TLD .hiv Makes Changes (Updated)

 “As you probably know, the German non-profit DotHIV gemeinnütziger e.V. was the original applicant and registry for the .hiv domain name extension. ICANN delegated the TLD in May 2014, and .hiv launched with development plans conceived by the original applicant. Unfortunately, the .hiv extension did not generate enough revenue to cover its costs. We had been long-time supporters of the .hiv TLD and its original team, and they asked us to take it over when they were no longer able to operate it at a loss. So last year, Uniregistry acquired .hiv, through an agreement with the original registry. If Uniregistry had not come forward, it is very likely that .hiv would have ceased to exist entirely. We decided that we could not implement “click-counter” function on .hiv websites as it was originally conceived, and so we decided to sunset that functionality when we assumed operations of the TLD. When .hiv grows into profitability, Uniregistry remains committed to donating a portion of any profits made from the sale of .hiv domain names, but we will not be using the click counter function as a mechanism for this. Uniregistry will continue to support HIV awareness and hopes that users will continue to register and support the .hiv domain name extension as they communicate with others. Bret Faustett“

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So, should .hiv be allowed to become a profitable business, like other domains before a portion of each sale of an .hiv domain (listed at: $249.88 per domain for one year), or should Uniregistry make a donation to an HIV-related cause with every purchase?

UPDATED:

STATEMENT from DotHIV: 

“Last year, we have decided to offer the .hiv TLD for sale to the leading companies of the domain name industry. After a successful application period and launch, we wanted to assure a sustainable and efficient management and more powerful international reach for sales for the first charitable domain ending.
In Uniregistry, we found the partner we’ve hoped for: an innovation-driven leading player in the market with outstanding technical and operational capability who understands and respects the power of communities when it comes to running a TLD namespace. .hiv is Uniregistry’s first step into the field of social impact work, which is why dotHIV, backed by a small but capable expert pool, stays on board as an advisor.
The handover leaves the core feature of .hiv untouched: The .hiv Registry Agreement – the contract with ICANN that governs how .hiv can be run – incorporates the non-profit nature of the TLD, and legally binds the new owner to donating all profit from .hiv domain sales. This provision is under ICANN’s supervision and cannot be changed.

The handover to Uniregistry has provided opportunity to review the tools set up for launch, integrate user feedback and adjust where useful. Cancelling the micro donation was part of this evaluation: It was meant to make the charitable and fund-raising element of .hiv domains more visible to Internet users, thereby adding emotional value to the product. However, the domain name system is strongly regulated and it proved difficult to execute the idea, that we still love, in a way that was user-friendly for domain name owners and easy to understand for website visitors. It had to be set up as a counter-intuitive opt-in program and hence was picked up by only one third of .hiv domain owners. Also, internet users often felt confused about the source of the money activated for the cause by their visits.
Together with Uniregistry we decided to keep the technology running, but adapt it with the initial goal in mind: The resulting Red Ribbon Flag does a great job in guiding user experience (see http://ted.hiv/ for an example). The tool can also be used for donation-per-click programs on individual .hiv sites, if companies want to do so. Its role for the future of .hiv strongly depends on customer and community feedback, as it should be the case for all web products.

The .hiv TLD will carry forward its initial impact goals: .hiv domains as digital Red Ribbons raise funds and awareness for the end of AIDS. The first year of operation under the leadership of dotHIV has resulted in $40,000 donated to We-actX for hope in Rwanda, for a project independently selected by dotHIV’s expert pool. Additionally, over 6 million online interactions have resulted from the initiative – from clicks on .hiv sited to likes, shares and video views linked to dotHIV’s social media campaigns.

It is now up to Uniregistry to grow these results. We at dotHIV trust they’ll do, and will continues to play an active role. Also, we call for all activists to join us. .hiv was set up as a tool in support of the community – please continue to feedback, challenge and use the domain names. They stay free of charge for your orgs.
Carolin Silbernagl”