The worst domain name story that happened to me was with my .name domain name, the one I still use for my personal web page.
When I got it, it was only allowed to register subdomains in the form of firstname.lastname.name and I even had to provide my ID card to be able to register the domain name. The deal then was that I could use DNS zone of the subdomain, and in addition got an email redirection from firstname@lastname.name to whatever email address I would choose.
A few years after that, VeriSign suddenly stopped supporting the email redirection feature, with not even a single warning sent to customers like me. From one day to another, I lost the main email address I used to communicate and for all of my online accounts. It was a mess to deal with this.
To this day, I was never able to get hold of my lastname.name, to be able to restore my email address. Even though I'm the only one in the world using a subdomain of it. The only solution that has ever been suggested to me by VeriSign customer support would be to let it expire, and hope that no squatting bots get it before me so once the grace period expires, I can try to register the first-level domain. But that would mean several weeks where my website would be down, and all that with the uncertainty of actually being able to actually get it back.
That was the original idea behind .name. You buy firstname.lastname.name. When it wasn’t a huge success they got bored and it reverted to a regular tld.
Interesting, but also a bit worrisome idea. I wouldn't be comfortable knowing that someone else can buy the adjacent subdomain anotherfirstname.mylastname.name and be associated with me in the eyes of anyone who doesn't know how that TLD works (which would be almost everyone).
At the time the idea of .name was that for example someone with a common family name shouldn't be able to get it only for them and deprive all the other people named like them from having their .name domain and email address. Of course it didn't work for people also having the same first name, and in that case it was still a first come first serve basis.
Anyhow, first level domain were to be "shared", non directly registrable, domains.
Since they decided to open it up for first level registration, there has been no way to get a once-shared first level domain, even when you're its only user.
It's not exactly the same as omg.lol is owned by someone who sells subdomains of it. The principle for .name was that the second-level domain was not in control of anyone (well, except VeriSign of course, but just like TLDs), it was a shared domain.
If you attempt a whois on omg.lol you get a normal whois. If you do a whois on a shared .name domain you get this:
Not available for second level registration.
Third level registrations may be available on this shared name.
To request access to data listed as “Redacted” or “Redacted for Privacy” in the
above WHOIS result, please contact Customer Service at info@verisign-grs.com
Omg.lol does that, but it is an address with superpowers, although I think you can buy .lol domains too.
I've peeked at omg.lol and it looks like they aren't in the business of registering subdomains per se. They try to sell you a bunch of services that resemble a paid social network, and they provide you with a subdomain along with the deal. For that subdomain they charge you with about double what you would pay for an actual domain name.
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The worst domain name story that happened to me was with my .name domain name, the one I still use for my personal web page.
When I got it, it was only allowed to register subdomains in the form of firstname.lastname.name and I even had to provide my ID card to be able to register the domain name. The deal then was that I could use DNS zone of the subdomain, and in addition got an email redirection from firstname@lastname.name to whatever email address I would choose.
A few years after that, VeriSign suddenly stopped supporting the email redirection feature, with not even a single warning sent to customers like me. From one day to another, I lost the main email address I used to communicate and for all of my online accounts. It was a mess to deal with this.
To this day, I was never able to get hold of my lastname.name, to be able to restore my email address. Even though I'm the only one in the world using a subdomain of it. The only solution that has ever been suggested to me by VeriSign customer support would be to let it expire, and hope that no squatting bots get it before me so once the grace period expires, I can try to register the first-level domain. But that would mean several weeks where my website would be down, and all that with the uncertainty of actually being able to actually get it back.
So you got sold a subdomain? That's a new one for me.
That was the original idea behind .name. You buy firstname.lastname.name. When it wasn’t a huge success they got bored and it reverted to a regular tld.
Interesting, but also a bit worrisome idea. I wouldn't be comfortable knowing that someone else can buy the adjacent subdomain anotherfirstname.mylastname.name and be associated with me in the eyes of anyone who doesn't know how that TLD works (which would be almost everyone).
That's a bizarre concept. Names are generally not unique.
Yeah, my dad got one of those back in the day. He still uses the email address.
Is it any different from getting a .co.uk domain, really?
At the time the idea of .name was that for example someone with a common family name shouldn't be able to get it only for them and deprive all the other people named like them from having their .name domain and email address. Of course it didn't work for people also having the same first name, and in that case it was still a first come first serve basis.
Anyhow, first level domain were to be "shared", non directly registrable, domains.
Since they decided to open it up for first level registration, there has been no way to get a once-shared first level domain, even when you're its only user.
.uk.com and various others are/were subdomain sellers.
Aren't they all technically subdomains? I want .
Omg.lol does that, but it is an address with superpowers, although I think you can buy .lol domains too.
It's not exactly the same as omg.lol is owned by someone who sells subdomains of it. The principle for .name was that the second-level domain was not in control of anyone (well, except VeriSign of course, but just like TLDs), it was a shared domain.
If you attempt a whois on omg.lol you get a normal whois. If you do a whois on a shared .name domain you get this:
I've peeked at omg.lol and it looks like they aren't in the business of registering subdomains per se. They try to sell you a bunch of services that resemble a paid social network, and they provide you with a subdomain along with the deal. For that subdomain they charge you with about double what you would pay for an actual domain name.
I am the proud owner of a .lol domain :)