Against second level .uk domains — Backlash rising

Existing .uk domain owners upset regarding plans for second level domains.

Earlier this month I noted regarding .uk registry Nominet and its plan to release second level .uk domains.

As of right now you can only register third level .uk domains, such as domain.co.uk. The plan is to allow domains such as domain.uk to be registered.

Domains.uk may well be a superior domain, but this isn’t sitting well with current registrants of third level .uk domains.

In fact, Nominet’s plan to charge more for the domains and offer them with a suite of products may complicate matters. If .uk domains come with security tools that ultimately make them more trustworthy, it could damage firms that don’t opt for the upgrade.

Worse, it’s not as simple as opting to get the second level equivalent of your third level domain. Just since you own domain.co.uk right now doesn’t mean you’ll get domain.uk.

Although many people are upset, I think Edwin Hayward has done the best job of researching and explaining the issue. His 26 page position paper explains the problems with Nominet’s plan and backs it up with data and comparisons to other countries that have belatedly offered second level domain names.

You can read more at mydomainnames.co.uk.