CentralNic gives update on gTLDs: .ink sunrise starts today

CentralNic Group, the internet platform business which earns revenues from the registration and renewal of domain names, has issued an update on generic top-level domains (gTLDs).CentralNic says that .ink gTLD will be available for trademark owners to acquire from today (31 March), and for anyone wishing to secure a .ink domain from 5 June. Pre-launch research has identified three considerable markets for .ink domain names:
(1) the tattoo industry, which generates $2.3 billion in the US alone, where 40% of the population aged 26-44 have “ink”;

(2) the ink industry, with printer ink alone a $17 billion industry globally

(3) the press, from the 150 million blogs to the 6000 newspapers published every day. CentralNic chief executive Ben Crawford commented: “With .ink, domain names are becoming cool. Whether you have ink on your skin or ink in your veins, a .ink domain name will mark you as being an individual not content to be labelled with vanilla domain endings like .com and .co.uk.”

CentralNic’s clients have an additional 24 new TLDs that are currently in the contracting process with ICANN. These fall into two categories:
1. TLDs to be retailed through registrars. These domains include: .bar, .college, .contact, .fans, .feedback, .pid, and .rest – the global domain for restaurants. It was announced last week that CentralNic has won a new contract from one of the leading applicants Radix to be exclusive distributor for the domains .website, .host, .space and .press.
2. Sixteen “DotBrand” TLDs for corporations obtaining their own business names as Top-Level Domains so as to create their own branded universe of websites. CentralNic’s “DotBrand” clients include Global 1000 enterprises such as Saudi Telecom, Qatar Telecom, Etisalat and Kuwait Finance House, as well as media and entertainment leaders The Guardian (.theguardian) and the world’s leading talent agency, William Morris Endeavor.