New dot tickets URL signs up big names

we've gone dot tickets - you too?

U2, Ticketmaster, Google, Amazon, eBay, Sky, Yahoo, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Apple have all acquired newly available ".tickets" top level domain names. Owned by London-based start-up Accent Media, the .tickets domain names have only been available to pre-registered trademark holders since July 13th, as part of the soft pre-marketing phase. The firm says the domain names enable brands and rights-holders to easily protect and develop their assets, while helping customers feel safer when buying tickets. The domain names will go on general release to the global ticketing industry on September 14 and will deploy a rights protection mechanism powered by Domains Watch which helps rights-holders ensure that their rights are protected and that any new domain registrations end up in the possession of those who hold the legitimate rights to that name.

http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/global-brands-snap-up-new-tickets-domain-names/062659

Dot Tickets Passes Critical Watchdog Evaluation

The ILMC website reports that  Dot Tickets Organisation has become the first independent firm to pass internet watchdog ICANN’s evaluation criteria, taking it a step closer to revolutionising online ticket sales and protecting purchasers.

The UK-based company last year became one of thousands of applicants in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) process to create hundreds of new internet addresses alongside .com. Dot Tickets is aiming to secure the “.tickets” top level domain (TLD), which it hopes it can use to eradicate online ticket fraud for the live music industry and beyond. The Dot Tickets Organisation proposes that new “.tickets” domain names should only be available to vetted ticket websites which meet industry agreed standards of consumer protection to give peace of mind when purchasing tickets.

Following the initial application period, each of the companies seeking to operate a new TLD has been reviewed extensively, including the five companies that applied to operate the registry for the “.tickets” TLD. Their business models, technical capability and corporate structures have been subject to extreme scrutiny by the teams of consultants from KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young, appointed by ICANN to ensure that the companies participating are capable of operating to the highest standards in order to service the security and stability that ICANN requires.

New application for .tickets internet domain aims to safeguard fans

The Dot Tickets organisation is spearheading an ambitious attempt to clamp down on the global multi-billion dollar ticket fraud problem by lodging an application with internet domain registry organisation ICANN to create a new tickets domain .TICKETS which would only be available to sites which meet high standards of consumer protection and security. The idea came about at ILMC 24 in March when technology panel co-chairman Steve Machin realised that an auction of internet domain names could provide the legitimate ticketing industry with a readymade answer to combat online fraud and provide secure and fair sites for fans.

As a result, when ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) announces the names of the expected 2,000 applicants for new domain words today it will include the .tickets application from Machin’s The Dot Tickets Organisation. The concept would allow legitimate ticketing companies to exclusively use a .tickets website, rather than the numerous .com sites that fraudsters can easily dupe people into using. The idea already has the backing of the Music Managers’ Forum whose CEO Jon Webster, comments, “Stamping out fraud in the ticketing industry is a significant challenge for the live entertainment industry and one that the MMF feels strongly about as it has a direct impact on our clients’ customers – the fans of live music. We believe that The Dot Tickets Organisation application and proposal will create a safe, secure and trusted environment online, making it easier for fans to spot scams online and to visit only trusted websites for ticket sales and information.”

Machin adds that is likely other organisations might apply for the .tickets domain name and he is seeking the support of ILMC members to back up the industry’s application ahead of ICANN’s ruling which is expected in January 2013. Anyone wishing to support the .tickets application should contact Machin via  hello@dotTICKETS.org or for further information visit http://www.dotTICKETS.org or http://www.facebook.com/dotTICKETS.


UPDATE (14th June)


5 groups have applied for .tickets - and 8 have applied for .music including Amazon and Google.