Domain Names

Life After Afternic: Exclusive Interview With Roger Collins

In a recent interviewed with Roger Collins, president of ProProject and the new owner of Afternic.com, CircleID investigates the logics behind ProProject's strong belief in the domain name secondary market. Once known as a primary domain name auction site, Register.com had purchased Afteric.com in the September of 2000 for $48 million in cash and stock -- 2 years later the site was shut down as money-losing unit until ProProject came along. more

RealNames’ Termination: More Catastrophic than Anticipated!

Microsoft is a special company. By definition, its operating systems and Internet browser are no longer just "applications;" they constitute a platform. They are - for 90 percent of Internet users - the sole interface to all Internet content and services. The browser is its own little monopoly. Such is its dominance that Microsoft has the power of life and death over innovation. more

Do We Need The New Top-level Domains?

After a long and exhaustive process it was finally decided by ICANN to introduce seven new top level domains in December. Well, they are not really introduced yet because the United States Government has the final word and they have not approved of them yet. Did you understand what I just wrote - the United States Government decides what names you can have on the Internet? more

Do We Need Alignment Between Internet Governance and AI Governance?

A debate over aligning internet and AI governance reveals stark differences in origin, incentives and power. While lessons from ICANN's multi-stakeholder model endure, AI's corporate dominance and geopolitical rivalry demand new, bottom-up approaches. more

The AI Effect: Why Brand Impersonation Is Becoming Industrialised

Generative AI has turned brand impersonation from a nuisance into an industrial-scale threat, eroding trust. As ICANN's 2026 round approaches, DotBrand domains promise a structural fix to spoofing that strategies failed to deliver in 2012. more

You Are Invited to Engage in Project Jake: Shaping the Future of DNS Data Governance

Project Jake invites global DNS stakeholders to test JADDAR, a privacy-respecting framework for secure access to registration data, aiming to reduce regulatory fragmentation and modernise domain governance through collaborative, policy-aligned engineering solutions. more

Domain Security Report: Are Global 2000 Companies Doing Enough on Domain Security?

A six year study of Global 2000 firms finds progress on email authentication but worrying gaps elsewhere. Despite rising DMARC adoption, falling DNS redundancy and uneven regional uptake leave companies exposed to domain based attacks. more

NIS2: Act Now - Practical Solution for Article 28 Successfully Established

With the NIS2 Directive now in effect, a new annex to ICANN contracts offers registries and registrars a practical, flexible path to Article 28 compliance. Early adoption has drawn international praise. more

The Domain Industry in 2025: Infrastructure Consolidation, Regulatory Milestones, and the AI Pivot

The domain industry in 2025 saw rapid consolidation, rising regulatory pressure, and a strategic pivot toward AI, trust infrastructure, and tokenization, reshaping domains from static web addresses into dynamic assets for digital identity and commerce. more

ICANN Announces Deadline for 2026 New Top-Level Domain Applications

ICANN will open applications for new top-level domains in April 2026, offering brands a rare chance to secure custom domain names to enhance trust, marketing flexibility, and long-term online security. more

The Pulse of the Domain Industry: Sentiment Trends From the 2025 Survey

The 2025 domain sentiment survey reveals cautious optimism amid rising AI demand, new regulations, and a resurgent market. With security gaps and DNS shifts in focus, the industry's next chapter hinges on strategic adaptation. more

Looking Ahead: ICANN’s Upcoming Policy on DNS Abuse Mitigation

ICANN is finalising a policy to curb DNS abuse, aiming to preserve internet stability while defending freedom of expression. With regulatory pressure mounting, the multistakeholder model faces a critical test. more

Google’s Lighthouse Lawsuit - Disrupting the Cybercrime Supply Chain

Google's lawsuit against the Lighthouse phishing syndicate exposes the industrial scale of cybercrime, highlighting how criminals exploit easy access to digital infrastructure to scam millions. The broader supply chain enabling such operations demands urgent reform. more

Three Views of Multistakeholder Leadership in the Age of Sovereignty

As multistakeholder governance nears a critical juncture, leaders must navigate diverging views, geopolitical pressures and technological upheaval. With sovereignty concerns mounting, the Internet's institutions face a complex future that demands deft stewardship. more

Overcoming DNSSEC Challenges: A Guide for TLDs

Despite offering robust protection for the Domain Name System, DNSSEC suffers from poor adoption due to its complexity, cost, and operational risks. Automation and algorithmic improvements now offer practical solutions for broader deployment. more