DotCOOL registry, which runs the new generic top-level domain .QPON, has recently received an ICANN notice of violation of the registration agreement. The last payment of $6,250, which is due quarterly, was made by the company half a year ago, Domain Incite reports.
It comes as no surprise. The name “qpon” is a pun on the word “coupon.” The registry was planning to create a domain zone for websites offering various discount coupons. But these plans did not get off the ground. The .QPON zone currently contains about 470 domains, with its maximum number never topping 650 since its launch in mid-2014. The number of live websites indexed by Google in this domain zone does not exceed 10, and none of them have anything to do with coupons. It is obvious that in this case the registry simply does not have the money to pay the fees to ICANN.
.QPON is the third generic top-level domain said to be in financial trouble this week. A similar breach notice was recently sent to Asiamix Digital, the company operating the .FAN and .FANS domains.
