View source for Company:Name.com

{{short description|Internet domain name registrar and web hosting company}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Name.com
| logo = Name.com Logo 2023.svg
| founded = {{start date and age|2003|6|17}}
| owner = Identity Digital
| founder = William Mushkin
| location_city = Denver, Colorado
| location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Domain Registrar
| products = Web Services
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.name.com/}}
}}
'''Name.com''' is an [[Organization:ICANN|ICANN]] accredited [[Domain name registrar|domain name registrar]] and web hosting company based in Denver, Colorado. Since the company was founded in 2003, it has since grown to become one of the leading domain registrars in the world, offering close to 600 Top Level Domains.  On its website, Name.com offers a wide range of products and services to help individuals and businesses build and maintain a successful online presence. The company sells DNS domains, web hosting, [[Email|email]] services, SSL certificates, and other website products.

==History==
Name.com was founded in 2003, by Bill [[Company:Mushkin|Mushkin]]. Mushkin bought the company Spot Domain LLC (Domainsite.com) in 2002. There are multiple registrars NAME.COM LLC uses for reselling: domainsite.com, name.com, name.net, sunmounta.in, alohanic.com, briarwoodtechnologies.com, domainregservices.com.<ref name="rockymountainnews">{{cite web
| url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/30/paton-big-brands-target-entrepreneur-in-domain/
| title=PATON: Big brands target entrepreneur in domain name battle
| first=James
| last=Paton
| date=2008-01-30
| publisher=Rocky Mountain News
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>

=== Acquisitions ===
On January 7, 2013, it was announced that Name.com was acquired by Demand Media.<ref name="demandmedia.com">Naidu, Taryn. {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.demandmedia.com/name-com-joins-the-demand-media-family/
 |title       = Name.com Joins the Demand Media Family
 |first       = Taryn
 |last        = Naidu
 |date        = 2012-01-07
 |publisher   = Demand Media
 |access-date  = 2014-02-08
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140223113908/http://www.demandmedia.com/name-com-joins-the-demand-media-family/
 |archive-date = 2014-02-23
}}</ref> According to 10K reports from Demand Media the company paid $18 million to acquire Name.com.

Rightside Group, a spin off company from Demand Media, became the parent company of Name.com in August 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.name.com/blog/fun-stuff/2014/08/super-corporate-blog-post-we-joined-the-nasdaq-with-rightside/|title=Super Corporate Blog Post: We joined the NASDAQ with Rightside - Name.com Blog|website=www.name.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref> Rightside also owned domain [[Finance:Aftermarket (merchandise)|aftermarket]] service NameJet and domain registrar eNom, as well as operating a domain registry with 40 [[Top-level domain|nTLDs]].<ref>[https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/05/05/732111/10132499/en/Rightside-Adds-3-New-TLDs-to-Its-Portfolio.html Global Newswire] retrieved March 17, 2016</ref> Rightside stock was publicly traded under the stock ticker NAME, inspired by their ownership of Name.com.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/NAME:US|title=NAME Stock Quote - Rightside Group Ltd|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref> On June 13, 2017, Rightside was [[Social:Mergers and acquisitions|acquired]] by [[Company:Donuts|Donuts Inc.]] in a transaction valued at $213 million. In a Merger Agreement approved unanimously by Rightside's Board of Directors, all of Rightside's assets, including Name.com, became part of Donuts Inc.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://donuts.news/rightside-donuts-announce-definitive-merger-agreement|title=Rightside and Donuts Announce Definitive Merger Agreement - Donuts News|date=2017-06-14|work=Donuts News|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US}}</ref>

On June 22, 2022 Donuts Inc rebranded to become Identity Digital.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/donuts-inc-and-afilias-inc-rebrand-to-identity-digital-301572401.html|title=Donuts Inc. and Afilias, Inc. Rebrand to Identity Digital|date=2022-06-22|work=PR Newswire|access-date=2023-12-06|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Community involvement ===
Name.com regularly hosts a hackathon called Hack the Dot, where developers, marketers, and creatives come together to create quick-fire projects within a two-hour timeframe based on a mystery [[Domain name|domain name]] which is revealed at the time of the event. The company has partnered with Galvanize, Turing School of Software and Design, and a variety of other [[Social:Coding bootcamp|coding schools]] and [[Finance:Coworking|coworking]] spaces in the past.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.name.com/hackthedot|title=Hack the Dot: Powered by Name.com|last=Name.com|website=www.name.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref>

