Weekly Launch Guide May 10, 2021

Here are launches occurring within 30 days from today

SPOTLIGHT

AdultBlock Qualification Update

The ICM Registry is expanding their eligibility for AdultBlock and AdultBlock+ services to include trademarks that are not in the Trademark Clearing House (TMCH) starting May 11^th, 2021. Currently only those with trademarks registered in the TMCH and .XXX Sunrise-B Blocks are eligible to register AdultBlock services. Please reach out to your client service partner if you are interested in hearing more information on the AdultBlock services and eligibility expansion.

MMX Premium and Reserve Pricing Update

The Minds and Machines (MMX) registry has announced their plans to remove over 725,000 domain names from its premium and reserved domains list on April 23rd.  Another 102,000 names will keep a premium status, but will see their price reduced.

The names domains being released will be available in 26 of MMX’s portfolio of new gTLDs listed below. There are many 1, 2, 3 letter domains and generic terms on the list that may be of interest. Please reach out to your account team with CSC if you would like to learn more: TLDs: bayern, boston, casa, cooking, fishing, garden, horse, nrw, rodeo, surf, vodka, adult, beer, fashion, law, luxe, miami, wedding, yoga, work, vip, sex, porn, xxx, fit, abogado

UNR/UniRegistry Suspending the Sale of UNIEPS Blocks

Uni Naming and Registry (or Uniregistry or UNR) has announced its plans to sell its 23 new generic top-level domains (new gTLDs) in an auction process on April 28, 2021. As part of their plan to focus on their registry services and technology strategy, they will be also suspending the sales of their UniEPS and UniEPS+ blocks. New owners of the TLDs will have the discretion to cancel the blocks immediately once they assume control of the TLD.

UNR will encourage any new owner to continue the blocking service. As an alternative, UNR will recommend to the new owner that blocked domains be converted to banned/reserved domains in the new registry system, and scheduled for release on the expiry date of the block.

Starting 15-Mar-2021 UNR, it will no longer be possible to register new UniEPS and UniEPS+ Blocks. In preparation for this deadline, CSC will be turning off registration parts for UniEPS and UniEPS+ block registrations with immediate effect. Renewal for 12 months for existing blocks will still be available until the new TLD holders take ownership of the TLD. We will work with clients who own these blocks as more information becomes available on how the covered TLDs will be impacted.

.BD Registry – Temporary suspension (Registration + Transfer)

The registry has implemented a temporary suspension to registration and transfer orders due to an ongoing legal matter within local Bangladesh court. This ongoing legal matter is a direct impact to the registry and they are diligently working to draft new regulations and procedures for registration orders. CSC will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.  Please note this temporary suspension is an impact to all registrars that support .BD domain names. At this time DNS delegation is intact and sites are remaining active. CSC can still modify WHOIS details + DNS details, as well as renew domains (potentially subject to change).

Brexit – Changes to eligibility policies for EU ccTLDs

Having completed the transition period the United Kingdom exited the European Union on 1st January 2021. As a result, some EU ccTLD registries are reviewing their domain name eligibility policy for registrants located in the United Kingdom. At this stage there are still many unknowns resulting from the European Union / United Kingdom Brexit negotiations and agreement.

Registries are continuing to analyze the agreement and reviewing their policies and so far the .eu registry EURID, the French registry AFNIC and the Bulgarian Register.bg have amended their eligibility requirements. CSC is regularly engaging with the European Registries to gather information and communicate changes to impacted customers. Our systems are updated with the new requirements and you can contact your Client Service Partner for further information.

.AU SCAM ALERT

auDA (.au policy administrator) has alerted CSC of a scam targeting .au (Australia TLD) registrants. Below is a post that auDA has made on their website:

SCAM ALERT: We have been alerted to a scam email that is being sent to .au registrants impersonating auDA, the .au domain administrator.

The email is requesting personal information including scanned copies of identification documents. If you receive an email requesting this information, do not reply to it. Instead, please notify ACCC’s Scamwatch. If you have already provided your details in response to this scam email, you will need to make a report to your state or territory police force.

We will continue to monitor and partner with auDA as more information is shared.

auDA blog post “SCAM ALERT: Email scam targeting .au registrants (20-Apr-2021)

https://www.auda.org.au/blog/scam-alert-email-scam-targeting-au-registrants-20-april-2021

To report a phishing scam to scamwatch please go to the below URL.

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

.AU SCAM ALERT

auDA (.au policy administrator) has alerted CSC of a scam targeting .au (Australia TLD) registrants. Below is a post that auDA has made on Twitter:

SCAM ALERT: We’ve are aware of a scam targeting .au registrants, with emails from someone posing as an auDA employee requesting scans of personal documents. Do not reply to it. auDA will only ask for this information via your registrar.

The personal documents the scammer is seeking are identification documents like a drivers licence and passport as well as a copy of Medicare card (Health care card in Australia). auDA does not have a lot more information to report at this stage.

We will continue to monitor and partner with auDA as more information is shared.

There’s a few sender addresses: jonathan@auda-domains.com, and some are masked as an auda.org.au address. The sender is sometimes a “Joshua” or a “Jonathan”

Here’s a bit more information on Australia’s Scamwatch. Scamwatch_gov_au on Twitter: “Scammers are impersonating @auda in an email phishing campaign. auDA will only request scans of personal documents via your registrar. Delete this scam email. https://t.co/s9xqe2jE7p” / Twitter

.AU License rules

The registry for .AU has announced recently that they have approved a new set of licensing rules. This policy change includes previous and new registrations of third-level .au names. CSC will be in touch with our customers shortly to provide more information. This will include any action items if any result from this policy change.

Please refer to our blog post or reach out to your client service partner for more information. The New .AU Domain Licensing Rules and Their Impact | CSC (cscdbs.com)

Still Launching

Alongside the above, the following TLDs have launch phases (Pre-General Availability) that are currently still in progress.

• BASKETBALL
• RUGBY
• SPA
• SBS