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    • .nico

    Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC

    Overview

    .nico is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) created for the "Nico" family of services operated by DWANGO Co., Ltd. The name "Nico" is a Japanese ideophone that evokes a smile (smiley face). The TLD is intended to provide an authoritative, brand-controlled Internet space for Nico Nico Douga and related Nico portal services.

    History

    • Applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program; application details were published during Reveal Day (13 June 2012).
    • Implemented (template entry): 10 February 2015.
    • Delegated to the DNS root zone on 15 February 2015.
    • Registry/manager: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    • Registry backend noted as Verisign.
    • Classified as a brand gTLD and delegated within ICANN's program.

    Usage and Audience

    • Intended primary use:
      • Representation and promotion of the Nico brand and assorted Nico internet services, notably Nico Nico Douga.
      • Communications, marketing and service-related domains under the control of Dwango.
    • Target audience:
      • Dwango and its subsidiaries (portal operators, content/service teams).
      • Fans and users of Nico Nico Douga and related Nico services, where domain names signal official, brand-authentic content.
    • Rationale:
      • Provide an Internet namespace where Nico-related content is closely controlled to ensure authenticity and trust.

    Registration Rules

    • Operated with a restrictive, centralized registration policy.
    • At the time of application/initial delegation, registration of .nico domain names was to be limited to Dwango (i.e., not open to the general public).
    • Policy aims to prevent false impersonation and malicious registrations by keeping registrations under Dwango's control.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The .nico gTLD was created primarily as a brand-control mechanism rather than a broad commercial namespace.
    • Intended benefits highlighted by the applicant include:
      • Improved consumer trust and assurance for users interacting with official Nico services.
      • Reduced risk of impersonation, phishing, and other malicious activities targeting the Nico brand.
    • Positioning: a branded, authoritative space to reinforce brand authenticity and credibility for Nico services.

    Notable Cases or Examples

    • The .nico gTLD is explicitly intended to represent Nico Nico Douga and other Nico services operated by Dwango.
    • Background context about the brand and operator (from the application):
      • Dwango established in 1997, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
      • Nico Nico Douga metrics cited in the application: over 25 million registered users; 1.49 million premium users; 7.11 million mobile members; average of 7.63 million monthly users and 101.4 minutes average viewing time per user per day.
      • Nico Nico Douga was noted as the thirteenth most visited website in Japan at the time of the application and has received design/awards recognition.
      • Dwango reported over 900 employees and provided financial figures (net sales and net income) as of December 2011 in the application materials.

    Operator

    DWANGO Co., Ltd.

    Whois

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

domain:       NICO

organisation: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
address:      KABUKIZA TOWER., 4-12-15 Ginza Chuo-ku
address:      Tokyo Tokyo 104-0061
address:      Japan

contact:      administrative
name:         Representative Director
organisation: GMO Registry, Inc.
address:      26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho
address:      Shibuya-ku Tokyo 1508512
address:      Japan
phone:        +81-3-5456-1601
fax-no:       +81-3-3780-5239
e-mail:       newgtld@gmoregistry.com

contact:      technical
name:         Director
organisation: GMO Registry, Inc.
address:      26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho
address:      Shibuya-ku Tokyo 1508512
address:      Japan
phone:        +81-3-5456-1601
fax-no:       +81-3-3780-5239
e-mail:       newgtld@gmoregistry.com

nserver:      A.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.192.4
nserver:      B.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.194.4
nserver:      K.GMOREGISTRY.NET 37.209.196.4
nserver:      L.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:4:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.198.4
ds-rdata:     48460 8 2 3f35a47bf0b6846b18a619300c133843de302c9606273a21a965f49da2f23e0a

whois:        whois.nic.nico

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: http://nic.nico

created:      2015-02-05
changed:      2019-08-20
source:       IANA