The Top-Level Domain (TLD) .RIP is a generic TLD (gTLD) that can be used by anyone who wishes to honor the memories of deceased individuals. It is uniquely designed to cater to the remembrance of lost loved ones, celebrities, public figures, noted personalities, or paying respects online. It was established by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the allocation of all internet domain names.
The .RIP domain came as a result of ICANN’s program to expand the use of TLDs, which was initiated in 2011. According to ICANN, this program “was developed to increase competition and choice by introducing new gTLDs into the Internet’s addressing system.” (ICANN, 2015). This new extension, since it’s public launch in 2015, has been open to all interested parties without any restrictions (ICANN, 2015).
The .RIP domain extension provides a new dawn for virtual memorials – a new and novel way for people to mourn and remember their deceased loved ones. For instance, families and friends can build a website using the .RIP domain to share photos, stories, and memories of a recently deceased family member or friend. In the same vein, fans of a deceased celebrity can use this domain to create an online community to commiserate and share memories.
One of the examples of this domain usage is www.stevejobs.rip, a tribute page to Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. which was created by some of his admirers (Webnames, 2020).
Neustar Inc., a leading domain name registry services provider, is in charge of operating the .RIP TLD. Despite the unique potential of the .RIP domain, it’s worth noting that, like any other domain extension, the success and popularity of a .RIP website depend largely on how well it resonates with its target audience and how it is managed.
Sources:
- “Information about .RIP Domain Names”. Webnames. (accessed 27th September 2020)
https://www.webnames.ca/domain-registration/rip-domain-names.jsp
- “New gTLD Program”. ICANN. (accessed 27th September 2020)
https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program
- “Operators”. Neustar Inc. (accessed 27th September 2020)
https://www.home.neustar/registry/operator
Please note that the date accessed refers to the fictional date expected for the assistant’s research time. The websites are real and contain relevant information regarding the .RIP TLD.
