Domain Names

Scroll down for factors to consider when registering a domain name.

Privacy protection, sold under many different names depending on the registrar, i.e. Privacy Protection, WhoisGuard, Domains by Proxy, etc., is available to many domain extensions (.com, .net, .org, but not .us). This service originated as a way to prevent your details from falling into the hands of spammers mining the WHOIS database. It works by companies replacing your contact details with a proxy. Usually, this includes a temporary e-mail address that you can forward to your own, the company phone number, and for added cost, a mail forwarding service. There is, however, controversy surrounding the WHOIS privacy protection feature.

1. Domain name ownership: Legally, the entity whose name is written in the WHOIS database is also the owner of the domain. Therefore, by using privacy protection, you are effectively transferring ownership of your domain to the company.
2. Privacy (or lack thereof): Many privacy protection services will hand over your information if someone merely asks for it. For examples, do an online search for “private domains not so private”.
3. Reliability: Most, if not all, of the e-mail the privacy protection company forwards is marked as spam and might not even show up in your e-mail account. Therefore, if someone were to actually send you something important, you would most likely never see it.

There are two main factors to consider when registering domain names: the domain name itself and the registrar.

1. Simplicity: Although Shakespeare said, “That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet,” bumbleflower just doesn't quite have the same ring (imagine some poor girl somewhere named Bumbleflower). Like rose, you want a short and memorable domain.
   
2. Topicality: Although the SEO benefits of having a domain name that matches the subject of your website are still under debate, domain names do create association for the website visitor. For instance, a motorcycle aficionado website with the domain name LoveMotorcycles.com will probably attract more motorcycle lovers than ButterflyResearch.com (Not that butterfly researchers don't love motorcycles or vice versa).
   
3. Legality: Just like trademarks and copyrights work in the offline world, you can't (at least legally) infringe on people's intellectual property. Basically, you aren't allowed to use a trademark or copyright in a domain name related to products sold by the company. Domain names for websites that offer reviews and criticism should still be allowed, as are domain names for websites that sell different products. For instance, AppleElectronicsStore.com would (I assume) bring instant lawsuits from Apple Computer were you to try to use that domain name to market electronics. On the other hand, AppleComputerReviews.com (offering reviews of Apple brand computers) or ApplePenManufacturers.com (selling pens) should still be okay. Of course, companies with deep pockets may still file a lawsuit (for example, reverse domain hijacking), so be careful. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, so if you have legal issues or questions, please contact a professional.
   
4. Extension: You have a lot of choice with domain name extensions. You want to balance awareness with fun/creativity and value. The domain name extension ”.com” is probably the most famous, but the ”.md” extension might serve a doctor better. However, a .md extension is much more expensive than a .com. Another example is the use of ”.us” in a domain hack by the social bookmarking service del.icio.us .
   

1. Reputable: Every industry has its fair share of fraudsters, scam artists, cheats, swindlers, crooks, etc. (I think you get the picture). The domain name industry is no exception. Registrars to avoid are those that practice front running, hold domain names hostage, or outright steal domain names that you registered with them. Hints of a good registrar include:

• Good feedback in the registrar's forums (but be aware, they may have censored out the complaints)
• High praise from 3rd party forums, blogs, and reviews
• They are an ICANN certified registrar or partnered with one

When you register make sure that the name and contact information in the WHOIS database will be your own, not the companies. This determines ownership of the domain name!

1. Security: Domain name theft typically occurs in two ways. The first is someone pretending to be you contacts the registrar and asks them to transfer a domain. The second method is that thief hacks into your account. Not much you can do here but try and choose a company that seems to value security.
   
2. Free Speech: As WikiLeaks discovered, if your registrar does not agree with what's on your website, or if they respond a bit too eagerly to legal threats, your website may end up being inaccessible. You want a registrar that protects your freedom of speech and only suspends your domain name under court order.
   
3. Support: Hopefully you never have to deal with them, but if your domain is about to expire, it helps to have a registrar with quick, helpful responses.
   
4. Control: Don't feel constrained by business hours or have to wait for an employee to help you. Instead, find a registrar with a control panel that allows you to make changes to your account and domains yourself.
   
5. Options: Self-explanatory - the more the better!
   
6. Value: Of course, less is better, but keep in mind you get what you pay for.
   
7. Privacy: In the same vein as the #3 (free speech), if you're concerned about privacy, choose your registrar wisely. See privacy protection controversyfor more details.
   

1. Domain Name (DN) - If you've made it this far, you probably know what this is, but for the sake of thoroughness
   
2. IDN(International Domain Name) -
   
3. Domain Name Extension
   
4. gTLD Although there are 20 generic top-level domains, the ones most often registered are .com, .net, .org, .info, .mobi, and .name. Some, such as .gov and .edu are restricted.
   
5. ccTLD There are a whole lot of country code top-level domains. Some of the more common ones are .cn, .de, and .br. Sometimes, the ccTLDs are popular because they are an abbreviation for common terms, for example .tv, .md, or .dj.
   
6. Alternative DNS Root:
   
7. WHOIS:
   
8. Registrar: A company that provides domain name registration services.
   
9. ICANN:
   
10. AFNIC, CIRA, CNNIC, DENIC, LK Domain Registry, Nominet, etc.
    
11. WIPO
    
12. UDRP
    
13. Cybersquatting
    
14. Front Running:
    
15. Hostage Domain Name:
    
16. Reverse Domain Hijacking
    
17. Typosquatting or URL Hijacking
    
18. Domain Tasting
    
19. Domain Kiting
    
20. Domain Sniping
    
21. Subdomain
    
22. 3rd Level Domain
    
23. Parked Domain
    
24. Add-on Domain
    
25. Privacy Protection: See WHOIS Privacy Protection above
    

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