.black

Overview

• .black is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) proposed and applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program.
• The string is intended to create an Internet identity tied to the color and concept of "black," aimed at enabling creative and thematic uses.
• Registry operator / manager: Afilias.
• Category: Lifestyle (as categorized by the application records).

History

• Applicant and registry operator: Afilias.
• Registry Agreement signed: 16 January 2014 (Afilias received a Registry Agreement signed by ICANN).
• Delegation to the DNS Root Zone: 27 March 2014, completing the successful application and delegation process.
• Status: Delegated.

Usage and Audience

• Intended audience: businesses, organizations and individuals seeking an Internet identity associated with the color black.
• Positioning: marketed as a space for creativity and offerings tied to the concept and color black, targeting lifestyle, fashion, design, and other color-related branding efforts.
• The application emphasized that the TLD is intended to be associated with the color itself rather than social, cultural, or ethnic connotations.
• The applicant anticipated adoption growth and projected around 20,000 domains under management (DUMs) after three years.

Registration Rules

• .black was proposed and designed to be an open TLD.
• Registrations: generally available to all registrants, except during the Sunrise period (per the application statement).

SEO and Brand Impact

• Brand positioning: framed as a color-themed, lifestyle-oriented namespace that can help businesses and individuals build a distinct, color-linked brand identity.
• The application suggested the string would be "strongly compelling" for businesses and individuals associating directly with the color black, though it noted broader public adoption might take time.

% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       BLACK

organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)

contact:      administrative
name:         Vice President, Engineering
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldadmin@identity.digital

contact:      technical
name:         Senior Director, DNS Infrastructure Group
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldtech@identity.digital

nserver:      A0.NIC.BLACK 2a01:8840:42:0:0:0:0:33 65.22.68.33
nserver:      A2.NIC.BLACK 2a01:8840:45:0:0:0:0:33 65.22.71.33
nserver:      B0.NIC.BLACK 2a01:8840:43:0:0:0:0:33 65.22.69.33
nserver:      C0.NIC.BLACK 2a01:8840:44:0:0:0:0:33 65.22.70.33
ds-rdata:     28819 8 2 fa6792252a660261b2c191a71bcedbe4cdd7bf61c33aa5f04e558abeb8f96bd9

whois:        

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: https://www.identity.digital/

created:      2014-03-20
changed:      2025-09-04
source:       IANA