Domain names are valuable assets of any organization. Although technically a domain name is not a trademark, it is often treated as such. At any rate, domain can be a source-identifier.
As of October 2009, there are 21 generic top-level domains and 250 two-letter country-code top-level domains.
During the 32nd International Public ICANN Meeting in Paris in 2008, ICANN started a new process of TLD naming policy to take a "significant step forward on the introduction of new generic top-level domains." This program envisions the availability of many new or already proposed domains, as well a new application and implementation process. Observers believed that the new rules could result in hundreds of new top-level domains to be registered.
Various factors influence the perceived value or market value of a domain name. Most of the million dollar domain deals are carried out privately and go unreported. As of 2011, the most expensive domain name sales on record were: Insure.com $16 million in 2009 and Sex.com for $14 million in October 2010.
Domains with Russian country-code TLD .ru obviously are popular in Russia. For example, notable URLs include кока-кола.рф, мерседес.рф. They are registered by their respective trademark owners Coca-Cola Co. and Mercedes-Benz of the German manufacturer Daimler AG.
Under U.S. law, registration of a domain name by itself does not confer any trademark rights.
We help with all aspects of domain names including UDRP proceedings, registration of domains in .ru and counseling on new generic LTDs.