AnyCast
A network addressing and routing method in IPv6 where multiple servers share the same IP address. When data is sent to that IP address, it is directed to the nearest or most optimal server based on factors like proximity or server load. This helps in efficient data routing and load distribution across a network.
A Record
An A Record is a type of DNS record that maps a domain name or subdomain to its corresponding IPv4 address. It allows browsers and other clients to determine the IP address of a particular domain, facilitating the process of connecting to websites and other resources on the internet. For instance, if a user wishes to visit example.com, the A Record will direct the user's browser to the correct server IP address associated with that domain.
Backorder services (Snapback or Snap services)
Backorder services are designed to monitor registered domains and register them immediately after deletion by the prior owner.
Brandjacking
The act of hijacking a company's online identity to manipulate or harm its brand reputation. The term "Brandjacking" is a fusion of "branding" and "hijacking" and has been in use since around 2007.
ccTLD
Short for "country code top level domain", it represents a country-specific domain suffix. Every country has a unique two-letter code (ALPHA-2) based on ISO 3166 standards. Notable ccTLDs include .fr (France), .uk (United Kingdom), and .us (USA).
Claims Period or Claims Phase
During this 90-day duration with the TMCH's "Trademark Claims" service, both the domain registrant and trademark holder are notified when someone tries to register a domain that's recorded in the TMCH database as a validated trademark.
Counterfeiting
Imitation of branded products, posing risks to brand reputation, sales, and consumer safety.
Cybersquatting
The act of registering domain names to which the registrant has no rightful claim, often brand names. Also termed "brandjacking".
Data Center
Facility housing central computer technology for one or multiple organizations.
DNS (Domain Name System)
DNS links domain names with their respective IP addresses, facilitating the resolution of full domain names, including TLDs. By translating domain names to IP addresses, DNS provides users with an easier way to access websites.
DNS Propagation
DNS propagation is the time it takes updates to DNS records to be in full effect across all servers on the internet. Changes don’t take effect instantaneously because nameservers store domain record information in their cache for a certain amount of time before refreshing. Your domain won’t experience downtime from properly planned record changes, but some users will still see a cached version of your site until all servers have propagated.
There’s no set amount of time for propagation, but DNS typically propagates within a few hours. On occasion, it can take up to 72 hours.
Several factors determine the timeframe for propagation, including your internet service provider (ISP), your domain’s registry and the Time to Live (TTL) values of your DNS records.
DNSSEC (Domain Name Systems Security Extensions)
An enhancement to the DNS, DNSSEC ensures the authenticity and integrity of DNS data. With DNSSEC, users can confirm that the retrieved zone information matches the original data as authorized by the zone creator. Note: DNS data remains unencrypted.
Domain Name (Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN))
An internet address or web address or an internet domain identifier such as safebrands.com is called a domain. It is part of the URL of a website (e.g. https://www.safebrands.com) and identifies computers on the Internet.
Domain Transfer
The process of moving a domain from one registrar to another is initiated by the receiving registrar. ICANN standardized guidelines in 2004 to ensure this transfer is both straightforward and secure.
dotBrand
ICANN is anticipated to open applications for new Top-Level Domains in the coming years. This will allow businesses and organizations to acquire their brand-specific Top-Level Domain. SafeBrands assists throughout the ICANN application process and with the registry function setup.
DPML Plus
A service by Donuts Registry that blocks the registration of domain names listed as trademarks in the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). It's an upgraded version of the earlier DPML service.
Dropped Domain
Domains that aren't renewed after their registration period ends and subsequently become available for new registration.
Grey Market
While the black market pertains to illegal trade, the grey market deals with goods traded through channels that aren't officially regulated, placing them in a legal "grey zone."
gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)
Domains such as .com, .xyz, or .club fall under gTLD.
IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority)
A division of ICANN responsible for the assignment of numbers and names online. As the operator of the Domain Name System (DNS) and allocator of IP addresses, it's among the internet's foundational entities.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
A non-profit that oversees the coordination of names and addresses online. As the primary internet authority, ICANN manages DNS, ensures unique IP address assignment, and maintains overall internet stability.
IDN (Internationalized Domain Name)
A domain name accommodating non-ASCII characters, such as umlauts or characters from non-Latin alphabets. The IDNA (Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications) standard allows for these characters, even though they weren't originally part of the DNS.
Internet Piracy
The unauthorized distribution, copying, or downloading of copyrighted digital content like films, music, or software.
