Editing Generic top-level domain (section)

== Terminology ==
Unrestricted generic top-level domains are those domains that are available for registration by any person or organization for any use. The prominent gTLDs in this group are <code>[[.com|com]]</code>, <code>[[.net|net]]</code>, <code>[[.org|org]]</code>, and <code>[[.info|info]]</code>. However, <code>info</code> was the only one of these, and the first, that was explicitly chartered as unrestricted. The others initially had a specific target audience. However, due to lack of enforcement, they acquired an unrestricted character, which was later [[Grandfather clause|grandfathered]].

=== Sponsored sTLD ===
{{Main|Sponsored top-level domain}}

The term ''sponsored top-level domain'' is derived from the fact that these domains are based on theme concepts proposed by private agencies or organizations that establish and enforce rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the <code>[[.aero|aero]]</code> TLD is sponsored by the [[Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques]], which limits registrations to members of the air-transport industry.

The new gTLD program saw the arrival of many such top-level domains, with a ''restricted open'' policy, eligible to those active in a regulated industry, such as .pharma or .bank, or in other industrial domains such as .safety

=== Geographic gTLD ===

{{Main|List of Internet top-level domains#Geographic top-level domains}}

A [[geographic TLD]] (or ''GeoTLD'') is a generic top-level domain using the name of or invoking an association with a geographical, geopolitical, ethnic, linguistic, or cultural community. As of 2009, only two GeoTLDs existed: the sponsored domains <code>[[.cat]]</code>, for the [[Catalan language|Catalan language and culture]] and <code>[[.asia]]</code>; as of 2014 there were many more, including <code>[[.kiwi]]</code>, <code> [[.paris]]</code>, <code> [[.scot]]</code> and <code>[[.gal]]</code>, but many others are being added regularly.

=== Brand gTLD ===

Brands have also applied to get their brand as a top-level domain. Specification 13 is an addendum to the registry contract that describes specific provisions to brands to run their Top Level Domain in a closed fashion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/base-agreement-contracting/specification-13-applications|title=Applications to Qualify for Specification 13 to the Registry Agreement – ICANN New gTLDs|access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> 517 applications to qualify to Spec 13 were made to ICANN, 36 requests were rejected by ICANN or withdrawn by the applicant, 4 are pending review.

In 2018, [[Spamhaus]] rated [[.men]] as the worst [[top-level domain]] in terms of [[internet spam|spam]] and [[scamming]]. .men comes top with 60.6% of its 73,000 domains identified as "bad", resulting in a badness index of 6.48. The company that runs .men, [[GRS Domains]] also runs the third worst registry - [[.loan]] – with 59 percent bad domains and a 6.22 index.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/06/12/men_toplevel_domain/|title=Men are officially the worst… top-level domain|website=[[The Register]]}}</ref>