In 2016, Name.com partnered with Galvanize to offer free coding classes to interested students with a program called Learn to Code. These classes were offered over the course of a year in multiple cities across the U.S. including Denver, Boulder, San Francisco, Seattle, and Austin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.confluence-denver.com/innovationnews/name_com_partners_galvanize_free_coding_022216.aspx|title=Name.com partners with Galvanize to offer free coding lessons|work=Confluence|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref>

=== Support of net neutrality and internet free speech ===
In December 2011, when [[Company:GoDaddy|GoDaddy]] voiced its support for [[Stop Online Piracy Act]] (SOPA), Name.com was among several other anti-SOPA domain registrars<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mashable.com/2011/12/29/how-to-move-your-domain-name-account/#fTctwpqZgaqV|title=HOW TO: Move Your Domain Name Account|last=Warren|first=Christina|work=Mashable|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en}}</ref> that offered transfer discounts for anyone who wanted to move their domains to another provider.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lifehacker.com/5870649/ditch-godaddys-sopa-loving-butt-and-get-a-better-web-host-at-a-discount|title=Ditch GoDaddy's SOPA-Loving Butt and Get a Better Web Host at a Discount|last=Dachis|first=Adam|work=Lifehacker|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US}}</ref>

When net neutrality came under review by the FCC in both 2014 and 2017, Name.com created educational videos and articles explaining to their customers why net neutrality was important and what individuals could do to protect it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.name.com/blog/news-2/2017/05/net-neutrality-big-deal/|title=Why net neutrality is a big deal (and why you should care) - Name.com Blog|website=www.name.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref> During the July 12, 2017 [[Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality|Day of Action]] to raise awareness and support of net neutrality, Name.com posted a banner on the homepage of its website encouraging visitors to contact the FCC to voice their support for Title II.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.westword.com/news/namecom-joins-nationwide-protest-against-fcc-net-neutrality-rollbacks-9256741|title=Name.com Joins Nationwide Protest Against Net-Neutrality Rollbacks|last=Fine|first=Gabe|date=2017-07-14|work=Westword|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref>

===Domain tasting allegation===
In 2007, Name.com was accused of trademark infringement by Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The companies declared the domain registrars Name.com and Spot Domain had registered over 40 domains of various misspellings, such as  NeimanMarco.com and BerdgorfGoodman.com. These domains failed to show accurate contact information or provided false details.<ref name="rockymountainnews"/> In the complaint, which was filed in March 2007, in the US District Court in Denver, the high-end retailers sought damages of at least $100,000 per name.<ref>Jesdanun, Anick. {{cite web
| url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17762760/
| title=Neiman Marcus sues over domain names
| date=2007-03-23
| first=Anick
| last=Jesdanun
| website=NBC News
| agency=Associated Press
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>

Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman claimed that the registrars were taking advantage of their special status with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ([[Organization:ICANN|ICANN]]), to secure misspelled domains during the five-day grace period, and paying only for the ones with valuable revenue. This practice, called [[Domain tasting|domain tasting]], resulted in [[Cybersquatting|cybersquatting]] on various trademarked names. Neiman Marcus had accused the registrar Dotster in 2006 of the same infringement.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://news.cnet.com/Dotster-named-in-massive-cybersquatting-suit/2100-1032_3-6079567.html
| title=Dotster named in massive cybersquatting suit
| last=McCullagh
| first=Declan
| date=2006-06-02
| publisher=CNET News
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref> Mushkin, however, denied the accusations of "domain tasting," explaining that Name.com and Spot Domain were merely registrars, caught in the crossfire. He also argued that "the industry is young," and the issues were not clear-cut. In the settlement, there were several stipulations imposed on the companies Name.com and Spot Domain. Mushkin declined to specify the agreement that was reached.<ref name="rockymountainnews"/>

===DNS hijacking===
Reports of [[DNS hijacking]] by Name.com have appeared on the Internet as early as 2010.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://nathanhammond.com/namedotcom-another-unscrupulous-registrar
| title=Name.com: Another Unscrupulous Registrar
| first=Nathan
| last=Hammond
| date=2011-04-13
| publisher=nathanhammond.com
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>  The registrar will never return a NXDOMAIN status for DNS queries, and instead directs users to an advertising site they operate.  When faced with criticism over this practice, the company points<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.name.com/blog/general/domains/2012/01/pro-tip-how-to-get-rid-of-that-pesky-parking-page/
| title=Pro Tip: How to get rid of that pesky parking page.
| date=2012-01-05
| publisher=Name.com
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>  to a clause of their Domain Registration agreement that relates to "parked domain names," which is standard practice among registrars.

