View source for .info

{{Short description|Internet top-level domain}}
{{about|the Internet domain|the magazine|.info (magazine){{!}}''.info'' (magazine)|other uses|Info (disambiguation){{!}}Info}}
{{Infobox Top level domain
|name=.info
|background=#FC0
|image=.info logo.png
|introduced={{start date and age|2001|6|26}}
|type=[[Generic top-level domain]]
|status=Active
|registry=[[Identity Digital]]
|sponsor=None
|intendeduse=Informational websites
|actualuse=Used for general purposes; used sometimes when desired name is not available in [[.com]] and [[.net]]
|restrictions=None
|structure=Registrations at second level permitted
|document=[http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/info/ ICANN registry agreement]
|disputepolicy=[[UDRP]]
|website={{URL|https://identity.digital/}}
}}

'''.info''' is a [[generic top-level domain]] (gTLD) in the [[Domain Name System]] (DNS) of the [[Internet]]. The name is derived from ''information'', although registration requirements do not prescribe any particular purpose.<ref name=":0" />

The TLD ''info'' followed [[ICANN]]'s highly publicized announcement,<ref>{{cite web|title=Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) |url=http://archive.icann.org/en/tlds/|website=[[ICANN]]|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> in late 2000, of a phased release of seven new generic [[top-level domain]]s. The event was the first addition of major gTLDs since the Domain Name System was developed in the 1980s. The seven new gTLDs, selected from over 180 proposals, were meant in part to take the pressure off the {{mono|[[.com|com]]}} domain.<ref>{{cite web|author =Cohen, David|title=Magnificent seven?|url =https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn186-magnificent-seven.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120225181103/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn186-magnificent-seven.html|url-status =dead|archive-date =25 February 2012|date=17 November 2000|access-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>

==History==
Domain ''info'' has been operated by [[Afilias]] since its creation.  In 2003, it was the first gTLD domain to support IETF standards-based [[internationalized domain names]].<ref>[http://www.afilias.info/register/idn/ INFO internationalized domain names]</ref> In 2001, Afilias CTO (Ram Mohan) discovered<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://afilias.info/webfm_send/15/1|title=New TLD Domain Launch Perspectives|last=Mohan|first=Ram|date=June 2005|website=Afilias Ltd.}}</ref> problems with the [[Universal Acceptance]] of the domain due to it being the first tld whose length was greater than two or three characters.  

The launching of ''info'' involved a "[[Sunrise Period]]" for trademark owners, followed by a "landrush" open to all, the first time such a process had ever been conducted for a new gTLD. This process received criticism for giving trademarks precedence over words that are generic in other contexts; for instance, the Caterpillar construction equipment company was able to register {{mono|cat.info}} before feline enthusiasts were.

Although a large number of fraudulent registrations were initially made by registrants who did not actually own a valid trademark, a challenge procedure later weeded out most of these.<ref>[http://www.techlawjournal.com/topstories/2004/20040203.asp techlawjournal.com top story]</ref>

Prior to launch, the names of countries were reserved from registration at the request of [[ICANN]], to the consternation of those who had paid pre-registration fees to attempt to register these names in the landrush. [[ICANN]]'s Governmental Advisory Committee, composed of country representatives from around the world applauded the move, the first by any major domain to protect the national interests of sovereign nations.

In November 2020, it was announced that Afilias was acquired by [[Donuts (company)|Donuts]], the domain name registry operator.<ref name="donuts">{{cite news
 | last =Neylon
 | first =Michele
 | title =Donuts to Buy Afilias
 | newspaper =InternetNews.me
 | date =November 19, 2020
 | url =https://www.internetnews.me/2020/11/19/donuts-to-buy-afilias/
 | access-date = November 19, 2020}}</ref> In 2022, Afilias and Donuts were merged and brought under a single company, [[Identity Digital]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2022-06-22 |title=Donuts rebrands to Identity Digital |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/22/donuts-rebrands-to-identity-digital/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Usage==
Domain ''info'' has been the most successful of the seven new domain names, with over 5.2 million domain names in the registry as of April 2008. After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] in the United States, the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] of New York switched to the easier to remember mta.info website to lead users to latest information on schedules and route changes on the area's transportation services. ICANN and Afilias have also sealed an agreement for country names to be reserved by ICANN under resolution 01.92.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130412201417/http://www.info.info/faq/what-country-names-are-reserved-info FAQ: What country names are reserved in .INFO?], Afilias Limited</ref>

''Info'' is an unrestricted domain, meaning that anyone can obtain a [[second-level domain]] for any purpose, similar to the domains ''com'', ''[[.net|net]]'' and ''[[.org|org]]''. This is in contrast to TLDs such as ''[[.edu|edu]]'', or ''[[.coop|coop]]''. ''Info'' is the only top-level domain that was explicitly created and chartered for unrestricted use, although various other TLDs resulted in this situation ''de facto''.  ''Info'' stands for ''information'' in about 37 languages, and is a neutral name.

[[Afilias]], the registry operator of both the ''info'' and ''[[.aero|aero]]'' top-level domains, has been aggressive in its marketing of the domain, with significant registrar incentives and outreach events.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/info/ .info Registry Agreement with ICANN]

{{Generic top-level domains}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Info}}
[[Category:Generic top-level domains]]
[[Category:Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries members]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2001]]

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