Top Level Design

{{Infobox company

| name = Top Level Design LLC

| logo = Top Level Design logo.jpg

| logo_caption =

| image =

| image_caption =

| trading_name =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| romanized_name =

| former_name =

| former type =

| type = Private

| traded_as =

| industry =

| genre =

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| foundation = Florida, U.S. ({{Start date|2012}})

| founders = {{Flatlist|

Ray King
Peter Brual}}

| defunct =

| location_country = U.S.

| locations =

| locations_year =

| area_served =

| key_people =

| products = .design, .gay, .ink and .wiki domains

| brands =

| production =

| services = Domain name registrar

| revenue =

| revenue_year =

| operating_income =

| operating_income_year =

| net_income =

| net_income_year =

| aum =

| aum_year =

| assets =

| assets_year =

| equity =

| equity_year =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|toplevel.design}}

| footnotes =

| intl =

| bodystyle =

}}

Top Level Design is a company in the United States and parent company of the domain name registrar Porkbun.{{Cite web |date=Jun 24, 2024 |title=Porkbun.com Now Manages Over 2 Million Domain Names |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240624756552/en/Porkbun.com-Now-Manages-Over-2-Million-Domain-Names |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Business Wire}} The company was also a former domain name registry for several generic top-level domains, including .wiki, .ink, and .gay, until they were sold to GoDaddy Registry.

Ray King serves as Top Level Design's chief executive officer.{{cite web|last1=Allemann|first1=Andrew|title=Top Level Design wins .design contention set|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/09/25/top-level-design-wins-design-contention-set/#sthash.NTvr6OXe.dpbs|publisher=Domain Name Wire|accessdate=October 2, 2014|date=September 25, 2014|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418045459/http://domainnamewire.com/2014/09/25/top-level-design-wins-design-contention-set/#sthash.NTvr6OXe.dpbs|url-status=live}}

History

Top Level Design was founded in 2012 by Portland entrepreneur Ray King after he stepped down as chief executive officer of AboutUs, a company he founded in 2006.{{cite web|last1=Allemann|first1=Andrew|title=SnapNames co-founder Ray King behind registry applying for 10 top level domains|date=June 11, 2012|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/11/snapnames-co-founder-ray-king-behind-registry-applying-for-10-top-level-domains/#sthash.DVCeBuwL.dpbs|publisher=Domain Name Wire|accessdate=October 2, 2014|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929151054/http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/11/snapnames-co-founder-ray-king-behind-registry-applying-for-10-top-level-domains/#sthash.DVCeBuwL.dpbs|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Rogoway|first1=Mike|title=Ray King steps down as AboutUs CEO, starts new Portland venture|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2013/04/ray_king_steps_down_as_aboutus.html|accessdate=October 2, 2014|work=The Oregonian|publisher=Advance Publications|date=April 23, 2013|location=Portland, Oregon|issn=8750-1317|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929142832/http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2013/04/ray_king_steps_down_as_aboutus.html|url-status=live}} King partnered with his brother-in-law and investor Peter Brual, who served as an advisor to AboutUs.{{cite magazine|last1=King|first1=Ray|title=Guest Opinion: .Gay and the LGBTQ Community|magazine=PQ Monthly|publisher=Brilliant Media|location=Portland, Oregon|date=October 18, 2013|url=http://www.pqmonthly.com/guest-opinion-gay-lgbtq-community/17089|accessdate=October 3, 2014|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929152939/http://www.pqmonthly.com/guest-opinion-gay-lgbtq-community/17089|archivedate=September 29, 2015}} Note: Posted by Nick Mattos. Top Level Design was created to become a domain name registry for multiple generic top-level domains.{{cite magazine|last1=Benish|first1=Kelly|title=Openings & New Hires at Amazon, AOL, WebMD, Edmunds, Swipely and more...|magazine=Street Fight|date=April 26, 2013|url=http://streetfightmag.com/2013/04/26/openings-new-hires-at-amazon-aol-webmd-edmunds-swipely-and-more/|accessdate=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013041731/http://streetfightmag.com/2013/04/26/openings-new-hires-at-amazon-aol-webmd-edmunds-swipely-and-more/|url-status=live}} In 2012, domain industry websites reported that the company had applied for ten generic top-level domains: .art, .blog, .design, .gay, .group, .ink, .llc, .photography, .style and .wiki.{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Kevin|title=ICANNWiki boss applies for 10 gTLDs|url=http://domainincite.com/9367-icannwiki-boss-applies-for-10-gtlds|publisher=DomainIncite|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=June 11, 2012|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013195412/http://domainincite.com/9367-icannwiki-boss-applies-for-10-gtlds|url-status=live}} King later revealed that, because the company began as a family project, the generic top-level domains applied to by Top Level Design reflect both personal and business interests. Industry sources also confirmed that CentralNic would serve as Top Level Design's backend registry provider and Iron Mountain Incorporated would provide escrow services. The company's applications were further confirmed by The Oregonian and Portland Business Journal in April 2013.{{cite news|last1=Kish|first1=Matthew|title=Ray King steps down as CEO of AboutUs|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2013/04/ray-king-steps-down-as-ceo-of-aboutus.html|accessdate=October 2, 2014|work=Portland Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=April 23, 2013|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013222541/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2013/04/ray-king-steps-down-as-ceo-of-aboutus.html|url-status=live}} In an interview published by The Oregonian, King expressed his hope that Top Level Design would "help shape [the] new era" of top-level domains, saying they were "going to change the complexion of the Internet, at least the naming complexion of the Internet, quite a bit."

