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VeriSign Buys .tv

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the throat-singers-need-not-apply dept.

Mike Damm writes: "As everyone is so worried about Microsoft these days, another monopoly is slipping through the cracks. VeriSign has paid the country of Tuvalu $45 million in cash for The .TV Corporation, as stated by this press release. Same great service, different obscure TLD!"

6 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. At least... by spatrick_123 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    At least Tuvalu is getting some money for its citizens (or dictator, or royal family - I'm not up on Tuvalian politics) with the sale of the .tv extension. Here in the US we just let corporations make money off of our extensions with no return to the taxpayer.

  2. TLD standards being destroyed. by Rashkae · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think InterNIC should step in and stop this deal. 2 letter TLD's are supposed to be used as contry TLD. This is a convention as old as the Internet itself (and I'm sure will be in a RFC somewhere.) It does not make sense for a TLD that was reserved for a country to be sold or bargained for commercial interest. .tv was 'given' to Tuvalu to manage, not sell. It doesn't technically belong to them. The standard belongs to everyone. If Tuvalu doesn't want to manage their TLD, that's fine. But VeriSign should not be allowed to step in and munge the standard to sell .tv the way you would a .com.

  3. Does it really matter, though by Evanrude · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why should it matter to us that Verisign bought the thing in the first place? The only reason you might need to worry is if you feel like the TLD is some sort of hot commmodity that will increase VeriSign's market position. Then, you have to ask yourself if you even care about their market position.
    Personally, I don't think that the ".tv" domain will make any kind of big splash without a major marketing push. People look for ".com", then ".net", then ".org". Anything beyond those major TLDs rarely crosses the mind of most surfers. Hell, most people (who don't deal with it every day) have to be *reminded* about ".gov", thus the success of www.whitehouse.com (link intentionally left un-linked. ;-) )

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    ~.Evanrude
  4. a private tld by fishebulb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I really wish a TLD for individual use would be created. Where anything goes. Trademarked names, no problem. Only individuals could use this. If it could be enforced it would be nice. Companies would try and complain saying it would confuse customers. but if it has the extension, you know it cant be affiliated with a company.

  5. Chest of Trinkets by goldspider · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Does this remind anyone of how the Dutch bought what is today known as Manhattan for a chest of trinkets and beads from the local natives? (no need to bring up the "Liberal Myth") $45 mil might seem like alot, but not next to what VeriSign probably expects to reap in profits.

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    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  6. Bad move in my mind. by spookyfluke · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Is it just me, or is it crazy to think that the .tv tld could garner more then 45 million in revenues over a relativly short period of time. Why not keep it and reap the rewards? Is tuvalu that cash starved?

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    you.bases.each{|base|base.are_belong_to=us}