A TLD, or Top Level Domain, is the phrase to the right of the dot in a domain name. For example, .com, .net, .link, and .help are all Top Level Domains.
The registry is the owner and operator of a TLD. Registries have full control of their TLD namespaces, and are only governed by the customary laws of their communities and the industry regulator, ICANN. Registries have the ability to implement their own business models to grow their namespaces and monetize registry-owned inventory and premium names. Registries can also create and use unlimited domains for their own purposes.
Registries have the ability to hold back an unlimited number of domain names from public availability. These can be used by the owners for their own projects, sold through private transactions, or held for a future purpose.
Premium names refer to domains that carry premium fees due to their intrinsic value, scarcity, or keyword competitiveness. Zombie.game, NYC.flowers, and John.link are examples of premium names.
No. Bid prices and bidder identities will not be disclosed at any time. However, winners should be aware that TLD change of ownership information will eventually become public on ICANN’s website.
Each auction has its own starting bid, which is the minimum amount required to participate for that particular asset. The asset will be sold, so long as there is at least one bid for the starting bid amount.
In the competitive bidding phase, the winner only pays the amount necessary to win, which is usually less than the amount bid (eg the second highest bid amount).
None of the TLDs are restricted, except .llp. Unrestricted TLDs can be used by anyone for any purpose. More details about .llp are available in the auction data room.