Top Level Design was the domain name registry for several top-level domains including .wiki, .ink and .design, until the company sold these domains to GoDaddy Registry.{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2023-04-20 |title=GoDaddy acquires five more top level domains |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2023/04/20/godaddy-acquires-five-more-top-level-domains/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US}}

=.wiki=

On November 7, 2013, ICANN and Top Level Design entered into a "Registry Agreement", officially allowing the company to operate as the registry for .wiki.{{cite web|title=.wiki Registry Agreement|url=https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/wiki-2013-11-07-en|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=November 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012131851/https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/wiki-2013-11-07-en|archivedate=October 12, 2014}} ICANN and Top Level Design entered into a "Registry Agreement" for the .ink domain on December 5, 2013.{{cite web|title=.ink Registry Agreement|url=https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/ink-2013-12-05-en|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=December 5, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012125626/https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/ink-2013-12-05-en|url-status=live}} Both generic top-level domains were uncontested.{{cite web |last1=Ó Muíneacháin |first1=Conn |date=July 4, 2014 |title=Interview with Ray King of .Ink and .Wiki (Audio) |url=http://technology.ie/interview-ray-king-ink-wiki/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016021502/http://technology.ie/interview-ray-king-ink-wiki/ |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |accessdate=October 3, 2014 |publisher=Blacknight}}{{cite web|last1=Levine|first1=Barry|title=Google Enters Domain Market|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/digital-marketing/google-enters-domain-market-025838.php|publisher=CMSWire|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113050627/https://www.cmswire.com/cms/digital-marketing/google-enters-domain-market-025838.php|url-status=live}} Following the acquisitions, King told CMSWire, "You can generalize that neither [.wiki or .ink] will be one of the biggest [g]TLDs because strings like .art, .music and .blog all received multiple applications". However, he continued, many people "from within [the domain] industry tell me that .wiki is their dark horse for a successful [g]TLD," because ".wiki" describes the site format. "So, when I go to craftbeer.wiki, I can expect a vibrant site with passionate folks discussing all things relevant to brewing beer. This is not the case with craftbeer.com or craftbeer.guru, where you could be accessing a storefront, a blog, a brewery tourguide or any number of things."

