Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about new top-level domains (TLDs) and Big Room's application for Dot Eco.

QUESTIONS ABOUT BIG ROOM'S DOT ECO

Will anyone be able to buy a Dot Eco domain name?

Every time you send an email or launch a website with a Dot Eco address, you will be making a statement about your commitment to sustainability. Trust and accountability are very important to maintaining the quality of the Dot Eco system.

Big Room is working with sustainability leaders and community members from around the world to strike the balance between openness, ease of use, and credibility. You can learn more about eco-profiles policies here.

Are you going to turn Dot Eco into an 'eco-label' that is really hard to get? 

We are not building an ecolabel. Instead, we are building a platform that will make it much easier for anyone to calculate and share their eco-performance using an eco-profile. You can learn more about eco-profiles here. 

The domain name system (DNS) - as the world's largest distributed database - offers a unique opportunity to request and make freely available, standardised sustainability information on companies, products, individuals and indeed anything. 

It uses existing technology, distribution channels, costs very little and is immediately global. This makes that Dot Eco a unique opportunity to encourage harmonization without sacrificing innovation. 

Is there a trade-off between selling lots of names and making Dot Eco ubiquitous, and having standards but more limited impact (i.e. between breadth & fundraising or rigour & standards)?

There is not necessarily a trade-off. As long as Dot Eco is priced competitively and the barriers to entry are not too high, we expect that having some standards will create demand, not reduce it because it will protect the integrity “eco”. 

In the same way that better standards make any product more reputable adding rigour will make Dot Eco will be more valuable, not less. 

If the policies are too limiting for Dot Eco, will it become a ‘niche’ and prevent environmental issues from becoming mainstream?

Possibly. That’s why we think balance is important and transparency is the right path. By asking people questions about their eco-performance rather than requiring them to meet a standard, we keep Dot Eco accessible without making it niche.  

Keep in mind there are two sides to every coin. We’ve had a feedback from large companies that unless Dot Eco has highly limiting policies, they won’t even consider registering it as it would be a brand risk to do so. You can help us find the balance by commenting on our eco-profiles policy. 

How will you make sure people with Dot Eco domain names are really sustainable?

We are working with the Dot Eco community and our partners to develop and test an Accuracy and Accountability policy and a set of Governing Principles that will ensure Dot Eco domains have meaning. We encourage you to review these policies and comment on them here.  

How can I buy a Dot Eco domain name?

You will be able to buy Dot Eco names from the same places where you buy any other web domain.

How much will Dot Eco names cost?

We won't have a full picture of our costs until after we apply for Dot Eco. However, our goal is to price Dot Eco domains to be market competitive with other large top level domains like dot com or dot org. This is key to keeping them accessible to small business and individuals around the world. 

Would Big Room consider varied pricing, say "if you don't fill out a profile a Dot Eco will cost you $100; if you do, it will be $10"? 

Yes, if that was what the community thought was the best way to use Dot Eco. This is precisely why we created a community process, to work together to come up with the best route for Dot Eco. 

It’s important recognize that there will be hundreds of new TLDs. Just because the domains are freely available and cheap, doesn’t mean people will buy them. In fact, just the opposite might be the case. 

If you think variable pricing is a good idea, or have others, we encourage you to comment on our policies. 

Will you give back to the sustainability community?

We are working with the community to create an independent foundation that will allocate a significant portion of the sales of Dot Eco names to groups working to achieve sustainable development, based on a foundation model that our community is developing here.

Will the registration website be available in other languages?

It is critical people are able to register Dot Eco names and complete their eco-profiles in their own language. Long before launch, we will be working with our technical partners and others to build a multi-lingual Dot Eco system. We’d welcome your comments in support of this here. 

How will you handle eligibility (including trademark) issues?

We have a partnership with the industry leader Laga / Deloitte to use a pioneering system that will ensure existing rights are protected, costs are minimised, and domain squatting is prevented or remedied promptly. So only the eligible owner of the will be able to own the Dot Eco domain for that name.

Will I be able to run a Dot Eco domain and another web domain name at the same time?

Yes. Owning a Dot Eco name doesn't mean you have to give up your other sites. It can be a handy place to store your sustainability information, as well as being a simple way to tell people where that information is displayed.

Or it could be for your portfolio of green products. It’s up to the user what they want to do with their Dot Eco websites, so long as they fill out an eco-profile.

QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLYING FOR DOT ECO

Will other people apply for Dot Eco?

There is at least one other potential applicant for Dot Eco, as well as an applicant for dot green. Our approach is to build a global consensus around this resource. This could certainly include collaboration with other prospective ‘eco-applicants’. 

It is up to us as environmentalists, social advocates, and sustainability professionals to work together to find the best model for Dot Eco. We encourage everyone to closely review and compare the options and participate actively in any application relevant to them. 

Why Big Room?

We are trained sustainability professionals, experienced at building consensus around global environmental and social issues. Big Room's Co-founders, advisors and partners have a long history of working globally with technology and communities to build sustainable development solutions and successful companies. Here's our story. 

When will we see Dot Eco up and running?

This depends on when ICANN starts accepting applications for new TLDs and how long it takes ICANN to process our application. You can learn more about this process here. 

QUESTIONS ABOUT DOMAIN NAMES

What is a Top Level Domain (TLD)?

A Top Level Domain, or TLD, is the group of letters that follow the final dot of any domain name. For example, in the domain name www.example.eco, the top-level domain is ‘eco’.

Who operates a TLD?

Management of most TLDs is delegated to entities called ‘registries’ by ICANN. Big Room is applying to act as the registry for Dot Eco.

What is ICANN?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an organisation that runs the community-driven processes that keep the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. This includes developing policy for the domain name system (DNS).

What is the DNS?

The DNS is a naming system for anything participating in the Internet (like a company, product or personal website). It translates domain names meaningful to humans into the numbers used by machines to locate these participants anywhere in the world. For example, www.example.eco (meaningful to humans) translates to 208.77.188.166 (meaningful to machines).

Why do we need more TLDs?

Many of us have been through the frustration of trying to buy a decent domain name for our business, company, organisation or even ourselves. The reality is that most of the good ones are taken by others or by speculators who charge a premium.

Dot eco will open up a whole new suite of domains that will make it easier for eco-friendly businesses, organisations, and people to find each-other and brand themselves online.