A top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name, which follows the final dot of any domain name. For example, in the domain name www.example.com, the top-level domain is .com. They are organized into three types: country-code top-level domains (ccTLD), generic top-level domains (gTLD), and infrastructure top-level domain.
The .MOVIE TLD falls under the category of generic top-level domains (gTLDs). These are specific domain extensions that propose the general intention or genre of the content the website offers. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages these TLDs. They have approved several new Gtlds over the years, with .MOVIE being one of them (Source: ICANN website).
Introduced to the Internet’s domain name system on May 12, 2015, as part of ICANN’s new gTLD program, the .MOVIE TLD is managed by the multi-national company Donuts Inc., a global leader in high-quality, top-level domains. As expected, the .MOVIE TLD is designed primarily for those who make, distribute, promote, review, or are in some other way engaged in the movie industry (Source: Donuts Inc website).
In more technical terms, the .MOVIE domain name supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in both Latin and Non-Latin characters, which allows the domain name holder to use the domain name in different scripts or languages apart from English. This character set support is not merely a technical specification but a significant feature for a global medium like the internet where English is not the primary language for many users (Sources: ICANN, and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website).
Some website examples using .MOVIE TLD includes www.starwars.movie, centered around the iconic Star Wars franchise, and www.chasingcoral.movie, a website dedicated to the promotion and information about the documentary ‘Chasing Coral’. As seen, .MOVIE TLD offers a clear branding advantage, signifying the content associated with the film industry immediately, which can be beneficial for the website’s visibility and recognition (Source: Donuts Inc website).
Please note that these domain names must be registered through a domain registrar recognized by ICANN. The registration process generally includes providing the requested domain name and personal details, selecting the domain registration period, and payment of applicable fees (Source: ICANN website). The domain should also respect rules and obligations provided by Donuts Inc, not infringing upon others rights, copyrights or trademarks, among other guidelines.
In summary, the .MOVIE TLD is a highly specific domain extension designed for the movie-related industry to provide a clear indication to users about the nature of the site’s content and enhance the domain name’s recognition and memorability.