In January 2014, .wiki was named one of the "Top 10 gTLDs to Watch in 2014" by ClickZ for having the "potential to provide great secure, shared workspaces for companies large and small".{{cite web|last1=Wolfe|first1=Jennifer|title=Top 10 gTLDs to Watch in 2014|date=7 January 2014|url=http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2321262/top-10-gtlds-to-watch-in-2014|publisher=ClickZ|accessdate=October 6, 2014|archive-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014112206/http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2321262/top-10-gtlds-to-watch-in-2014|url-status=live}} By mid-March, Top Level Design had signed agreements with more than 120 domain name registrars to retail .wiki names.{{cite web|last1=Berkens|first1=Michael|title=Apple, Weather Channel, Ericsson, Hallmark, Chanel: Brands Are Getting Their .Wiki|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2014/03/11/apple-weather-channel-ericsson-hallmark-chanel-brands-are-getting-their-wiki/|publisher=The Domains|accessdate=October 6, 2014|date=March 11, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013005858/http://www.thedomains.com/2014/03/11/apple-weather-channel-ericsson-hallmark-chanel-brands-are-getting-their-wiki/|url-status=live}} It was announced in May that the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization which hosts Wikipedia and other projects, would use "w.wiki" as a URL shortener.{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Kevin|title=Wikipedia to get single-letter .wiki domain|url=http://domainincite.com/16590-wikipedia-to-get-single-letter-wiki-domain|publisher=DomainIncite|accessdate=October 6, 2014|date=May 5, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013194853/http://domainincite.com/16590-wikipedia-to-get-single-letter-wiki-domain|url-status=live}} The Foundation also endorsed Top Level Design's proposal to ICANN's Registry Services Evaluation Process to unblock 179 two-letter strings representing language codes (all two-character strings are blocked under ICANN's standard Registry Agreement).{{cite web|title=ICANN Registry Request Service: 2 Character Domains for .wiki|url=https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/rsep/top-level-design-llc-request-11mar14-en.pdf|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=October 6, 2014|year=2014}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}{{cite web|last1=Allemann|first1=Andrew|title=3 new domain registries ask ICANN for two character domain names|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/04/29/3-new-domain-registries-ask-icann-for-two-character-domain-names/|publisher=Domain Name Wire|accessdate=October 6, 2014|date=April 29, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006034501/http://domainnamewire.com/2014/04/29/3-new-domain-registries-ask-icann-for-two-character-domain-names/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Allemann|first1=Andrew|title=Let's collaborate on .wiki: A look at who registered .wiki domains|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/05/28/dot-wiki/#sthash.oT3fOxMT.dpbs|publisher=Domain Name Wire|accessdate=October 6, 2014|date=May 28, 2014|archive-date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105711/https://domainnamewire.com/2014/05/28/dot-wiki/#sthash.oT3fOxMT.dpbs|url-status=live}} wiki domain registrations were available to only trademark holders until May 5; they became available to the general public on May 26, 2014.{{cite web|last1=Merriam|first1=Andrew|title=Guest Post: An Insider's Guide to .Wiki Landrush|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2014/05/03/guest-post-an-insiders-guide-to-wiki-landrush/|publisher=The Domains|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=May 3, 2014|archive-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226110936/https://www.thedomains.com/2014/05/03/guest-post-an-insiders-guide-to-wiki-landrush/|url-status=live}} Note: Posted by Michael Berkens.{{cite magazine|last1=Haggerty|first1=Angela|title=Half of UK and US consumers feel they have 'little to no opportunity' to collaborate with brands online, YouGov study shows|magazine=The Drum|date=May 7, 2014|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/05/07/half-uk-and-us-consumers-feel-they-have-little-no-opportunity-collaborate-brands|accessdate=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003072605/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/05/07/half-uk-and-us-consumers-feel-they-have-little-no-opportunity-collaborate-brands|url-status=live}} According to Domain Name Wire, more than 3,000 .wiki domains were registered on the first day of general availability.

