About .hospital domain
.hospital is a proposed generic top-level domain (gTLD). The applicant is Donuts (Ruby Pike, LLC). Its application was part of ICANN's New gTLD Program. The application faced a successful Limited Public Interest objection, which was later ordered to be reheard by the ICANN Board.
Who can register .hospital domain
The application proposed an open registration policy. It was intended to be available to a broad audience without restrictions based on identity alone. The applicant stated the TLD would be attractive to entities connected to hospitals and medical treatment centers globally.
How to register .hospital domain
As a proposed TLD that never reached delegation, it is not available for commercial registration through standard registrars. The application process involved submitting a detailed proposal to ICANN, followed by evaluation and potential objection proceedings. The final delegation status was never resolved due to the rehearing order and subsequent program developments.
Typical uses of .hospital domain
The proposed .hospital extension was intended for use by a wide range of entities connected to medical facilities and care. The applicant envisioned its use by healthcare institutions, teaching hospitals, universities, charitable organizations, medical practitioners, administrators, insurance providers, and even animal hospitals. It was meant to serve as a dedicated online space for hospital-related activities, support efforts, fundraising, and professional expression, providing a clear and relevant namespace for the global health community.
Tips for registering .hospital domain
- The TLD was proposed with an open registration model, meaning no entity would have exclusive rights to register second-level names.
- The applicant committed to implementing an extensive array of protections against abuse and trademark infringement.
- The application emphasized operational security and legitimacy within a shared resources business model.
Frequently asked questions about .hospital domain
How much does it cost to register and renew a .hospital domain?
As of today, .hospital domains start from $44.20/yr on NameBeta, with prices ranging up to $167.87/yr across 31 registrars. See the registrar comparison table on this page for live prices.Which registrars support .hospital domains?
NameBeta tracks 31 registrars that support .hospital domain registration, with the cheapest option at $44.20/yr. Full list on this page.Who operates .hospital domain?
The registry for .hospital domains is Identity Digital, administered by Binky Moon, LLC.
Who can register a .hospital domain?
The application outlined an inclusive, open registration policy. While specifically mentioning healthcare institutions, practitioners, administrators, and related organizations as likely users, the policy was not designed to restrict registration based on eligibility. This approach aimed to maximize participation and innovation within the namespace.
Can I transfer a .hospital domain between registrars?
As the TLD was never delegated, standard inter-registrar transfer policies were never established. For a proposed gTLD, transfer rules would typically be defined in the registry agreement with ICANN and implemented by accredited registrars upon launch, but this stage was not reached for .hospital.
What was the Limited Public Interest objection against .hospital?
An Independent Objector filed a Limited Public Interest objection, which was initially upheld by an expert panel. The panel concluded that the string's sensitivity regarding human life and health, combined with a market-oriented approach, posed a risk of significant harm. This determination was unique among health-related strings and was later ordered for a rehearing by the ICANN Board due to inconsistencies with other rulings.
Were there any community objections to this application?
Yes, both the American Hospital Association and the Independent Objector filed community objections against the .hospital application. However, these community objection proceedings were terminated prior to an expert determination being issued, meaning they did not proceed to a formal panel decision.
What protections did the applicant propose for this TLD?
Donuts committed to implementing a broad set of protections against abuse, including safeguards for trademark rights. Their approach focused on these operational protections rather than restricting registrant eligibility, aiming to create a safe namespace while maintaining open access for legitimate users.
