Minds + Machines Group Limited: Difference between revisions

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==Summary  Intro==


'''Minds + Machines Group Limited (MMX)''' (formerly Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. (TLDH)) is the parent company of [[Minds + Machines]]. The company is dedicated to acquiring and operating [[New gTLD Program|new gTLDs]], as well as providing consultancy services and back-end registry solutions for entities interested in operating new gTLDs. The company is publicly traded on the AIM under the ticker symbol TLDH.L.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/ TLDH Website]</ref> Its market cap is valued at over $60 million USD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/05/22/tldh/ How big is the new TLD opportunity? TLDH valued at $60 million, domainnamewire.com]</ref>
'''Minds + Machines Group Limited (MMX)''' (formerly Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. (TLDH)) is the parent company of [[Minds + Machines]]. The company is dedicated to acquiring and operating [[New gTLD Program|new gTLDs]], as well as providing consultancy services and back-end registry solutions for entities interested in operating new gTLDs. The company is publicly traded on the AIM under the ticker symbol TLDH.L.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/ TLDH Website]</ref> Its market cap is valued at over $60 million USD.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/05/22/tldh/ How big is the new TLD opportunity? TLDH valued at $60 million, domainnamewire.com]</ref>
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== Uncontested TLDs ==
== Uncontested TLDs ==
[http://twitter.com/puntoabogado .abogado]
*[http://twitter.com/puntoabogado .abogado]
[http://twitter.com/Bayern_Domain .bayern]
*[http://twitter.com/Bayern_Domain .bayern]
[http://twitter.com/DotBeerDomains .beer]
*[http://twitter.com/DotBeerDomains .beer]
[https://twitter.com/BudapestDomains?lang=en .budapest]
*[https://twitter.com/BudapestDomains?lang=en .budapest]
[http://twitter.com/DotCasaDomains .casa]
*[http://twitter.com/DotCasaDomains .casa]
[http://twitter.com/CookingDomains .cooking]
*[http://twitter.com/CookingDomains .cooking]
[https://twitter.com/dotDDS?lang=en .dds]
*[https://twitter.com/dotDDS?lang=en .dds]
[http://twitter.com/GetDotFashion .fashion]
*[http://twitter.com/GetDotFashion .fashion]
[http://twitter.com/GetDotFishing .fishing]
*[http://twitter.com/GetDotFishing .fishing]
[http://twitter.com/DotFitDomains .fit]
*[http://twitter.com/DotFitDomains .fit]
[http://twitter.com/DotGardenDomain .garden]
*[http://twitter.com/DotGardenDomain .garden]
[http://twitter.com/DotHorseDomains .horse]
*[http://twitter.com/DotHorseDomains .horse]
[http://twitter.com/joindotlaw .law]
*[http://twitter.com/joindotlaw .law]
[http://twitter.com/DotLuxeDomains .luxe]
*[http://twitter.com/DotLuxeDomains .luxe]
[http://twitter.com/DotMiamiDomains .miami]
*[http://twitter.com/DotMiamiDomains .miami]
[http://twitter.com/DotMiamiDomains .nrw]
*[http://twitter.com/DotMiamiDomains .nrw]
[http://twitter.com/DotRodeoDomains .rodeo]
*[http://twitter.com/DotRodeoDomains .rodeo]
[http://twitter.com/DotSurfDomains .surf]
*[http://twitter.com/DotSurfDomains .surf]
[http://twitter.com/DotVIPDomains .vip]
*[http://twitter.com/DotVIPDomains .vip]
[http://twitter.com/DotVodka .vodka]
*[http://twitter.com/DotVodka .vodka]
[http://twitter.com/DotWedding .wedding]
*[http://twitter.com/DotWedding .wedding]
[http://twitter.com/DotWorkDomains .work]
*[http://twitter.com/DotWorkDomains .work]
[http://twitter.com/DotYogaDomains .yoga]
*[http://twitter.com/DotYogaDomains .yoga]
.购物
*.购物


