- .free
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.free Introduced Not officially introduced; proposed in 2010 TLD type Proposed top-level domain Status Unofficial proposal Registry dotFree Group s.r.o. Sponsor dotFree Group s.r.o Intended use See article Actual use Not in use yet, as it is unapproved and not in root Registration restrictions Unknown Structure Registrations would be taken directly at second level Dispute policies UDRP Website dotFree .free (dotFree) is a proposed new top level domain (TLD). It is a Sponsored top-level domain intended to be a free top level domain.
According to the dotFree Group s.r.o. organization .free will allow every individual to register free domain names under .free [1]
Along with TLDs such as .travel, .asia and .eu, .free and other proposed TLDs fall into the new category of GeoTLDs. The issue of new top level domains in general has been discussed at various ICANN-Meetings since 2005.
A rationale offered by proponents of the .free proposal is as follows:
The initiative for the top-level domain .free is supported by a multitude of companies and individuals and is the first initiative for top-level domains which will be 100% free. The .free top-level domain will give people from all over the world the chance to own their free top-level domain and offers companies the chance to market their products with the .free domain extension. The .free community is run by the dotFree Group s.r.o. – a Czech start-up company, but also of supporters spread around the world and of people who support the idea of freedom.[2]
.Free is expected to go into general availability in 3Q or 4Q 2011.[3]
Contents
Conflicting use in alternative DNS Roots
A .free TLD is currently in operation by the OpenNIC alternative DNS root project to "provide namespace, certificate authority, and other services to encourage the non-commercial use of the internet."
Controversy
Microsoft has accused dotFREE Group SRO of running the Kelihos botnet that Microsoft shut down on 9/28/11.[4]
References
- ^ "dotFree’s “free” domain names explained". http://domainincite.com/dotfrees-free-domain-names-explained/.
- ^ "WHAT ARE .FREE DOMAINS?". http://dotfreegroup.com/?page_id=183.
- ^ "How .Free Plans to Earn a Profit Giving Away Free Domains". http://www.dotsauce.com/2010/11/03/free-domains/.
- ^ "Microsoft Takes Down Another Botnet". http://www.winsupersite.com/article/paul-thurrotts-wininfo/microsoft-takes-botnet-140752. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
External links
- The initiative for .free (.free official site)
- Interview with dotFree chief executive Dominique Piatti, which covers the basics of the business model and contains a few surprises.
- New gTLD initiatives that are known to exist
Generic top-level domains Current General Sponsored Infrastructure Deleted/retired Reserved Pseudo Proposed Locations Language and
nationalityTechnical Other Categories:- Proposed top-level domains
- Domain name stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
