MIAMI: .CO Internet S.A.S. announced that auctions will commence today for the more than 2,500 .CO domain applications that received multiple bids during the .CO "Landrush" phase. The auctions, which will take place over the course of the next four weeks, are only open to the individuals and entities that previously applied to register a specific .CO domain during the .CO Landrush phase. Eligible parties must register at www.COauctions.co in order to participate.

After only three weeks since its launch, nearly 410,000 .CO domain names have been registered in more than 180 countries worldwide. Among the more than 2,500 domains to be auctioned, the three with the most applicants are Slots.co, Insure.co and Denver.co. Other notable .CO domain names up for auction include Mexi.co, America.co, Betting.co, Vitamins.co, UsedCars.co, Happy.co, Ebook.co and Jackpot.co.

"As the .CO domain extension continues to generate global demand, I suspect we will see many exciting Landrush auctions for highly sought after domain names in the coming weeks," said Lori Anne Wardi, Director of Marketing at .CO Internet S.A.S. "These auctions are particularly important because they will help to define the nature of the secondary market for .CO domain names, in addition to further inspiring confidence among existing registrants about the value and long-term viability of the .CO name space."

.CO Registry Reaffirms Commitment to Create a Safe, Secure Name Space

As the registry operator of the .CO TLD, .CO Internet recognizes its responsibility to serve as a reliable trustee for the .CO domain and to manage the registry in a responsible way. As such, in an Open Letter to .CO Domain Registrants published yesterday, the .CO Registry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of brand owners and domain investors, and to creating a safer, more secure online experience for corporations, organizations, entrepreneurs and individuals from around the world.

In an effort to maximize compliance and minimize confusion, the open letter is intended to educate both existing .CO domain name registrants and Landrush auctioneers about the Registry's policies and safeguards against cyber-squatting and other domain name abuses.

"Naturally we are pleased about the incredible demand that .CO domain names have generated during the Landrush phase," said Eduardo Santoyo, Corporate VP and ccTLD Manager at .CO Internet. "That said, we want to make sure that both existing registrants and auction bidders fully understand the policies and mechanisms that have been put in place to protect their rights and the rights of brand owners world-wide."

These include, for example, certain mechanisms to prevent domain name abuse and to resolve domain disputes, such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), which was adopted by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and incorporated by reference into .CO domain registration agreements, as a means to quickly and efficiently settle domain name disputes between registrants and third parties.

As with registrants who bought domain names directly via domain registrars, those who buy domains in .CO Landrush auctions will be responsible for determining whether a potential registration may infringe on or violate someone else's legal rights. UDRP administrative proceedings are binding, and no refunds will be given under any circumstances -- regardless of the amount paid to secure the domain name, how the domain was acquired, and/or whether the registrant or bidder was aware or unaware of any infringement.

Santoyo continues, "By creating and actively enforcing these policies, we hope to make the .CO domain extension a safer, more secure online environment for all .CO domain users."

Prior to bidding on a domain name as part of the CO Landrush auction process, all bidders are urged to consult with a qualified trademark attorney.

About .CO Internet S.A.S.

.CO Internet S.A.S. is the Registry Operator for the .CO top-level domain. Headquartered in Colombia, .CO Internet was formed by a strategic venture between Arcelandia S.A. and Neustar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR). The .CO domain offers individuals and businesses a truly global, recognizable and credible option in branding their online presence. Thanks to leading-edge technology, enhanced security and unprecedented rights protections for brand owners, the .CO domain is poised to become the world's next premier web address. For additional information, please visit www.COinternet.co. You can also follow us on Twitter @dotCO and on www.facebook.com/COinternet.

SOURCE .CO Internet S.A.S.