== In Partnership ==
== In Partnership ==
.country
*.country
[https://twitter.com/dotLondon?lang=en .london]
*[https://twitter.com/dotLondon?lang=en .london]
[https://twitter.com/dotreviewtld?lang=en .review]
*[https://twitter.com/dotreviewtld?lang=en .review]


== TLDs on behalf of clients ==
== TLDs on behalf of clients ==
.bradesco
*.bradesco
[https://twitter.com/dotgop .gop]
*[https://twitter.com/dotgop .gop]


== Contested TLDs ==
== Contested TLDs ==
.cpa
*.cpa
[https://twitter.com/dotgay .gay]
*[https://twitter.com/dotgay .gay]
.home
*.home
[https://twitter.com/dothotel .hotel]
*[https://twitter.com/dothotel .hotel]
 
== Contested TLDs in partnership ==
*[https://twitter.com/mus .music]
 
==Funding-Public listing status==
On February 26 2013, MMX announced that it had entered into a funding agreement worth $15 million to be used in the case of auction for a specific unnamed TLD. The investor will not receive ownership of the TLD but a share of future revenues. MM did not name the TLD that the funds are directed for, and it is in 11 head to head contentions and 12 featuring more than one contender.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2013/02/26/tldh-gets-up-to-15-million-for-a-single-top-level-domain-name-auction/ TLDh Gets 15 Million for A Single Top Level Domain Name Auction, DomainNameWire.com] Published and Retrieved 26 Feb 2013</ref>
 
In June 2013, MMX announced that it had raised an additional $10mm in funding through share sales.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2013/06/03/tldh-raises-another-10-million-for-new-gtld-auctions/?fb_source=pubv1 TLDH Raises Another 10 million for New gTLD Auctions, TheDomains.com] Retrieved 3 June 2013</ref>
 
In October 2013, MMX announced that it had received $5mm as a result of losing private auctions for [[.lawyer]] and [[.website]] against [[Donuts]] and [[Radix]], respectively.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/14876-tldh-raises-5-million-from-gtld-auctions TLDH raises $5mm from gTLD Auctions, Domain Incite] Retrieved 25 Oct 2013</ref>
 
In January 2014, MMX stated that they had raised US$33.6 million for TLD auctions, and made it clear the company would prefer to settle its 43 contention sets (as of Jan 2014) via private auction. This brings the funds that the company has for settling contention sets up to about $63 million.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/15704-tldh-raises-33-6m-to-fight-new-gtld-auctions MMX Raises 33.6 mil to fight New gTLD Auctions, DomainIncite] Retrieved 31 Jan 2014</ref>
 
==Partnering for Success blurb==
On October 11, 2012, MMX announced they had partnered with [[Architelos]] to use their anti-registration abuse [[SaaS|software-as-a-service]], NameSentry, in their future registry operations. The software protects the end-user against phishing, malware, spam, botnets and other types of abuse. NameSentry provides both aggregate and drill-down views of abusive domain names, and automates abuse polices and procedures. This announcement came a day after the largest gTLD applicant, [[Donuts]], announced that they were set to use the same NameSentry service.<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tldh-selects-architelos-namesentrytm-2012-10-11 MMX Architelos NameSentry, MarketWatch.com]</ref>
 
==Staff==
MMX top executives particularly, Van Couvering and Salazar, have been involved with ICANN since its very beginnings.<ref>
[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/07/mms-parent-company-tldh-appoints-peter-dengate-thrush-as-executive-chairman/ M+M’s parent company, TLDH, appoints Peter Dengate Thrush as Executive Chairman]</ref>
 
===Van Couvering===
During the Senate hearings regarding the implementation of the New gTLD Program, Mr. Couvering was one of the representatives of the domain industry who signed the letter sent to Senators John Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison supporting the program. He and his colleagues reiterated ICANN's position that it is beneficial for the global internet community and it promotes innovation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/Senate-Letter-ICANN-Expansion-of-Top-Level-Domains-08.DEC.2011.pdf Letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]</ref>
 
