News from 2014

The contest to win the distribution rights to the .DESIGN top level domain (TLD) was the most keenly contested so far in the current round of TLD auctions.

Internet registrar and registry services operator, CentralNic (LON:CNIC), has beaten off seven other companies to win the rights to the .DESIGN top level domain.

CentralNic now has exclusive global distribution rights to all domain names ending in .DESIGN, and will share in the worldwide revenues from the subscription sales of all .DESIGN domain names.

As is normal, web addresses will initially be made available to trademark holders before going on general release to the public. The trademark holders will get their chance to secure web addresses related to their trademarks in the first quarter of 2015, while the general public will be invited in to the party during the second quarter.

CentralNic is confident the top level domain (TLD) will prove popular across many industries, including lighting design, landscape design, sound design and software design.

Top Level Design has an exclusive distribution agreement with CentralNic and its chief executive officer (CEO), Ray King, said he was delighted to be partnering with CentralNic on the launch of this new TLD.

“Consumers are increasingly focused on design, and it is at the origin of every successful product in today’s world; we expect .DESIGN to be one of the leading success stories among the new Top-Level Domains,” King said.
Ben Crawford, CentralNic’s CEO, said .DESIGN was the most hotly contested on any TLD awarded so far.

“It has impressive commercial potential, and it will be adopted more quickly than many other TLDs as it caters, among many other groups, to one of the best-informed professions on new Internet developments – website designers,” Crawford said.

Shares in CentralNic were up 4.4% at 48p in the first hour of trading.