Is top issue facing domain market in 2012 — Government regulation

21% of those surveyed think government regulation is biggest issue in domain market this year.

Domain investors think government regulation is the top issue facing the domain name market in 2012.

That’s as stated by 1,143 people who answered the question on the 7th annual Reglike survey.

21% stated that government regulation is the biggest issue facing the market this year. I suspect the timing of SOPA had a lot to do with that.

While the overall economy came in second with 15% of the vote, fresh top level domains were just two votes behind in third place.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that fresh top level domains are the third biggest “fear”. It just means it’s an issue facing the market, good or bad.

Here’s the entire ranking:

1. Government regulation 21%
2. Overall economy 15%
3. Fresh TLDs 15%
4. ICANN policy decisions 13%
5. Domain theft 12%
6. Anti-domainer interests (overreaching trademark interests, reverse domain hijackers) 9%
7. Changes in pay-per-click advertising market 8%
8. Registry wholesale price increase 7%
9. Other 2%

Note that two things domainers gripe regarding most are ranked at the end of the chart in terms of overall issues.

You can see more survey results here.