A shocking revelation is sending waves of mixed emotions across the domain industry: domain registries launching new gTLDs are actually looking to profit from their business endeavor.
The leaked news was not perceived well by domainers, who expected registries such as Donuts, Inc., Uniregistry and Minds+Machines to be goodwill corporations, evangelizing a free-for-all digital kibbutz of sorts.
“I’m appalled Frank Schilling and Paul Stahura want to make money from selling us gTLDs, this sounds remarkably selfish,” said domain investor, Patty Johansson.
“All gTLD domains do is line the pockets of those companies, why can’t they give their product away for free?” pondered Johansson, visibly dejected.
Pointing out that domain registries are like any other business aiming at delivering a profit for their owners and investors, was lambasted as “preposterous” and “obscene” by some domain investors; others called it “capitalism at its worst” and a “slap in the face of socialists worldwide.”
Currently, there is no indication that the gTLD registries will suffer any loss whatsoever from these revelations.
Frank Schilling’s Uniregistry is preparing the launch of several gTLDs on April 15th, and Minds+Machines, along with Donuts, Inc., have a strong launch schedule throughout 2014 as well.
LoL with DomainGang.com as usual 🙂
You left out that Patty Johansson was even more incensed and appalled to learn that she would have to pay commissions to the sales brokers at Uniregistry’s DomainNameSales.com division to clear her premium sales transactions for her. Said Johansson, “Not only are these outrageous registries not “giving” me the best names for free, but when I try to mark up and sell my new registrations for thousands of dollars they actually want me to pay their people to do the hard work!!”
Swedish domainer Lars Lungrenstensten was also surprised and dismayed that Uniregistry wouldn’t identify the good ones for him. Said Lundgrenstensten; “English is not my language – how am I supposed to know vot ones are good ones?!?.. I thought Uniregistry voot tell me which registration price names are best vons to buy.. Zen let me sell them for thousands of dollars for free on their platform! ..
Bob Jones a new domainer from Alabama decried the entire process. ” I just thought Uniregistry was gonna wire me free money! I mean, I sent them the swift-code, and my account and all, but no money came!! I have feeling this domaining think might actually mean I gotta work!.. And that sucks man.. The-icann should start this here process all over agin. I want a re-do!!”
🙂
Thank you, Frank! That was very creative! 😀