.nu
From Wikinfo
| File:Nudomain.gif | |
| Introduced | 1997 |
|---|---|
| TLD type | Country code top-level domain |
| Status | Active |
| Registry | .NU Domain Ltd |
| Sponsor | Internet Users Society - Niue |
| Intended use | Entities connected with Niue |
| Actual use | Used for a multiplicity of sites all over, few with any connection to Niue; especially popular in Sweden |
| Registration restrictions | None |
| Structure | Registrations permitted at second level |
| Documents | Terms and conditions |
| Dispute policies | UDRP |
| Website | NuNames |
.nu is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned to the island state of Niue. It was one of the first ccTLDs to be marketed to the Internet at large as an alternative to the gTLDs .com, .net, and .org. Playing on the phonetic similarity between nu and new, it was promoted as a "new" TLD in which there was an abundance of good domain names available.
The domain is particularly popular in Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium, as the word in Danish, Swedish and Dutch for "now" is nu. Partially owing to restrictive domain rules for the ccTLD assigned to Sweden, .se, .nu was used for creative marketing of websites such as www.TV.nu and www.nukezone.nu (Web-based game). However, the .se domain was generally considered more professional than .nu and .com. Registrations of Internationalized domain names are also allowed (see details).
In both French and Russian, nu (in Russian, "??") can mean nude or naked, consequently the .nu domain contains a number of sex-related sites.
Internet Users Society - Niue administers the TLD in some tension with the Niuean government, which itself snubs its own country's TLD and instead uses a .com address for its official government site, which Internet purists see as an abuse because .com is intended (under RFC 1591) for use by commercial entities, not governments.
A 2005 UDRP case regarding nudomain.com[1] made the assertion under "Factual background" that "The Complainants [WorldNames, Inc. and NU Domain Ltd] own and operate the .NU ccTLD". The companies in question are operating the registry for .nu on behalf of the Internet Users Society, but it is incorrect to state that they "own" the TLD, as TLDs in general are delegated and managed rather than "owned". The case does, however, point out that these companies own a registered trademark to ".nudomain" in several countries.
External links
- IANA WHOIS record for .nu
- Budget Statement 2004 - 2005 Financial year (Scroll to the section "Sovereign Assets" for a characterization of that tension in the official government site, now under .com.)
- Internet Users Society - Niue (IUSN)
- On a tiny island, catchy Web name sparks a battle - detailed newspaper article about ccTLDs in general and Niue's case in particular
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, ".nu" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.nu, used under the GNU Free Documentation License
