The .NISSAN Top-Level Domain (TLD) belongs to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., a multinational automobile manufacturer based in Japan. It falls under the category of a “Brand TLD” in the domain name system (DNS) hierarchy, as per ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
The specifics and functionality of the .NISSAN TLD are defined in the ICANN’s New Generic Top-Level Domain Program. The purpose of this program is to allow corporations to own and control gTLDs that align with their brand identity. This program was approved in 2011, and the application window for new gTLDs was opened in 2012.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. applied for the .NISSAN TLD, and it was delegated to the Root Zone of the DNS on April 2, 2014, as published by ICANN. The delegation of a TLD to the Root Zone implies that it is functional and available for use by the approved organization.
In its original application to ICANN, Nissan stated that the .NISSAN TLD would be used to ‘provide information, services and resources to consumers in a way that promotes trust, convenience and utility.’ Therefore, the Nissan car company can, for instance, create a domain like www.Qashqai.nissan, which leads to a site centered on one of its most famous automobile models. This allows for increased brand cohesion, easier site navigation for consumers, and better brand protection against typosquatters or counterfeiters.
In terms of restrictions, the .NISSAN domain is a Dot Brand domain, meaning the eligibility is restricted to only those who have a formal affiliation with Nissan. This restriction is designed to protect the brand from misuse and to ensure that only legitimate and relevant content is associated with the TLD.
As per the data from ICANN, the .NISSAN TLD doesn’t have many active second-level domains, probably due to its strict usage restriction to the company and its affiliates. This is a typical case for many brand TLDs, as they are typically less generic and more self-specific.
While the .NISSAN TLD is considered to be globally unique with no geographic or market restrictions, it’s important to note that it won’t appear in a public suffix list. Public suffix lists are frequently used to differentiate between registrable domains and “public suffixes”, mostly for cookie restrictions.
In summary, the .NISSAN TLD is a brand-specific domain used by the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for the purpose of enhancing brand identity, customer communication, and business objectives.
Sources:
- ICANN (2014): “.NISSAN Delegation”.
- ICANN (2012): “New gTLD Program”.
- Domain Incite: “Brand TLDs vs .com” (Analysis and Case Study).
- ICANNWiki: “.NISSAN”.
- Nissan’s gTLD Application to ICANN.
Please note that access to detailed records about the usage of .NISSAN domain may be restricted due to privacy regulations and company policy.