===Michael Salazar===
Michael Salazar led ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]], and was there for three years, before being let go as a result of prominent digital glitches, and subsequent mishandling, of the [[TAS]] (The new gTLD Application System), and also the technical failure of the [[Digital Archery]] [[Batching]] process.<ref name="Salazar"></ref>


==Involvement in the New gTLD Program==
==Key Features==
 
===Involvement in the New gTLD Program===
During the opening day of the application for ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]] on January 12, 2012, MMX purchased 20 application slots and announced that it was chosen by [[Dot Kiwi|Dot Kiwi Limited]], a New Zealand based company, to provide registry solutions for the proposed [[.kiwi]] string.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/01/new-gtld-application-window-opens/#more-321 New gTLD Application Window Opens]</ref> On February 21, 2012, the company announced that it will purchase 20 additional application slots for gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/02/ gTLD Application Update]</ref>
During the opening day of the application for ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]] on January 12, 2012, MMX purchased 20 application slots and announced that it was chosen by [[Dot Kiwi|Dot Kiwi Limited]], a New Zealand based company, to provide registry solutions for the proposed [[.kiwi]] string.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/01/new-gtld-application-window-opens/#more-321 New gTLD Application Window Opens]</ref> On February 21, 2012, the company announced that it will purchase 20 additional application slots for gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/02/ gTLD Application Update]</ref>


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On June 3rd, 2013 [[Antony Van Couvering]], CEO of MMX, wrote an article on CircleID arguing for the benefits of private auctions versus ICANN auctions for new [[gTLD]]s. The private auctions, Van Couvering argues, allow companies to "provide money to create healthy vigorous registries that will fulfill ICANN's mission to create choice and competition in the top-level namespace."<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130603_icann_auctions_or_private_auctions/ icann or private auctions] Published 3 Jun 13 Retrieved 4 Jun 13</ref>  The ICANN auctions on the other hand, would leave applicants depleted of cash. [[Minds + Machines]] will proceed with private auctions after the first round.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130603_icann_auctions_or_private_auctions/ icann or private auctions] Published 3 Jun 13 Retrieved 4 Jun 13</ref>
On June 3rd, 2013 [[Antony Van Couvering]], CEO of MMX, wrote an article on CircleID arguing for the benefits of private auctions versus ICANN auctions for new [[gTLD]]s. The private auctions, Van Couvering argues, allow companies to "provide money to create healthy vigorous registries that will fulfill ICANN's mission to create choice and competition in the top-level namespace."<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130603_icann_auctions_or_private_auctions/ icann or private auctions] Published 3 Jun 13 Retrieved 4 Jun 13</ref>  The ICANN auctions on the other hand, would leave applicants depleted of cash. [[Minds + Machines]] will proceed with private auctions after the first round.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130603_icann_auctions_or_private_auctions/ icann or private auctions] Published 3 Jun 13 Retrieved 4 Jun 13</ref>


====GAC Early Warnings====
===GAC Early Warnings===
MMX received a total of 6 [[GAC]] Early Warnings, 5 of which were for its own TLDs. This accounts for about 7% of their 72 applications, which they noted in a press release, further stating that many of their competitors and other large portfolio applicants had received much greater percentages of warned applications to total portfolio size. The in-house warned applications are: [[.zulu]], [[.hotel]], [[.green]], [[.roma]], [[.website]]. Their client, The American Bible Society, was warned for [[.bible]].<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/11/icann-prioriisation-draw/ ICANN Prioritization Draw, TLDH.org] Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref>
MMX received a total of 6 [[GAC]] Early Warnings, 5 of which were for its own TLDs. This accounts for about 7% of their 72 applications, which they noted in a press release, further stating that many of their competitors and other large portfolio applicants had received much greater percentages of warned applications to total portfolio size. The in-house warned applications are: [[.zulu]], [[.hotel]], [[.green]], [[.roma]], [[.website]]. Their client, The American Bible Society, was warned for [[.bible]].<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/11/icann-prioriisation-draw/ ICANN Prioritization Draw, TLDH.org] Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref>


