Nominet proposes new domain tax!

Nominet today announced the results of their direct.uk consultation.

The proposal is to make it possible for domain registrations with .uk as well as .co.uk and org.uk etc. The main problem is the lack of domain availability in the uk namespace and the original proposal would have given people the opportunity to register a name they desired as preference would have been given to people who could show some entitlement to it such as being a registered trademark or name of a community group for example.

Due to pressure from domain prospectors however nominet has abandoned this idea and instead is proposing that exiting domain owners get first refusal on new .uk names. So for example because Apple Computer has apple.co.uk it will automatically get the right to register apple.uk even though there are many other legitimate uses for the domain such as apple windows, apple records or simply someone wishing to set-up a web site about the fruit. Under the first proposal each of these groups would have had an opportunity to register the name.

The new proposal however is the existing registrant of a .co.uk or .org.uk will get the chance to register it making it nothing more than a nominet tax as each registrant will feel obliged to register a .uk version of their domain and it offers no advantage other than to create revenue for nominet.

Seems similar to the .eu shenanigans a few years ago

This is a bit misleading because there hasn't been a new proposal. The original proposals have been shelved and they are going back to the drawing board and might come up with a new proposal and consultation after their June meeting.

The proposal both original and new are to allow registration of domains in the second level i.e .uk but nominet have not demonstrated a good case as to why they should do this.

The proposed cost of a registration of a .uk domain is significantly higher than that of a .co.uk or org.uk

While the original proposal placed may have opened up the name space to more registrants the stated proposal is to investigate the possibility of continuing with the .uk registration but to change it so that existing registrants have priority.

The end result is that domain registrants simply have the option to buy another more expensive domain and most will feel obliged to do so to maintain their web presence resulting in nobody else getting a look in. So what does it achieve other than add additional costs to charities, individuals and business alike in a time of recession ?

My point was that, as yet, as far as I can see, there is no new proposal - The Register would seem to support this interpretation.

At £20 per year or whatever the cost, it won't break the bank of any company, and it will provide a slight increase in domain coverage for the company (if they add it). Individuals with NFP sites (neither hobby, nor business, such as TBB) will feel it if their site doesn't have the same penetration as sites like TBB.

New start sites will face the same dilemma as with .com .org .net and will make the decision based on cost vs benefits. Ultimately the person who makes their site work will drown out the clones and will be able to afford the added domain.

It's a good thing that sites will get first refusal, as it at least gives them the opportunity to prevent domain parking numpties.

I disagree, giving existing registrants first refusal means that the 'domain parking numpties' as you put it already hold thousands of useful domains making it difficult for people to register a decent domain will get to park the .uk version of those names. So it will not ease the problem of domain hoarders.

As yet there is no formal proposal but there is details in the article I linked to suggesting that at their next meeting they plan to explore the option of continuing the direct.uk proposal but changing it to give priority to existing registrants.

There's a difference between parking to try to sell the domain, and parking it as part of a site with a product or brand. The latter is protecting the brand, while the former is just looking to make money without any creativity or effort.