Generic top-level domainsDNSSEC
Overview
.msd is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) applied for in ICANN's New gTLD Program by MSD Registry Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). The string is intended as a trusted, hierarchical namespace to represent MSD, its business segments, subsidiaries, affiliates and potentially licensees or strategic partners.
History
- Applied for as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program (application details appeared on Reveal Day, 13 June 2012).
- Applicant: MSD Registry Holdings, Inc. (MSDRH), a wholly owned subsidiary created to file and operate the gTLD.
- Registry backend referenced as Verisign in application materials.
- TLD type: gTLD; subtype: brand. Application status in provided materials: Proposed.
- Application priority noted as 408 for MSD Registry Holdings, Inc.
- Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is described in the application as a global healthcare company with approximately 86,000 employees in more than 140 countries.
Usage and Audience
- Intended primary registrants and users:
- MSD itself
- Qualified MSD subsidiaries and affiliates
- Potentially MSD licensees and other strategic parties
- Business segments referenced in the application that could use the namespace:
- Pharmaceutical (therapeutics, vaccines)
- Animal health (veterinary medicines, vaccines)
- Consumer care (over-the-counter products)
- Alliances (corporate and research partnerships)
- Intended functions and benefits:
- Protect MSD's online presence and identity
- Provide a secure channel for online products and services
- Support marketing and promotional efforts
- Consolidate intellectual property activities under a brand-controlled namespace
Registration Rules
- The applicant intends to initially limit registrations and use within .msd to MSD and potentially its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates.
- The application states limited distribution initially to allow MSD to establish operations and achieve full sustainability.
- The application references adherence to Specification 9 of the template Registry Agreement and indicates that this limited-distribution approach is intended to exempt MSD from annual Code of Conduct compliance requirements.
SEO and Brand Impact
- .msd is positioned as a brand-controlled namespace to enhance trust and clarity for end users interacting with MSD-branded sites and services.
- Intended brand advantages include stronger identity control, reduced reliance on third-party domains, secure delivery of products/services, and clearer, hierarchical naming tied directly to the MSD brand.
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: MSD organisation: MSD Registry Holdings, Inc. address: 3070 Route 22 West address: BRN 1161A address: Branchburg NJ 08876 address: United States of America (the) contact: administrative name: Manager organisation: Merck Sharpe & Dohme Corp 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.MSD 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.192.9 nserver: B.NIC.MSD 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.194.9 nserver: C.NIC.MSD 2001:dcd:3:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.196.9 nserver: X.NIC.MSD 156.154.172.82 2610:a1:1074:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Y.NIC.MSD 156.154.173.82 2610:a1:1075:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Z.NIC.MSD 156.154.174.82 2610:a1:1076:0:0:0:1:82 ds-rdata: 23659 8 2 81de1bcc17ae524ceeabd94382ff3aa6bfd61804332e511b44ea5ab06ec6f52a whois: whois.nic.msd status: ACTIVE remarks: Registration information: created: 2016-06-24 changed: 2025-01-24 source: IANA