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.coop is a generic top-level domain intended for the use of cooperatives. It was created as a result of ICANN's announcement in late 2000 of a phased release of seven new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) intended in part to take the pressure off the overcrowded .com domain. It was backed by a coalition of interest groups, was developed by the worker co-operative Poptel in the UK and became operational on January 30, 2002.
.coop is a sponsored top-level domain and restricted to those who meet specified criteria: cooperative organizations, wholly owned subsidiaries, and other organisations that exist to promote or support co-operatives. Its sponsor is DotCooperation LLC (also known as dotCoop), which was created as a subsidiary of the American NCBA (National Cooperative Business Association) to operate the TLD. It was the NCBA that funded the lion's share of the costs of creating .coop. |