The business (in)significance of the pre-dot domain name wording

Abstract

Post-modern society and the global market heavily rely on the employment of information technology. Today’s successful business conduct requires an appropriate e-domiciliation within the Internet. The Internet space is spread in Top level domains (TLDs), each composed of sub-domains. The e-address consists of a numeric or word reference pointing to the relevant TLD (a pre-set few letters behind the dot) and sub-domains (a creative conglomerate of letters before the dot). Each TLD has its own legal and economic regime, and businesses should carefully study them in order to choose the best fitting TLD, so as to have the right few letters behind the dot. However, it is unclear how much importance should be placed on the word designation of the sub-domain(s), i.e. there is no conclusive evidence or commonly accepted consensus about the (in)significance of the letters before the dot. This issue requires an interdisciplinary study and a comparative analysis reflecting actual business reality. This paper summarizes underlying technical setting, concepts and functions of the pre-dot part of a domain name, rejects contemporary shortcuts and presents the domain name and its role from a global and super-temporal perspective. Considering the insufficiency of statistical data, independent studies and generally agreed upon conclusions, even approaches, it is vital to review underlying concepts and settings, and to engage in a comparative analysis along with observations from various angles. The ultimate goal is to enhance awareness and to open a constructive dialogue about intellectual property and domain names, in short, to move from the black-and-white and all-or-nothing perception to a more nuanced approach differentiating between domain names from the same TLD.