.amazon is a

brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

top-level domain operated by the e-commerce company

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology co ...

, granted to them in May 2019.

History

Amazon.com applied for the domain name extension in 2012, which was granted. That application was overturned after Peru and Brazil objected to it, the objection was supported by the Governmental Advisory Committee (a group which represents governments within ICANN) which recommended in 2013 against allowing Amazon.com's application to proceed.

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela (which are members of the

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is an international organization aimed at the promotion of sustainable development of the Amazon Basin. Its member states are: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Ve ...

) were against the proposal as it could harm their countries' interests, and proposed that together the nations and the company would share some governance of the domain. ICANN directed the disputing parties to negotiate a resolution. The nations wished to receive specific domains under the top-level domain, while Amazon proposed that each nation be given a second-level domain based on their country code. According to ICANN meeting notes, “the name Amazon, in any language, is part of the cultural heritage and identity of the Amazon countries, and that its use as a first level domain name unless otherwise agreed by the Amazon countries, shall be reserved for the promotion of the interests and rights of the Amazon peoples and their inclusion in the information society.” In 2017, an Independent Review Process was found in favor of Amazon.com. Negotiations have stalled since, and in December 2019 ICANN signed an agreement with Amazon.com.

References

Amazon (company) Computer-related introductions in 2012 {{Compu-domain-stub