Currently, the domain .FERRERO does not exist. Top-level domains (TLDs) are the last part of a domain name. The most popular TLD is .com, but there are many others like .org, .net, .gov, and so on.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit organization that manages the internet’s domain name system, has a program that allows organizations to apply for their own TLD. This means a company like Ferrero, known for its production of chocolates and other sweets, could theoretically apply for a .FERRERO TLD. However, as per ICANN’s TLD Application System (TAS) and the World Intellectual Property Organization, there is currently no record of a .FERRERO TLD.
Microsoft, for example, own the TLD .microsoft, as per ICANN’s list of delegated strings. By owning a TLD, companies can have complete control over their domain name policy and can create specific domain names pertaining to their various services or products.
There are examples of other brands that have their own TLDs. Barclays, a British multinational investment bank, applied for and received the .barclays TLD. It became the first major global bank to shift its primary websites to its brand domain in 2015. Some other notable brands with their own TLDs include BMW (.bmw), Toyota (.toyota), and Apple (.apple), that are utilizing their TLDs to create a secure and controllable web space as seen in ICANN’s list of delegated strings.
It’s important to note that applying for a personal TLD is no small task. ICANN charges a substantial evaluation fee for the application alone, and the process is lengthy and complex. It includes several stages of assessment involving various factors like financial capability, technical capability, and more. Regulatory aspects also come into play as third-party rights have to be respected and protected.
Furthermore, once approved, the organization will need to set up the necessary infrastructure to manage the TLD, and it will be liable for the performance of this TLD. Consequently, the annual costs for managing, maintaining, and enforcing the individual policies of the owned domains can be quite high.
All these points are outlined in ICANN’s Applicant Guidebook, which provides a detailed explanation of the process for applying for a new gTLD.
Therefore, while Ferrero could theoretically apply for a .FERRERO TLD, doing so involves acquiring resources, technical capabilities, and enduring substantial financial costs.
Sources:
1. ICANN Delegated Strings. Retrieved from: https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings
2. ICANN’s TLD Application System (TAS). Retrieved from: https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/tas
3. World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/gtld/
4. ICANN’s Applicant Guidebook. Retrieved from: https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
5. HL Chronicle of Data Protection. Retrieved from: https://www.hldataprotection.com/2015/05/articles/consumer-privacy/barclays-makes-history-moves-to-barclays-and-bank-top-level-domains/
