.nu

Infobox Top level domain
name=.nu
background=#CCF


introduced=1997
type=Country code top-level domain
status=Active
registry=.NU Domain Ltd
sponsor=Internet Users Society - Niue
intendeduse=Entities connected with Niue
actualuse=Used for a multiplicity of sites all over, few with any connection to Niue; especially popular in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Belgium since "nu" is Swedish, Danish, and Dutch for "now"
restrictions=None
structure=Registrations permitted at second level
document= [http://www.nunames.nu/about/terms.cfm Terms and conditions]
disputepolicy=UDRP
website= [http://www.nunames.nu/ NuNames] |

.nu is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned to the island state of Niue. It was one of the first ccTLDs to be marketed to the Internet at large as an alternative to the gTLDs .com, .net, and .org. Playing on the phonetic similarity between "nu" and "new", it was promoted as a "new" TLD in which there was an abundance of good domain names available.

Internet Users Society - Niue administers the TLD in order to provide a number of local services for Niue itself. IUSN funds the island's internet connection; provides complimentary PCs and internet connectivity for all residents; and in 2003 established free use WiFi hotspots at various locations throughout the country, claiming to be the "first WiFi Nation." [ [http://nunames.nu/about/Niuepaper2.pdf Creating a Wireless Nation] , IUSN White Paper, July 2003]

The .nu domain is particularly popular in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, as "nu" is the word for "now" in Swedish, Danish and Dutch. [ [http://www.omegawiki.org/Expression:nu OmegaWiki: "nu"] ] Partially owing to restrictive domain rules for the ccTLD assigned to Sweden, .se, .nu was used for creative marketing of websites such as "www.tv.nu". However, the .se domain was generally considered more professional than .nu and .com.

In March 2000, .NU Domain Ltd became the first TLD to offer registration of Internationalized domain names [ [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/.NU+Domain+Ltd+Challenges+.Com+With+Announcment+of+First+Non-English...-a059999488 ..NU Domain Ltd Challenges .Com With Announcment of First Non-English Internet Addresses; Microsoft endorses NUBIND as compatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, and Windows 2000.] ] , supporting the full Unicode character set. [ [http://www.nunames.nu/Local-Language.cfm IDN details] ] Unlike other TLDs, no browser plugin or punycode capable browser is required on the client side for use of these names, as .NU Domain's web servers will convert and redirect any web queries issued in a variety of international character encodings.

Domain names are revoked without refund for displaying child porn, being involved with spamming, email theft, search engine abuse, or any unlawful purpose. [ [http://nunames.nu/about/terms.cfm .NU Domain Terms and Conditions, section 12, "Acceptable Use"] ] Various domains such as six.nu, sex.nu, xxx.nu, vous.nu and por.nu return "THIS DOMAIN NAME HAS BEEN REVOKED BY .NU DOMAIN" [ [http://www.google.nu/search?q=site:.nu+THIS+DOMAIN+NAME+HAS+BEEN+REVOKED+BY+.NU+DOMAIN&filter=0 google.nu: list of revoked .nu domains] ] and are not available for registration on .NUdomains' site. [ [http://www.nunames.nu .NU domains] ]

Domain names can be as short as one character. A premium of €500/yr applies to name registrations of one character in length, €250 for domain names of two-character length, and €30 per year for domain names of any other length. In June, 2008, .NU Domain began permitting registration of all-numeric domain names. [ [http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/.nu-domain-launches-numeric-domain-names.html .NU Domain Launches Numeric Domain Names] ]

A 2005 UDRP case regarding nudomain.com [ See the [http://arbiter.wipo.int/domains/decisions/html/2005/d2005-0480.html WIPO Administrative Panel Decision] ] made the assertion under "Factual background" that "The Complainants [WorldNames, Inc. and NU Domain Ltd] own and operate the .NU ccTLD". The companies in question are operating the registry for .nu on behalf of the Internet Users Society, but it is incorrect to state that they "own" the TLD, as TLDs in general are delegated and managed rather than "owned". [ [http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/6834B3C37BAF205FCC2572A7000ECB00 Computerworld NZ: Niue struggles against ‘digital colonialism’] , 27 March 2007] [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36393 Radio NZ: Niue government criticised over internet stance] , 13 November 2007] The case does, however, point out that these companies own a registered trademark to ".nudomain" in several countries.

In March 2007, McAfee SiteAdvisor issued a report explaining the functionality of SiteAdvisor. As part of that report, .nu domain websites were stated to be among the highest-risk TLDs for browser exploits. However, in most other respects, .nu sites were ranked overall as a low to moderate risk. [ [http://www.siteadvisor.com/studies/map_malweb_mar2007.html SiteAdvisor: Mapping the MalWeb] , March 2007] Shortly thereafter, .NU Domain issued a press release stating that SiteAdvisor had ranked .nu sites among the lowest for risk. [.NU Domain Press Release: [http://nunames.nu/Press/SiteAdvisor-Press-Release-March-20-2007.pdf McAfee Report Ranks .NU Websites Among Lowest Risk] , March 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.iana.org/root-whois/nu.htm IANA WHOIS record for .nu]
* [http://www.niue.nu/ Internet Users Society - Niue (IUSN)]
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/15/niue_is_dead_long_live/ Niue is dead. Long live .nu!]
* [http://www.gov.nu Official website of the government of Niue]