The top-level domain (TLD) .MOTO is a specific domain extension created for the global motorcycle community, and is managed by Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC as a brand TLD. TLDs are the last segment of a domain name, coming after the final dot, and are significant as they can indicate the nature of the content on the website.
As the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) states, domain names assist users with finding and identifying computers and other resources on the internet. As it can be speculated from its name, .MOTO is intended for use by those interested or involved in motorcycles, thus providing an identifiable marker for motorcycle-related websites.
The .MOTO TLD, like other dot-brands, offers an effective marketing tool that reflects the brand at the end of the URL, enabling customers to associate the site with Motorola services or products. Therefore, this specific TLD is beneficial for the company and its branding.
However, Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC runs .MOTO as a closed registry, which means only certain people or organizations are allowed to register domain names with this TLD. For instance, .MOTO is specifically limited to Motorola and does not allow public registrations. Closing its registry allows the company to control their online presence more effectively, minimizing the risk of fraud and misrepresentation.
Examples of such closed registries are numerous and common among major companies. For instance, Google operates .google, Apple operates .apple, Sony runs .sony, and Barclays runs .barclays.
In the ICANN database of TLDs, .MOTO is indeed listed as a brand TLD, indicating that it can only be used by the brand that holds the rights to it. Despite this, being a .MOTO website means that the site is related to Motorola or its products or services, which might provide additional assurance to visitors about the site’s validity or reliability.
Sources:
1. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. “New gTLD Program.” Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings
2. ICANNWiki. “Brand TLD.” Retrieved from https://icannwiki.org/Brand\_TLD
3. Verisign. “About gTLDs.” Retrieved from: https://www.verisign.com/en\_US/domain-names/about-domain-names/index.xhtml
With the above information about .MOTO TLD and its usage along with other similar examples, it is evident that TLDs not only play a crucial role in website identification and branding but also enhance the overall security and trustworthiness of a business’s online presence.
