Currently, there is no top-level domain (TLD) by the name of .RELIANCE. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which maintains the highest level of the Internet’s domain name system, has not recognized or registered .RELIANCE as a TLD as of today.
A top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name or the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. The TLD represents a high-level category of internet resources, such as .com for commercial enterprises, .edu for educational institutions, .org for organizations, and so on. These are known as generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Other examples include .net, .info, .gov, etc. There are also country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like .us, .uk, .de, and others, relating to specific countries or territories.
Although ICANN introduced a program for new gTLDs in 2012, as per the “Applicant Guidebook”, to enhance competition, innovation, and consumer choice (ICANN, 2012), .RELIANCE is still not existent. Some notable gTLDs that emerged from this program include .google, .apple, .amazon, among various others. This ICANN program allows for organizations to apply for virtually any string as a gTLD, provided it meets all the necessary technical and financial requirements, completes a stringent evaluation process and abides by ICANN’s policies.
Moreover, while the term “Reliance” could be associated with numerous businesses or concepts around the world, with regards to TLDs, specific trademark laws and rights would also enter the picture. In the case of businesses like Reliance Industries Limited (India) or Reliance Communications (USA), the potential for trademark conflicts could arise if one were to apply for .RELIANCE as a gTLD.
Although it’s technically possible for .RELIANCE to become a gTLD in the future, as of now, it is not an existing top level domain. The complete list of existing gTLDs, as well as disputes and applied-for strings, can be found on ICANN’s official website.
Sources:
- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. (2012). gTLD Applicant Guidebook. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/guidebook-full-04jun12-en.pdf
- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. List of Delegated Strings. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings
- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. List of Current Disputes. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/lodged