Name.com stopped the practice of DNS wildcarding in March 2013.

==Services==
Name.com registration of [[Top-level domain|top-level domain]]s (TLDs), including gTLDs, [[Country code top-level domain|ccTLDs]], nTLDs, and legacy domains, and offers an aftermarket domain brokerage. Service offerings include website hosting, email, [[Software:G Suite|Google Apps for Work]], SSL certificates, a website builder, [[Software:WordPress|WordPress]] installation and hosting<ref name=superbiased>{{Cite news|url=http://superbiased.com/reviews/rapidpress-one-click-wordpress-hosting/|title=Rapidpress - One-click Wordpress Hosting - Superbiased!|date=2013-06-07|newspaper=Superbiased!|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-04}}</ref> Name.com also supports Two-Step Verification to help users add an extra layer of security to their user accounts.<ref>{{cite news
| url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0469431.htm
| title=Name.com Stays a Step Ahead of Online Criminals by Joining VeriSign(R) Identity Protection Network
| date=2009-01-28
| publisher=CNN Money
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131043229/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0469431.htm
| archive-date=2009-01-31
| url-status=dead
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>

== Bearglecorn mascot ==
Name.com's mascot is called "Bearglecorn", a mix of bear, eagle, and unicorn, which can be seen on the company's [[HTTP 404|404 page]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/02/22/heck-yeah-were-from-denver-name-com/|title=Name.com: Heck yeah, we're from Denver: {{!}} Tech+ — The Denver Post|website=Tech+|access-date=2016-11-04}}</ref> and in some marketing material. The word was coined by employee Jared Ewy and the original likeness was made by Owen Borseth using various images from the internet. Rightside filed a [[Social:Trademark|trademark]] on the Bearglecorn in early 2016, citing its first use in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2016/02/17/name-com-bearglecorn/|title=Name.com to trademark the Bearglecorn{{!}} Domain Name News & Views|date=2016-02-17|website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News & Views|access-date=2016-11-04}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==

=== Name.Gives ===
In November 2017, Name.com launched a philanthropy program called Name.Gives, funded by their parent company Donuts, Inc. Each quarter, Name.com employees have the opportunity to apply for funds to be donated to a charity or community organization they support. Organizations in the Denver-metro area that have been awarded with financial contributions in the past include SafeHouse Denver, the Special Olympics Denver Swim Team, Metro Caring, Rangeview High School Track and Field, and the Northfield High School Solar Rollers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.name.com/blog/fun-stuff/doing-good/2017/11/heres-how-name-com-is-helping-the-community-during-the-season-of-giving/|title=How Name.com is helping the community during the season of giving - Name.com Blog|website=www.name.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref>

=== Other community programs ===
The company has supported several non-profits, including a small literary magazine in South Africa, ''Amazwi'', and a local environmental organization, Environment Colorado. Many of the charities featured are small, grassroots efforts, though Susan G. Komen and [[Organization:Electronic Frontier Foundation|Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF) are also listed on the company's sponsorship page.<ref name="good">{{cite web| url=http://www.name.com/good
| title=For the Good of Our Community, Our Company, and Our World| publisher=Name.com| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref>

The company previously had a bike-to-work incentive program which involved payback for a new bicycle.<ref name="good"/> Though the project appears to be at a standstill, Name.com worked briefly on a system of maps for [[Organization:One Laptop per Child|laptop.org]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Name.com
| title=Name.com| publisher=[[Organization:One Laptop per Child|One Laptop per Child]]| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref> and offered to guide interns in their Denver office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Summer_of_Content_organizations#Name.com| title=Summer of Content organizations| publisher=[[Organization:One Laptop per Child|One Laptop per Child]]
| access-date=2014-02-08}}</ref> In April, 2008, Name.com sponsored Idealist.org for the Webby's People's Voice Awards, which was in turn sponsored by The [[Company:Public Interest Registry|Public Interest Registry]], the registry behind the .org TLD. The event featured a panel of non-profits, including Greenpeace and [[Wikipedia]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.name.com/blog/general/2008/04/doing-good-is-cool-again/| title=Doing Good Is Cool Again| author=Jared | date=2008-04-26| publisher=Name.com| access-date=2008-12-15}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://name.com Name.com]
*[https://name.com/blog Name.com Blog]

{{Demand Media}}
{{WebManTools}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Name.Com}}
[[Category:Web hosting]]

{{Sourceattribution|Name.com}}