Landrush Phase
A time-limited phase following the Sunrise phase in the rollout of a new Top-Level Domain. During this phase, registrants can apply for domain names, even those without trademark protection, with the domain's governing registry setting the requirements.
Local Presence Service
Some domain registration authorities may impose specific conditions on registrations. For domains requiring a local contact, SafeBrands offers "local presence services." We guide clients on whether a "trustee" is necessary and handle trust agreement processes with local partners. More info: www.safebrands.com/
Monitoring
Monitoring encompasses systematic tracking, observation, or surveillance of a procedure using technological tools. SafeBrands's monitoring services, for instance, alert you when newly registered trademarks match your brand, safeguarding it from cybersquatting.
Name Server
A name server translates computer or service names into data that machines can understand, responding to domain name queries based on its DNS database. It's an integral component of the DNS.
Namespace
In informatics, a namespace prevents naming conflicts by organizing allocations hierarchically. The elements of a domain name, delineated by dots, indicate different hierarchical namespaces within the DNS. For instance, in the sequence top-level domain, second-level domain, and third-level domain, each represents a unique namespace. This arrangement enables the distinct registration of domains like safebrands.com and safebrands.co.uk.
New TLDs (Top-Level Domains)
New gTLDs are domain extensions that organizations proposed to ICANN, the foremost internet authority, in 2012. These extensions range from three to 63 characters. They include generic TLDs (e.g., .xyz, .website), geographic TLDs (e.g., .paris, .london), and brand-specific TLDs (e.g., .bmw, .barclays).
P-Handles:
A P-Handle, or "Person Handle," is a unique identifier used within domain registration systems to reference a specific set of contact details. Instead of entering the full contact information every time you perform a domain-related action, you can simply use the P-Handle. This ensures consistent and accurate use of contact details, streamlining domain management tasks.
There are different types of contact handles for domain names, including:
- Owner Contact: Represents the legal owner of the domain.
- Administrator Contact: Refers to the person or entity responsible for administrative tasks.
- Technical Contact: Represents the individual or group handling technical aspects of the domain.
- Billing Contact: Pertains to the individual or entity responsible for billing matters.
Phishing
Phishing refers to fraudulent attempts to retrieve personal information from internet users via deceptive websites or emails. Once acquired, these details can allow cybercriminals to impersonate the victim, potentially accessing sensitive accounts.
Preorders
A domain preorder allows users to reserve a domain under a new, yet-to-be-launched top-level domain through a registrar. When the new top-level domain becomes available, the registrar endeavours to secure the requested domain name. Should the registration not be successful, the customer's prepaid registration fees are typically refunded.
Registrant
The registrant is an individual or entity that secures a domain. They either acquire it for personal use or on behalf of another domain owner, registering it through a registrar for a designated duration.
Registrar
Acting as an intermediary, a registrar facilitates domain registrations. They bridge the gap between the registry, which offers domains for purchase, and the registrant, who obtains the domain by registering it for a specified term via the registrar.
Registrar Lock
A registrar lock is a protective measure applied to a domain name. Issued by the registrar, this lock prevents alterations to the domain name. When activated, domain transfers, deletions, or modifications to contact information are prohibited. However, domain renewals remain feasible.
Registration
The act of domain registration involves both securing a domain for a set period and implementing it technically through a domain provider, registrar, or reseller.
Registry
A registry is an entity responsible for distributing domains under the umbrella of one or multiple top-level domains, adhering to specific allocation guidelines. Additionally, the registry oversees certain resources vital to the technical functionality of the Domain Name System (DNS).
Root
Root servers, pivotal components of the domain name system (DNS), are responsible for resolving names at the DNS's core level. They possess details about the names and IP addresses of all top-level domain (TLD) name servers. A range of institutions operate these servers, with ICANN overseeing coordination.
SAN
Supporting SSL-secured communication for servers with multiple domain names and host names, the SAN function enables multiple domains to be safeguarded under a single SSL certificate. By adding extra domain names to the "Subject Alternative Name (SAN)" field, a solitary certificate can shield them. This feature is particularly advantageous for trademark owners managing multiple websites.
Second Level Domain
A domain name's second level (or second level domain, abbreviated as SLD) is its next-to-last segment. Positioned to the left of the dot, it constitutes the domain's second character set. In the domain name "safebrands.com", "safebrands" represents the SLD.
Snapback Services
Snapback or backorder services specialize in monitoring registered domains. They stand ready to swiftly register domains once they've been relinquished by their former holders.
