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Domain name speculation is the practice of identifying and registering or acquiring Internet domain names as an investment with the intent of selling them later for a profit. The main targets of domain name speculation are generic words which can be valuable for type-in traffic and for the dominant position they would have in any field due to their descriptive nature. Hence generic words and phrases〔(A 242 page list of premium generic words and phrases reserved by the .mobi TM registry, mTLD during the Sunrise phase of the launch of .mobi TLD )〕 such as ''poker'', ''insurance'', ''travel'', ''creditcards'', ''sex'' and others are attractive targets of domain speculation in any top-level domain. The speculative characteristics of domain names may be linked to news reports or current events. However, the effective period during which such opportunities exist may be limited. Quick turnaround in the resale of domains is often called ''domain flipping''. ==Overview== Sometimes, domain name speculation involves finding domain names early in a market, particularly when a new top-level domain is launched, registering them and waiting until the market grows to sell them. Domains such as sex.com and business.com have sold for millions of US dollars. The COM top-level domain (or 'TLD') is the focus of most domain speculation activity as it is the largest TLD. Domain speculation occurs in other TLDs as well, such as NET and to a lesser extent in ORG, INFO, and BIZ. Of the gTLDs, INFO is the most popular by registration volume compared to BIZ gTLD due to the low cost of initial registration and the recognisability of 'info' as being an abbreviation of 'information'. Domain name speculation also occurs in country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as .uk, .de and .us.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Nominet (.UK Registry) document discusses Domaining, dropcatching and the secondary market in .uk ccTLD )〕 The German TLD consists of over 12 million domains.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DE Registration figures )〕 The UK's domain has over 7.7 million domains registered according to Nominet's domain registration statistics webpage,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=UK Registration figures )〕 mainly in its commercial sub-domain co.uk. These TLDs are mature markets where good domain names may command high prices. The EU ccTLD is an example of what happens when speculative activity overtakes "ordinary" domain registrations.〔.eu ccTLD Landrush period controversy.〕 A combination of an inept registry (EURid)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Cybersquatters can get rich if they're quick, says .eu registry )〕 and excessive speculation by businesses exploiting a poorly structured regulatory framework meant that, according to EURid's own statistics at the end of 2006, over 50% of the registrations could be considered at best speculative and at worst domain name warehousing.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Eurid 2006 annual report, Page 20. Numbers of domains per registrant. )〕 Specialist and ''repurposed'' ccTLDs have also seen elements of domain name speculation. One of the best examples is that of the .tv ccTLD which has found the fact that ''TV'' is an abbreviation for the word television to be rather lucrative. The .mobi TLD is a good example of a specialist TLD in that it is specifically targeted at mobile phones and similar mobile technology. The operators of .mobi, mTLD, have reserved some of the premium generic words which will be auctioned off. The intent is to create a more level playing field for those interested in developing websites. The .mobi premium generic words and phrases list is a good example of the domain names that are at the heart of most early-market domain name speculation. Domain name speculators, sometimes known as domainers or domain investors, also register domain names based on seemingly generic phrases such as ''propertyforsale'' in the hope that these domain names could be sold later to businesses. Some (but not all) domain name investors will try to stay away from domain names containing trademarks as this could be considered cybersquatting. Some country code TLDs or sponsored TLDs will have what is referred to as an eligibility or nexus requirement〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=us Nexus requirements )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=.eu Registration Eligibility. )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=asia Registration Requirements )〕 to limit registration to specific geographical or national regions. However this does not deter domain name speculation as various options such as using a local agent or company to enable people to register domains in such TLDs exist and have been used. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Domain name speculation」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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