University of South Carolina beats the other USC to .usc
The University of South Carolina has applied to run .usc, blocking the University of Southern California from controlling the string. The application shows how universities are using ICANN rounds to secure their own top-level domains.
The University of South Carolina filed an application for .usc in the current ICANN round. If approved, it would be the second U.S. university to operate a top-level domain, after MIT's .mit from the 2012 round.
The application matters because the University of Southern California, which uses usc.com, cannot now control .usc. In an application round, an early filing can lock out later applicants or force them into a contention process. South Carolina also filed .gamecocks as a backup string.
University top-level domains are typically operated as closed registries. They are used for official sites and controlled registration rather than open sales. That limits the aftermarket for these strings but gives the institution full control over its namespace.
For domain holders, the practical point is timing. ICANN application rounds are rare, and a school or company that misses one may wait years and lose a desired string to another applicant. Brand owners should track applications for strings that match their names.
It remains unknown whether .usc will be delegated, how it will be used, or whether the two USCs will reach any arrangement. The backup application for .gamecocks suggests the school planned for the possibility of losing .usc.
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