Jon Postel said in June of 1996. Jon Postel is one the creators of the Internet: “Another concern with ... read more
The ICANN board should pay close attention and listen to what the Founding CEO and Director of ICANN (Mike Roberts) rece... read more
In PIR’s 2018 annual report, they admitted the new gTLD program has not created new competition. When talking about t... read more
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My concern is that Ethos Capital continues to spread false information regarding competition and how they compete in the... read more
Brad is right: "The bottom line is basically no one believes a 10% increase per year is either justified, or deserved."... read more
The community has spoken loudly and clearly on this. The bottom line is basically no one believes a 10% increase per ... read more
"But Ethos has offered to cap price increases at 10% per year on average for the next seven years, reimposing a price ca... read more
It's happened/happening to most of us in the industry. I think you're truly part of the club now?! Cheers!... read more
It is time to STOP the wholesale shift-in-control and -ownership of key swaths of the internet to BIG MONEY interests. ... read more
"Anyone dropping the F-bomb or calling the deal “gay”, as happened during the recent .com comment period..." Please s... read more
Ridiculous request, one of the co’s requesting a handout is Alibaba, a $560 billion dollar company. These Chinese cor... read more
The real savings will come from any future cancelations (GDD? Kuala Lumpur?)... read more
Agreed, Kevin, I can't see ICANN granting this request. The precedent would be set for registrars in other affected are... read more
It won't be approved.... read more
Happy Anniversary ! Thoroughly enjoy the cheeky Keen "incite", Greatly appreciate the balanced commentary you put e... read more
You, dry? LOL ;-) Happy 10th Anniversary and a big thank-you for always keeping it humorously real.... read more
There was a tech writer from Londonish Whose domain portfolio was admittedly amateurish. His readers’ joy increased W... read more
Hey Kevin, Tell the distracted taxi driver that at least you don’t make a living by suggesting domains. Most of my dr... read more
Congratulations on the 10 years and thank you for your research and clear and insightful writing. And also for this deli... read more
Definitely the funniest domain article I've ever read. At least you have the comedy career to fall back on! Fairness... read more
I receive about 100 spam emails ending in .icu now. I loathe this domain now.... read more
Hi Kevin, I liked your above article on COVID-19's meticulous grab by some domainer. I am a dark-horse domainer and p... read more
Thank you Kevin, we want another 10 years and an option for another 10 years, same as registry contract with ICANN. Keep... read more
Thanks for your coverage of the industry and ICANN. I always found it more interesting for the insights on the “new” gov... read more
Happy Tenth Murphy! Cheers to the next 10!... read more
10 years is a tough slog as anything in the domain space, let alone a writer. You gotta give up the facts on your "firs... read more
Keep hosing down the PR flacks, ya miserable old bastard. Luvya Kev! Happy anni.... read more
Happy Anniversary :)... read more
Fight the good fight, Kevin! I am a fan of your work and humor, and I look forward to shaking hands with you at an ICANN... read more
Happy tenth anniversary mate! One of these days I hope to finally meet you in person and buy you a pint. Keep up the gre... read more
Happy decade Mr Registry News! And thanks for the coverage.... read more
Congratulations on ten years, Kevin! I always look forward to reading your articles.... read more
Thank you, Kevin, for the countless articles and research that went them.... read more
Congrats on the milestone and the revelations. I look forward to your continued insights and incites!... read more