As of my knowledge extraction period up to October 2021, the Top-Level Domain (TLD) “.PANASONIC” is a brand TLD (gTLD) in the internet’s domain name system (DNS). A Top-Level Domain (TLD) effectively refers to the last segment of a domain name, or the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. For example, in the domain name www.example.com, “.com” is the TLD.
However, “.PANASONIC” isn’t a conventional TLD like .com, .net, or .org. It is part of a class of TLDs known as .BRAND TLDs, created for exclusive use by the companies that applied for them. These were introduced by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which controls the DNS. In 2012, ICANN initiated a program allowing companies to apply for .BRAND TLDs – it was an opportunity for businesses to enhance their online presence and ensure more domain name security. This event triggered a ‘New gTLD Program’, opening up a world of new generic TLDs, including branded options like “.PANASONIC”.
The “.PANASONIC” TLD is managed by Panasonic Corporation, a multinational electronics corporation based in Japan, well known for its broad range of electronic goods and appliances. This registration specifically allows Panasonic to establish domain names that are directly associated with its brand – for example, www.tv.PANASONIC or www.cameras.PANASONIC. By doing this, Panasonic Corporation has the ability to bolster its brand recognition online and provide a more secure platform for online customers, as only Panasonic itself can manage the domains under the “.PANASONIC” TLD.
As far as usage is concerned, .BRAND TLDs are not available for registration by the general public. Only the Panasonic Corporation would be able to set up domains under “.PANASONIC”, and these would be typically used for promotion of specific products, or for different departments within the Panasonic Corporation.
To confirm this information, you can visit the ICANN’s TLD directory or the application status guide, where ICANN lists all the TLDs that are taken and by whom. On the “.PANASONIC” page, you will see that it is listed as a Specification 13 .BRAND, indicating that it is specifically a brand-owned TLD.
In conclusion, “.PANASONIC” is a .BRAND TLD owned and managed exclusively by Panasonic Corporation, following ICANN’s introduction of branded TLDs in 2012.
Sources:
1. ICANN “New gTLD Program” – https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program
2. ICANN TLD Application Status – Quick Search for “.PANASONIC” – https://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationchangehistory/1228
3. ICANN Specification 13 .BRAND – https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/registries/registries-agreements-en
4. List of ICANN accredited Registrars – https://www.icann.org/registrar-reports/accredited-list.html
5. Panasonic Official Website – https://www.panasonic.com/
6. ICANN, Brand TLDs – https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/rpm-finalization-spec13
