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    • .ren

    Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC

    Overview

    • .ren is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) applied for and managed by Beijing Qianxiang Wangjing Technology Development Co., Ltd., a subsidiary related to Renren Inc.
    • The string "ren" corresponds to the Chinese character 人 (meaning "person" or "human being") and is intended as a natural extension of Renren's social networking platform (renren.com).
    • The TLD is positioned to consolidate Renren's services and provide branded, closely managed namespace for its users.

    History

    • The .ren application succeeded in ICANN's New gTLD Program and was delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 27 March 2014.
    • A Registry Agreement between Beijing Qianxiang Wangjing Technology Development Co., Ltd. and ICANN was signed on 12 December 2013.
    • The gTLD was applied for by an entity tied to Renren Inc (listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RENN).

    Usage and Audience

    • Primary audience: Renren platform users and the broader Chinese internet community; initial focus on VIP users of the Renren service.
    • Intended uses include personalized third-level domains, individual homepages, email accounts, and integrated services across Renren's properties (e.g., renren.com, nuomi.com, jingwei.com).
    • Market positioning and pricing:
      • Pricing was planned at a slightly higher point than other generic TLDs to target a specific segment of the Chinese market.
      • The applicant projected conservative adoption of approximately 152,000 registrations in year 1, growing to 202,400 in year 2 and 251,280 in year 3.

    Registration Rules

    • The registry described a stringent registration policy requiring a supporting letter executed by the Applicant's legal department prior to any registration.
      • The supporting letter must specify the domain name, the purpose of the domain, and the administrative and technical contacts.
    • Registrations submitted without the supporting letter were to be rejected by registrars; obtaining the supporting letter is the registrant's responsibility.
    • The registry planned to implement Sunrise and Landrush periods and to use the Trademark Clearinghouse to protect intellectual property rights.
    • Additional protections for geographic names were also indicated in the application.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The applicant positioned .ren as a brand-personifying TLD that can increase user trust by reducing phishing, domain redirection and domain parking within its namespace.
    • .ren was intended to strengthen brand awareness and provide a controlled environment for marketing and promotional activities.
    • The registry expected improved trust and service quality by controlling the branded TLD and dictating expected service levels from registrars.

    Notable Cases or Examples

    • The .ren gTLD is directly associated with Renren Inc and its managed services; the application emphasized integration with renren.com and related properties.
    • Renren Inc (applicant's related entity) was described in the application as a leading real-name social networking platform in China, with reported figures at the end of 2011 including 147 million activated users, approximately USD 1.1 billion in total assets and USD 118 million in net revenues.

    Operator

    ZDNS International Limited

    Whois

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

domain:       REN

organisation: ZDNS International Limited
address:      4, South 4th Street, Zhongguancun
address:      Haidian District
address:      Beijing 100190
address:      China

contact:      administrative
name:         Director
organisation: ZDNS
address:      4, South 4th Street, Zhongguancun
address:      Haidian District
address:      Beijing 100190
address:      China
phone:        86-10-58812426
e-mail:       sophia@zdns.ren

contact:      technical
name:         Director
organisation: ZDNS
address:      4, South 4th Street, Zhongguancun
address:      Haidian District
address:      Beijing 100190
address:      China
phone:        86-10-58812426
e-mail:       gaolei@zdns.cn

nserver:      A.ZDNSCLOUD.CN 203.99.24.1
nserver:      B.ZDNSCLOUD.CN 203.99.25.1
nserver:      C.ZDNSCLOUD.COM 203.99.26.1
nserver:      D.ZDNSCLOUD.COM 203.99.27.1
nserver:      F.ZDNSCLOUD.CN 116.169.54.111
nserver:      G.ZDNSCLOUD.COM 223.72.199.37
nserver:      I.ZDNSCLOUD.CN 2401:8d00:1:0:0:0:0:1
nserver:      J.ZDNSCLOUD.COM 2401:8d00:2:0:0:0:0:1
ds-rdata:     6712 8 2 06090fb53ae539ce051d9236a0c6b5fd58361167bc0d7f5e8e9eab4f62d4fffb

whois:        whois.nic.ren

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

created:      2014-02-28
changed:      2024-10-16
source:       IANA

    Registrars