.author Domain

The string .author is an ordinary English word covering writing, publishing, and creator services, but the extension does not operate as an open registry. It was applied for in ICANN's 2012 New gTLD Program and delegated on a restricted basis, which places it among the closed generics — descriptive category terms held by a single organization rather than opened to the market. That category attracted sustained policy objection during the round and remains contested.

There is no registration channel, no renewal pricing, and no aftermarket for .author domains; use is confined to the operator's own publishing and creator-facing properties. For writers and publishers, the extension is chiefly relevant as an illustration of how a high-intent category keyword can be removed from the open namespace at the top level.