Generic top-level domainsDNSSEC
Overview
- .merckmsd is a brand gTLD application submitted in ICANN's New gTLD Program.
- Applicant: MSD Registry Holdings, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp.).
- Intended purpose: provide a trusted, hierarchical namespace for MSD, its qualified subsidiaries, affiliates, and potentially licensees or strategic partners.
- Registry backend (listed): Verisign.
- Status (as recorded): Proposed.
History
- Application disclosed on Reveal Day (13 June 2012).
- Applicant filed the .MERCKMSD string through MSD Registry Holdings, Inc.
- The application identifies MSD as a global healthcare company with multiple business segments (Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, Consumer Care, Alliances) that could use the gTLD.
- The applicant positioned .MERCKMSD as a .BRAND gTLD intended to protect MSD's online identity and consolidate intellectual property activities.
Usage and Audience
- Primary intended registrants:
- MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp.)
- Qualified MSD subsidiaries and affiliates
- Potentially licensees and other strategic parties
- Intended uses include:
- Secure channels for online products and services
- Marketing and promotion for MSD business segments
- Consolidation of intellectual property activities and trusted, brand-centric namespaces
Registration Rules
- The application states an initial policy to limit registrations and use of .MERCKMSD to MSD and potentially its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates, with possible extension to licensees and strategic parties.
- The applicant referenced compliance with the requirements set forth in Specification 9 of the template Registry Agreement.
- The application indicated that the initial limited distribution was intended to allow MSD to establish operations and pursue sustainability while affecting certain policy compliance (e.g., Code of Conduct annual requirements) per the template agreement.
SEO and Brand Impact
- The .MERCKMSD gTLD was proposed to:
- Protect MSD's online presence and identity
- Provide a trusted and secure namespace associated with the MSD brand
- Enhance marketing and promotion by offering a clear, brand-aligned domain structure
- Serve as a platform to consolidate and manage MSD's online intellectual property and services
Notable Cases or Examples
- Objections were filed against the .MERCKMSD application:
- A Legal Rights Objection was filed by Merck KGaA (brought under WIPO's Legal Rights Objection process).
- Merck KGaA also filed a Community Objection (filed through ICC arbitration channels).
- The applicant used a wholly owned subsidiary, MSD Registry Holdings, Inc., to file and manage the application as part of its proposed governance model.
Operator
MSD Registry Holdings, Inc.
Whois
% IANA WHOIS server % for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org % This query returned 1 object domain: MERCKMSD organisation: MSD Registry Holdings, Inc. address: 2000 Galloping Hill Road address: Kenilworth NJ 07033-1310 address: United States of America (the) contact: administrative name: Sr. Spclst, Compliance & Risk Management organisation: MSD Registery Holdings Inc address: 3070 Route 22 West address: Branchburg NJ 08876 address: United States of America (the) phone: 908-243-2545 e-mail: merckdomains@merck.com contact: technical name: IANA Contact organisation: GoDaddy Registry address: 100 S. Mill Ave, Suite 1600 address: Tempe AZ 85281 address: United States of America (the) phone: +1 480 505 8800 fax-no: +1 480 624 2546 e-mail: iana@registry.godaddy nserver: A.NIC.MERCKMSD 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.192.9 nserver: B.NIC.MERCKMSD 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.194.9 nserver: C.NIC.MERCKMSD 2001:dcd:3:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.196.9 nserver: X.NIC.MERCKMSD 156.154.172.82 2610:a1:1074:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Y.NIC.MERCKMSD 156.154.173.82 2610:a1:1075:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Z.NIC.MERCKMSD 156.154.174.82 2610:a1:1076:0:0:0:1:82 ds-rdata: 5134 8 2 f4c8e4ac4a227663517fb28feaa416635cc013ccab079eceda756a89541baaba whois: whois.nic.merckmsd status: ACTIVE remarks: Registration information: created: 2017-06-15 changed: 2025-01-24 source: IANA