New policies take effect today to eliminate improper Sunrise registrations

— Former Infonautics executive oversees first global implementation of an XML-based "thick" registry system —

Newtown, PA – October 29, 2001 — Afilias, the .INFO registry, today announced that Ram Mohan has joined the company as its Vice President of Business Operations and Chief Technical Officer, overseeing the registry for .INFO and the first global implementation of an XML-based "thick" registry system.

U.S., Germany Lead .INFO Registrations

NEWTOWN, PA - 23 October, 2001 - Afilias, the .INFO registry, today announced that more than 500,000 .INFO domain names were registered during the domain's first 90 days of operation. In comparison, the .COM domain took more than five years to reach the same milestone, according to a U.C. Berkeley study of domain acceptance.

NEWTOWN, PA - 18 October, 2001 - Afilias, the .INFO registry, today issued a formal caution to the legal counsels of .INFO-authorized registrars and popular domain name auction sites regarding the attempted sale of domain names registered during the .INFO Sunrise Period.

First New Internet Domain Launches Live, Real Time Registration

NEWTOWN, PA - October 1, 2001 - Afilias, the .INFO registry, today announced the opening of real-time registration for .INFO domain names. Businesses and consumers requesting .INFO domain names will now be able to get their domain name awarded within minutes through Afilias-authorized registrars. Those interested in registering can see what .INFO domain names are available by using Afilias' .INFO WHOIS database.

NEWTOWN, PA – September 17, 2001 — Afilias, the .INFO registry, today announced that due to the tragic events of September 11, it has modified its registration schedule for the public rollout of the new .INFO domain. Afilias will now accept requests for domain names to be processed as part of the initial queue of names through September 21, 2001, modified from the original date of September 18.

NEWTOWN, PA – September 12, 2001 — In keeping with the obligation to inform the general public, Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), will be accepting registrations from the general public for .INFO domain names effective September 12.

— ICANN resolution reflects desirability of .INFO names. —

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – September 10, 2001 — Afilias, the .INFO registry, today announced that the ICANN Board has authorized its general counsel to instruct Afilias to temporarily reserve certain country names included on the ISO3166-1 list. ICANN's resolution comes in response to a Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) communiquè dated September 9 that recommended this action.

— Trademark Registration Period Ends on August 27, 2001 —

60% of The World's Top Brands Have Registered .INFO Sites, With First Movers Emerging in All Major Industry Categories

NEWTOWN, PA - August 23, 2001 – Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced that registrations have come in from more than 60 countries worldwide. with 52% in Europe, 40% in North America, and 5% from the Asia-Pacific region. Early data indicates that .INFO -- the first of the new top-level domains to roll out -- is a truly global phenomenon.

NEWTOWN, PA – August 15, 2001 — Afilias has successfully begun its Sunrise Period, an early registration opportunity for trademark holders worldwide to protect their marks in the new .INFO domain. We have been very encouraged by registrations to date, which include many of world's top brands.

As Sunrise proceeds, it appears that some registrants have attempted to circumvent the eligibility requirements by posing as trademark holders and registering names in advance of the public opening on September 12. Afilias today announced plans to directly challenge certain registrations by using the established Sunrise Challenge process or other mechanisms already in place.

— Trademark holders should register now to protect their marks prior to public registration. —

NEWTOWN, PA – July 25, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced the opening of the Sunrise Period, the first stage of registration for the .INFO top-level domain (gTLD).

— Trademark holders should register now to protect their marks prior to public registration. —

NEWTOWN, PA – July 25, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced the opening of the Sunrise Period, the first stage of registration for the .INFO top-level domain (gTLD).

— Former McGraw Hill Exec. To Spearhead Brand & Marketing Strategy for .INFO —

First .INFO Web site — Afilias.info — to Go Live June 27, 2001

NEWTOWN, PA - June 27, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce entered the .INFO TLD into the domain name system root zone on June 27, 2001, completing the final step in the approval process for the rollout of the first, new unrestricted domain name. .INFO's entrance into the root zone will enable .INFO domain names and Web sites to become live and accessible through Internet browsers. The first of these, launched today, is www.afilias.info.

— .INFO Addresses to be Live by September 19 —

NEWTOWN, PA – June 20, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced its formal registration schedule, which will commence on July 25, 2001. Registration for .INFO domain names will begin for trademark and service mark holders during the Sunrise Period on July 25, 2001, and will begin for the general public on September 12, 2001. .INFO domain names are expected to become live and accessible through all Internet Web browsers on or about September 19, 2001.

— The initial stage of the .INFO rollout will allow trademark holders to protect their registered marks prior to public registration —

Afilias rolls out beta version of registrar software

New York City– May 5, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), today announced the first stage of registration for the .info rollout to begin approximately 45 days following the signing of the ICANN contract expected by mid-May and subject to US Department of Commerce approval.

WIPO Will Be The Exclusive Provider Of Dispute Resolution Services for .INFO

NEW YORK, NY – May 3, 2001 — Afilias, the registry selected by ICANN to operate the new .INFO top-level domain (TLD), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today announced an agreement whereby WIPO will provide dispute resolution services for .INFO during the Sunrise Period. The Sunrise Period is a 30-day period, prior to the opening of public registration, where trademark and service mark holders will be able to reserve their exact marks in the .INFO domain.

— Afilias to Discuss Policies Protecting Intellectual Property for the New .INFO Domain —

New gTLD operators to showcase IP protection and trademark holder concerns during a panel discussion at the INTA’s 123rd annual conference.

The seven new top-level domains (TLD) selected by ICANN in November of 2000 are expected to roll out later this year, raising issues about intellectual property (IP) and trademark protection.