Editing Domain name speculation (section)

==Concept==
Sometimes, domain name speculation involves finding domain names early in a market, particularly when a new top-level domain is launched, registering them and waiting until the market grows to sell them. Domains such as voice.com, [[sex.com]], and [[fund.com]] have sold for millions of US dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190618005248/en/MicroStrategy-Sells-Voice.com-Domain-30-Million |title= MicroStrategy Sells Voice.com Domain Name for $30 Million | website = [[Business Wire]] | date=2019-06-18|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-top10>{{cite news|last=Irvine|first=Chris|title=Top 10 most expensive domain names|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/7412544/Top-10-most-expensive-domain-names.html|access-date=23 November 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 Mar 2010}}</ref>

The [[.com|COM]] [[top-level domain]] (or 'TLD') is the focus of most domain speculation activity as it is the largest TLD. Domain speculation occurs in other TLDs as well, such as [[.net|NET]] and to a lesser extent in [[.org|ORG]], [[.info|INFO]], and [[.biz|BIZ]].  Of the [[Generic top-level domain]]s, INFO is the most popular by registration volume compared to BIZ gTLD due to the low cost of initial registration and the recognizability of INFO as being an abbreviation of ''information''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forms.icann.org//idashboard/public/ |title=ICANN Registry Status Domain Counts (.aero to .mobi) |publisher=Forms.icann.org |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>

Domain name speculation also occurs in [[country code top-level domain]]s (ccTLDs) such as [[.uk]], [[.de]] and [[.us]].<ref name="nominet1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/28806_Domaining_May_07.pdf |title=Nominet (.UK Registry) document discusses Domaining, dropcatching and the secondary market in .uk ccTLD|access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref> The German TLD consists of over 12 million domains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denic.de |title=DE Registration figures |publisher=Denic.de |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref> The UK's domain has over 7.7 million domains registered according to Nominet's domain registration statistics webpage,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nominet.org.uk/intelligence/statistics/registration/ |title=UK Registration figures |publisher=Nominet.org.uk |access-date=15 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716155259/http://www.nominet.org.uk/intelligence/statistics/registration/ |archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> mainly in its commercial [[sub-domain]] [[.co.uk|co.uk]]. These TLDs are mature markets where good domain names may command high prices. The [[.eu|EU]] ccTLD is an example of what happens when speculative activity overtakes "ordinary" domain registrations.<ref>[[.eu#Landrush|.eu ccTLD Landrush period controversy.]]</ref> A combination of an inept registry ([[Eurid|EURid]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.out-law.com/default.aspx?page=7034 |title=Cybersquatters can get rich if they're quick, says .eu registry |publisher=Out-law.com |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref> and excessive speculation by businesses exploiting a poorly structured regulatory framework<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Bobbie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/apr/08/news.europeanunion |title=Thousands lose out to touts in sale of .eu addresses |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=15 November 2011 |date=8 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCarthy |first=Kieren |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/24/eu_domains_suspended/ |title=74000 .eu domains suspended |publisher=TheRegister.co.uk |date=24 July 2006 |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref> meant that, according to [[EURid]]'s own statistics at the end of 2006, over 50% of the registrations could be considered at best speculative and at worst [[domain name warehousing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurid.eu/files/2006_annual_report.pdf |title=Eurid 2006 annual report, Page 20. Numbers of domains per registrant.|access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110022315/http://www.eurid.eu/files/2006_annual_report.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Specialist and ''repurposed'' [[ccTLD]]s have also seen elements of domain name speculation. One of the best examples is that of the [[.tv]] ccTLD which has found the fact that ''TV'' is an abbreviation for the word television to be rather lucrative. The [[.mobi]] TLD is a good example of a specialist TLD in that it is specifically targeted at mobile phones and similar mobile technology. The operators of .mobi, mTLD, have reserved some of the premium generic words which will be auctioned off. The intent is to create a more level playing field for those interested in developing websites. The .mobi premium generic words and phrases list is a good example of the domain names that are at the heart of most early-market domain name speculation.

Domain name speculators, sometimes known as '''domainers''' or '''domain investors''', also register domain names based on seemingly generic phrases such as ''propertyforsale'' in the hope that these domain names could be sold later to businesses. Some (but not all) domain name investors will try to stay away from domain names containing trademarks as this could be considered [[cybersquatting]].

Some [[ccTLD|country code TLD]]s or [[Sponsored top-level domain|sponsored TLD]]s will have what is referred to as an eligibility or nexus requirement<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nic.us/policies/docs/ustld_nexus_requirements.pdf |title=us Nexus requirements |publisher=Nic.us |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurid.eu/files/Annex1.pdf |title=.eu Registration Eligibility.|access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928053938/http://www.eurid.eu/files/Annex1.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asia.asia/about/faq.html#q21 |title=asia Registration Requirements |publisher=Asia.asia |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denic.de/en/faq-single/277/246.html |title=de German administrative contact requirement |publisher=Denic.de |date=11 February 2007 |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125044608/http://www.denic.de/en/faq-single/277/246.html |archive-date=25 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to limit registration to specific geographical or national regions. However this does not deter domain name speculation as various options such as using a local agent or company to enable people to register domains in such TLDs exist and have been used.