WordPress acquires .blog Domain

The parent company of WordPress, Automattic, has announced its acquired the top-level domain .blog—which, according to Marketing Land, did cost the company around $19 million. WordPress in their blog to announce the buy out says “Now we’re excited to announce a brand new way to create a unique identity for your website: .blog, a top-level domain extension …

.Africa Headline News: ICANN Withdraws it’s Motion to Dismiss – Huge Win for DCA Trust!

A Huge Win for Legal Front-Runner DotConnectAfrica Trust!   On 20th April 2016, ICANN withdrew its Motion to Dismiss [PDF] against DCA Trust’s First Amended Complaint filed on 26 February 2016. In its stipulation to the Court, ICANN moved to withdraw its dismissal citing the following reason: “in view of the Court’s order on DCA’s …

Google Redirects every Blogspot domain to HTTPS to Bolster Security

Google software engineer Milinda Perera said this week that the company is now rolling out an HTTPS version of every single blog stored away on the Blogspot domain. The security step means visitors may load up their favorite blog on this specific domain over an encrypted channel which will prevent any surveillance or eavesdroppers from …

ICANN warns deadline new gTLD owners to delegate, .emerson terminates its registry agreement

ICANN has warned new top level domain name applicants whose contracts have been signed to move to the delegation phase. One .brand new gTLD applicant Emerson Electric Co (NYSE:EMR) has terminated its new TLD ambitions. There are about 200 TLDs with approaching delegation deadlines between now and the end of August 2016. ICANN is working …

ICANN’s New Bylaws Draft Open For Public Comment Until May 21

ICANN has published a draft of its new bylaws for public comment until May 21, 2016, 23:59 UTC Brief Overview of the Comment Period Purpose: This Public Comment period seeks community input on the Draft New ICANN Bylaws developed to reflect the recommendations contained in the proposals by the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) …

.Africa: US Court grants Injunction to DCA Trust, says Balance of Equities tips in favor of DCA

On April 12, 2016, a United States District Court in Central District Of California has granted DCA Trust a Preliminary Injunction on the .Africa gTLD, the decision was made for case no. 16-CV-00862 RGK (JCx) [PDF],  DotConnectAfrica Trust v. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers & ZA Central Registry. This will be the second …

.Africa: ICANN’s Self-Described “Discretion” Doesn’t Grant It Absolute Immunity

ICANN had an “unbridled discretion” to do as it pleases with DCA’s .Africa application   But no gTLD applicant would expect that this “discretion” could include biased, arbitrary, and unfair treatment, after submitting an $185,000 application fee to ICANN” – DCA Trust DCA Trust has filed an opposition to ICANN’s Claim to dismiss its first amended …

BNA: DCA Trust, the Applicant for .Africa Domain Challenges ICANN Litigation Waiver

As published by BNA:  An applicant for the .africa top-level Internet domain fired back at domain overseer the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), saying in a March 21 court filing that its blanket litigation waiver is unconscionable DotConnectAfrica Trust v. ICANN, C.D. Cal., No. 2:16-cv-00862, reply brief filed 3/21/16. This is the …

China proposes new internet laws that could enhance censorship

China is consolidating its ability to censor the Internet by drafting rules requiring businesses that serve domestic Internet users to register their Web addresses inside the country, a move seen as targeting Chinese companies but that has raised concerns among foreign businesses. Associated Press reports In its most draconian interpretation, the proposed requirements could also …