View source for .pro

{{Short description|Internet top-level domain}}
{{About|top level domain|.pro file name extension|Qt Creator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Top level domain
|name=pro
|background=#FC0
|image=[[File:PRO Official Logo.gif|RegistryPro]]
|introduced={{start date and age|df=yes|2004|6|23}}
|type=[[Generic top-level domain]]
|status=Active
|registry=[[Identity Digital]]
|sponsor=None
|intendeduse=Business use by qualified professionals
|actualuse=Internet & information technology professionals, consultants, real estate professionals, financial and accounting professionals, engineers, lawyers, communications professionals, medical professionals
|restrictions=unrestricted to all registrants starting 16 November 2015
|structure=Second level .PRO domains are available to all government certified individuals and businesses
|document=[http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/pro/ ICANN registry agreement]
|disputepolicy=[[UDRP]], [http://www.icann.org/tlds/agreements/pro/registry-agmt-appm-06mar02.htm Qualification Challenge Policy (QCP)]
|website=[https://www.identity.digital/ www.identity.digital]
}}{{COI|date=February 2024}}
The domain name '''pro''' is a [[generic top-level domain]] in the [[Domain Name System]] of the [[Internet]]. Its name is derived from ''professional'', indicating its intended use by certified professionals.

==History==
In October 2000 Jason Drummond came up with the concept for a new top level domain name (TLD) and established RegistryPro to jointly bid with Register.com for .pro. In May 2002 RegistryPro signed its contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization that administers global domain names, under which it will operate the registry for the new top level domain (TLD) .pro. {{Dubious|date=February 2024}}

The domain was originally launched in June 2004 with registrations restricted to four professions: accountants, engineers, lawyers and medical professionals in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name=tophosts20080922 />

In March 2005, the registrar EnCirca introduced its controversial ProForwarding service which enabled unverified people and businesses to register {{mono|pro}} domains. Registrants then had thirty days to provide verified credentials prior to their domain being activated. Total registrations reached 6,899 by January 2008.

Following consultation with [[ICANN]], the domain was relaunched in September 2008 with a wider remit to include government certified professionals in all countries.<ref name=tophosts20080922>{{cite web|url=http://www.tophosts.com/articles/007381.html |title=ICANN Unanimously Approves RegistryPro Proposal to Expand the .PRO TLD |date=2008-05-14 |accessdate=22 September 2008 <!--Added by DASHBot--> |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912211514/http://www.tophosts.com/articles/007381.html |archivedate=12 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Registrants are required to self-certify their professional status and agree to terms of use before registration, then subsequently provide detailed license information.

In 2012, RegistryPro was acquired by [[Afilias|Afilias Limited]].

==Registrations==
The official domain website describes the eligibility criteria as follows:<ref name="pro">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.registry.pro/pro/eligibility
 |title        = Who can register a .PRO Domain name
 |accessdate   = 25 July 2009 <!--Added by DASHBot-->
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120618010230/http://www.registry.pro/pro/eligibility
 |archive-date = 18 June 2012
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>
*Applicant provides professional services
*Applicant is admitted to or licensed by a government certification body or jurisdictional licensing entity recognized by a governmental body that regularly verifies the accuracy of its data.
*Applicant is in good standing.
The domain registry allows registration of third-level domains in the following domains:<ref name="pro" />
*Legal: law.pro, avocat.pro, bar.pro, jur.pro, recht.pro
*Accountancy: cpa.pro, aaa.pro, aca.pro, acct.pro
*Medical: med.pro
*Engineering: eng.pro

As of April 2011, the domains may be registered through 44 accredited [[domain registrar]]s. In January 2011, the number of registered domains surpassed 100,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/monthly-reports/pro/pro-transactions-201101.csv/ |title=ICANN monthly report January 2011 |access-date=6 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704001631/http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/monthly-reports/pro/pro-transactions-201101.csv |archive-date=4 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As reported in April 2010, the majority of domains are registered in the United States (42%), followed by France (24%) and the Russian Federation (5%).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/monthly-reports/pro/pro-201004.pdf
|title=.PRO Registry Operator's Report, April 2010
|publisher=ProRegistry
| accessdate= 2 August 2010 <!--Added by DASHBot-->}}</ref>

A regulatory change made the .pro domain name unrestricted to all registrants starting 16 November 2015.<ref>[https://www.prweb.com/releases/sibername_an_icann_accredited_registrar_of_the_pro_top_level_domain_today_announced_that_as_of_november_16_2015_pro_domain_names_will_become_unrestricted_/prweb13076072.htm Sibername, an ICANN accredited registrar of the .PRO top-level domain, today announced that as of 16 November 2015, .pro domain names will become unrestricted], prweb.com; Ottawa, 11 November 2015. Also as [http://www.prweb.com/pdfdownload/13076072.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624151557/http://www.prweb.com/releases/register_a_pro/domain_name/prweb13076072.htm |date=24 June 2022 }}.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Top-level domain]]
*[[Domain name]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://registry.pro/ RegistryPro]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130424081529/http://www.registry.pro/professionals/find Authorized .PRO registrar partners]
* [https://iana.org/domains/root/db/pro.html IANA delegation record]

{{Generic top-level domains}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pro}}
[[Category:Generic top-level domains]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2004]]

[[sv:Toppdomän#Generiska toppdomäner]]