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Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; clearly defining abusive behavior to registrants and the public and enforcing those parameters; the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse related correspondence. Some of their PICs, those related to applications with restricted registration requirements, such as [[.abogado]], also note this restricted intent.<ref>[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>
Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; clearly defining abusive behavior to registrants and the public and enforcing those parameters; the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse related correspondence. Some of their PICs, those related to applications with restricted registration requirements, such as [[.abogado]], also note this restricted intent.<ref>[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>


===Funding===
On February 26 2013, MMX announced that it had entered into a funding agreement worth $15 million to be used in the case of auction for a specific unnamed TLD. The investor will not receive ownership of the TLD but a share of future revenues. MM did not name the TLD that the funds are directed for, and it is in 11 head to head contentions and 12 featuring more than one contender.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2013/02/26/tldh-gets-up-to-15-million-for-a-single-top-level-domain-name-auction/ TLDh Gets 15 Million for A Single Top Level Domain Name Auction, DomainNameWire.com] Published and Retrieved 26 Feb 2013</ref>
In June 2013, MMX announced that it had raised an additional $10mm in funding through share sales.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2013/06/03/tldh-raises-another-10-million-for-new-gtld-auctions/?fb_source=pubv1 TLDH Raises Another 10 million for New gTLD Auctions, TheDomains.com] Retrieved 3 June 2013</ref>
In October 2013, MMX announced that it had received $5mm as a result of losing private auctions for [[.lawyer]] and [[.website]] against [[Donuts]] and [[Radix]], respectively.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/14876-tldh-raises-5-million-from-gtld-auctions TLDH raises $5mm from gTLD Auctions, Domain Incite] Retrieved 25 Oct 2013</ref>
In January 2014, MMX stated that they had raised US$33.6 million for TLD auctions, and made it clear the company would prefer to settle its 43 contention sets (as of Jan 2014) via private auction. This brings the funds that the company has for settling contention sets up to about $63 million.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/15704-tldh-raises-33-6m-to-fight-new-gtld-auctions MMX Raises 33.6 mil to fight New gTLD Auctions, DomainIncite] Retrieved 31 Jan 2014</ref>
=== Partnerships ===
On October 11, 2012, MMX announced they had partnered with [[Architelos]] to use their anti-registration abuse [[SaaS|software-as-a-service]], NameSentry, in their future registry operations. The software protects the end-user against phishing, malware, spam, botnets and other types of abuse. NameSentry provides both aggregate and drill-down views of abusive domain names, and automates abuse polices and procedures. This announcement came a day after the largest gTLD applicant, [[Donuts]], announced that they were set to use the same NameSentry service.<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tldh-selects-architelos-namesentrytm-2012-10-11 MMX Architelos NameSentry, MarketWatch.com]</ref>
==Staff==
MMX top executives particularly, Van Couvering and Salazar, have been involved with ICANN since its very beginnings.<ref>
[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/07/mms-parent-company-tldh-appoints-peter-dengate-thrush-as-executive-chairman/ M+M’s parent company, TLDH, appoints Peter Dengate Thrush as Executive Chairman]</ref>
===Van Couvering===
During the Senate hearings regarding the implementation of the New gTLD Program, Mr. Couvering was one of the representatives of the domain industry who signed the letter sent to Senators John Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison supporting the program. He and his colleagues reiterated ICANN's position that it is beneficial for the global internet community and it promotes innovation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/Senate-Letter-ICANN-Expansion-of-Top-Level-Domains-08.DEC.2011.pdf Letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]</ref>
===Michael Salazar===
Michael Salazar led ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]], and was there for three years, before being let go as a result of prominent digital glitches, and subsequent mishandling, of the [[TAS]] (The new gTLD Application System), and also the technical failure of the [[Digital Archery]] [[Batching]] process.<ref name="Salazar"></ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}




[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Registries]]
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