The top-level domain (TLD) “.sharp” does not currently exist or it isn’t recognized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization that oversees the internet’s domain name system.
Top-level domains are the last segment of a domain name, the letters immediately following the final dot in a URL. They fall into two categories: generic TLDs (gTLDs), such as .com, .org, .edu etc., and country code TLDs (ccTLDs), such as .us, .uk, .au. As of October 2021, there are over 1,500 TLDs available on the internet according to ICANN’s TLD database. However, “.sharp” is not listed among them.
A common place where this type of domain might be found is in a brand name or company. For instance, Sharp Corporation, a major electronics company, could potentially apply for “.sharp” as a branded top-level domain. The benefits of doing so could include promoting the reputation of their brand, consolidating their digital presence under a single banner and adding an extra layer of security against phishing attempts.
However, the process of acquiring such a branded TLD isn’t easy or cheap. With application fees running up to $185,000 (as per ICANN’s last round of new gTLD applications), and additional costs for ongoing maintenance and operations, this is a significant investment. Moreover, the application window to apply for new TLDs isn’t always open; the last window closed in 2012, and although ICANN has said it intends to reopen the process, no dates have been set.
That said, a number of companies and organizations have successfully acquired branded TLDs. For example, Google operates .google and .youtube, while BMW uses .bmw. If Sharp Corporation or any other organization sees valuable marketing potential in the “.sharp” TLD and is willing to invest, obtaining it may be a possibility in the future whenever ICANN opens up for new applications.
However, as of now, .sharp doesn’t exist as a top-level domain. You can refer to ICANN’s TLD database and the internet regulator’s site on TLD application procedures for more information.
References:
1. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (n.d.). List of top-level domains. https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt
1. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (n.d.). New gTLDs. https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/
1. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (n.d.). New gTLD Applicant Guidebook. ↩https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
1. ICANN. (n.d.) .google. Registry Agreement: https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/google-2014-07-24-en
1. ICANN. (n.d.) .bmw. Registry Agreement: https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/bmw-2013-11-07-en