=.ink=

The .ink generic top-level domain caters to the printing, publishing and tattoo industries, and individuals in involved with ink, including typographers and artists.{{cite magazine|last1=Mottram|first1=Harry|title=Putting the ink into your website|magazine=Print Monthly|date=September 12, 2014|url=http://www.printmonthly.co.uk/News/Industry/2737/putting-the-ink-into-your-website|accessdate=October 3, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013070703/http://www.printmonthly.co.uk/News/Industry/2737/putting-the-ink-into-your-website|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Kevin|title=Donuts' portfolio swells as ICANN signs 31 new gTLD contracts|url=http://domainincite.com/15245-donuts-portfolio-swells-as-icann-signs-31-new-gtld-contracts|publisher=DomainIncite|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=December 6, 2013|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013195313/http://domainincite.com/15245-donuts-portfolio-swells-as-icann-signs-31-new-gtld-contracts|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Website domain extension created for the printing industry|url=http://www.paperandprint.com/digital-printer/news/dp-2014/july-2014/22-07-14-ink.aspx|publisher=Digital Printer|accessdate=October 3, 2014|date=July 21, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013213647/http://www.paperandprint.com/digital-printer/news/dp-2014/july-2014/22-07-14-ink.aspx|url-status=live}} It has been called a "niche name with multiple connotations".{{cite web|last1=Allemann|first1=Andrew|title=Pictures from the biggest domain name event ever|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/06/24/pictures-from-the-biggest-domain-name-event-ever/#sthash.TaBBVh5K.dpbs|publisher=Domain Name Wire|accessdate=October 6, 2014|date=June 24, 2014|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012035536/http://domainnamewire.com/2014/06/24/pictures-from-the-biggest-domain-name-event-ever/#sthash.TaBBVh5K.dpbs|url-status=live}} King has said of the extension, which he believes will also appeal to bloggers, design studios and writers: "Any of those companies or people that are using ink to put their message out in the work. It's signifying permanence. There is no reason not to get a name that more accurately describes your business, including of course ink makers."{{cite magazine|title=Printers get naming options to stand out online|magazine=Print Business|url=http://www.printbusiness.co.uk/news/PrintBusiness97281.ink|accessdate=October 6, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013212806/http://www.printbusiness.co.uk/news/PrintBusiness97281.ink|url-status=live}} The generic top-level domain launched on June 23, 2014. King, with assistance from two heavily tattooed models, literally "pressed the launch button" to promote .ink at the ICANN 50 conference in London. In April 2015, The Domains reported that less than 50% of .ink domains were parked.{{cite web|last1=Berkins|first1=Michael|title=New gTLD's Registrations Top 5 Million; .Science & .Link Break 100K: We Break Down the Numbers|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2015/04/10/new-gtlds-registrations-top-5-million-science-link-break-100k-we-break-down-the-numbers/|publisher=The Domains|accessdate=April 10, 2015|date=April 10, 2015|archive-date=May 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522163123/http://www.thedomains.com/2015/04/10/new-gtlds-registrations-top-5-million-science-link-break-100k-we-break-down-the-numbers/|url-status=live}}

=.design=

In September 2014, Top Level Design outbid six other applicants in a private auction for the domain .design. It has since been transferred to GoDaddy Registry in April 2021.{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2021-04-07 |title=Breaking: GoDaddy to acquire MMX, .Club, .Design |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2021/04/07/godaddy-to-acquire-mmx-club-design/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608173847/https://domainnamewire.com/2021/04/07/godaddy-to-acquire-mmx-club-design/ |url-status=live }}

=.gay=

The .gay generic top-level domain became available to the general public in September 2020.

= .tattoo =

The .tattoo generic top-level domain was originally managed by Uniregistry but was transferred to Top Level Design in May 2022.{{Cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=2022-05-10 |title=Top Level Design acquires .tattoo domain name |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2022/05/10/top-level-design-acquires-tattoo-domain-name/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Domain Name Wire {{!}} Domain Name News |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423081204/https://domainnamewire.com/2022/05/10/top-level-design-acquires-tattoo-domain-name/ |url-status=live }}