SSL
SSL, standing for Secure Socket Layer, is a protocol that facilitates encrypted connections between servers and clients. This ensures the secure transfer of data between a website's domain and its visitors.
Subdomain
A subdomain exists hierarchically beneath another domain. Often referring to third-level domains (or even lower), an example would be "safebrands.co.uk", where "safebrands" is a third-level subdomain positioned beneath ".co" (a second-level domain) and ".uk" (a top-level domain).
Sunrise Phase
Preceding the launch of a new Top-Level Domain, the Sunrise phase grants exclusive registration rights to holders of trademarks and registered trademarks, allowing them to claim domains reflecting their protected terms. This phase aims to deter unauthorized registrations of these terms. Once this phase concludes, the domains become accessible to the wider public.
Third Level Domain
Often termed a subdomain, the third level domain denotes the third character group in a domain name. In the domain "safebrands.co.uk", "safebrands" exemplifies this third level domain.
TIER 3
Data centers, as classified by the U.S. Uptime Institute's TIA-942 standards, have a guaranteed minimum uptime of 99.9%. TIER 3 exemplifies a high-reliability level, utilizing redundant components and servers, with multiple supply routes. This design promotes fault tolerance and allows in-operation maintenance.
TLD Launch
Introducing a new Top-Level Domain typically progresses through stages:
- Sunrise
- Landrush
- General Availability
TMCH
The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) stands as a pivotal tool in ICANN's new gTLD initiative, providing a centralized repository of authenticated brands connected to every fresh Top-Level Domain. For further insights into TMCH, visit: https://safebrands.com/brand-protection/
Top-Level Domain
Abbreviated as TLD, a top-level domain represents a domain's concluding segment, appearing to the domain's right. For instance, the TLD in "safebrands.com" is ".com". This domain segment sits atop the hierarchy in name resolution.
Traffic Redirection
Traffic redirection, or URL redirect, navigates users from one URL to another. Such redirection may stem from varied reasons, ranging from company name alterations to website mergers. Moreover, typo-driven domains might be used for phishing endeavours or guiding traffic to rival websites.
Trustee Service (Linked to Local Presence Service)
Certain Top-Level Domain registration authorities mandate specific conditions for domain registration. When domain names necessitate a local representative, SafeBrands introduces its "local presence services". We tailor advice for every client on the need for a "trustee" and oversee the trust agreement's facilitation with our localized partner. Discover more here: https://safebrands.com/management/#local-representation
TTL (Time To Live)
TTL is a setting for domain-related information that determines how long that information is stored in a server's memory before it checks for any updates. It's like an 'expiry date' for data and is usually measured in seconds.
When someone visits your website, their internet provider asks the DNS server where to find your site. The server replies with the site’s address (an IP address) and the TTL, which is how long the provider should remember this address before asking again.
If you set a TTL of 86400 seconds (one day) for your website’s address, internet providers will store this address for one day before they check for any changes. If you’re planning changes to your website or moving it to a new address, you might lower the TTL to, say, 300 seconds (5 minutes), so updates are seen more quickly.
Typosquatting
"Typosquatting" encapsulates a cybersquatting variant wherein users mistakenly input a term into a web browser, leading to a "typo domain". Such websites might feature competing services, irrelevant advertisements, or other undesired material.
Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution (UDRP) is used to resolve domain name disputes. Established in 1999 on the proposal of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), they specifically aim to combat the abusive registration of trademarks as domain names, a practice commonly referred to as "cybersquatting".
Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS)
URS, paired with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), offers avenues to settle domain disagreements in trademark violation scenarios.
URL
Short for Uniform Resource Locator, a URL defines a standardized method to access specific content like websites. For instance, using the URL safebrands.com directs you to our site.
Web Interface
Accessible through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a web interface might be a graphical user interface (GUI) letting users interact with a system via a browser, or it might offer data to other systems as a web service.
Web Space
This refers to storage availability on a server. Stored files here can be continuously accessed online. Users secure this digital storage from internet service providers for content like websites. The act of providing this online storage is termed 'web hosting'.
Whois
Whois is a system revealing details about a domain owner, such as company information and contact details. This info can be sourced from the relevant registry via a Whois lookup.
Withholding
In their terms of service, domain registrars might state that they retain the right to use or transfer a lapsed domain without making it available for fresh registration. This act is termed 'withholding'.
Zone
Within the Domain Name System (DNS), a 'zone' represents a segment of the domain hierarchy overseen by a specific name server. While the primary name server governs the zone, creating copies on various secondary name servers enhances reliability if the primary fails.