.通販

Overview

• .通販 is an internationalized gTLD (IDN) using Japanese (Hani/Kanji) and translates as "online shopping."
• It was applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program with Amazon listed as the applicant/manager.
• Registry provider listed in the application materials: Neustar.
• The string is categorized under commerce-oriented new gTLDs.

History

• The .通販 string was revealed as an applied-for gTLD during ICANN's New gTLD Program (Reveal Day referenced 13 June 2012).
• The application status in source material is listed as "Proposed."
• The application received a Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Early Warning raised by the representative of Australia and GAC Chair Heather Dryden, citing concerns that the applicant was seeking exclusive access to a common generic string with broad market relevance and that this could negatively affect competition.

Usage and Audience

• The translation and category indicate .通販 is intended for online shopping and commerce-related uses.
  -According to Amazon's application statements, domains in .通販 are intended to support Amazon's business goals rather than broad public registration; the applicant indicated there was "no foreseeable reason" for public outreach or mass communication about the registry.

Registration Rules

• Amazon stated its Intellectual Property group would develop and enforce a Domain Management Policy covering:
  • eligibility and domain name allocation rules,
  • license terms governing use of .通販 domain names,
  • dispute resolution policies for the .通販 gTLD.
• Planned registration process (as described in the application) includes four steps:
  1. Eligibility Confirmation
  2. Naming Convention Check
  3. Acceptable Use Review
  4. Registration
• The application asserts that all domains in the .通販 registry would remain the property of Amazon.

SEO and Brand Impact

• The proposed model for .通販 positions the TLD as a brand-controlled namespace (Amazon ownership and centralized policy control).
• The GAC Early Warning highlighted concerns that exclusive control of a generic commerce-related string could have negative competitive effects; this is a governance/market-impact concern rather than a technical SEO statement.

Notable Cases or Examples

• A key milestone in the .通販 application process was the issuance of a GAC Early Warning by Australia (GAC Chair Heather Dryden), specifically warning about the applicant seeking exclusive access to a common generic string and the potential competitive consequences.
• The applicant's assertions that domains would remain Amazon property and that the registry would be operated to serve Amazon's business goals are central to understanding how .通販 was proposed to be used.

% IANA WHOIS server
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% This query returned 1 object

domain:       通販
domain-ace:   XN--GK3AT1E

organisation: Amazon Registry Services, Inc.
address:      410 Terry Avenue North
address:      Seattle WA 98109
address:      United States of America (the)

contact:      administrative
name:         Program Manager, Registry
organisation: Amazon Registry Services, Inc.
address:      410 Terry Avenue North
address:      Seattle WA 98109
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1 206 646 5990
fax-no:       +1-206-946-7702
e-mail:       arsi-rzm@amazon.com

contact:      technical
name:         Howard Eland, Senior Director, DNS Infrastructure Group
organisation: Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldtech@identity.digital

nserver:      V0N0.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 2a01:8840:4a:0:0:0:0:9 65.22.76.9
nserver:      V0N1.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 2a01:8840:4b:0:0:0:0:9 65.22.77.9
nserver:      V0N2.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 2a01:8840:4c:0:0:0:0:9 65.22.78.9
nserver:      V0N3.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 161.232.38.9 2a01:8840:10c:0:0:0:0:9
nserver:      V2N0.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 2a01:8840:4d:0:0:0:0:9 65.22.79.9
nserver:      V2N1.NIC.XN--GK3AT1E 161.232.39.9 2a01:8840:10d:0:0:0:0:9
ds-rdata:     62404 8 2 abe26a827cd8026e02a148365ad795fa844282e961fc25583498834571b1ea7a

whois:        whois.nic.xn--gk3at1e

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: http://www.nic.xn--gk3at1e

created:      2016-09-16
changed:      2025-06-17
source:       IANA