Domain Names

Dot-Com TLD

The domain name suffix “com” is a top-level domain (TLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS).  The Dot-Com name is derived from the word commercial indicating its original intended purpose was for domains registered by commercial organizations.  Dot-Com is the most prominent domain for conducting business around the world.

The last segment of a domain name that appears to the right of the dot is interchangeably referred to as a “top-level domain,” “TLD,” “domain extension,” or “domain suffix.” (e.g., “com,” “org.”).

Dot-Com is one of the original TLDs made available in 1984.  It is recognized as the leading generic top-level domain (gTLD) globally.

Significantly, in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held “generic.com” businesses are eligible for trademark protection in United States Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com B.V., 140 S. Ct. 2298 (2020).  The court found that Booking.com is not generic; that a “generic.com” term can be eligible for federal trademark registration upon a showing of acquired distinctiveness.  The Booking.com case has changed the calculus for the development of brandable generic keyword businesses.