Proof of Usefulness Report

Commercial Connect LLC

Analysis completed on 2/4/2026

+2
Proof of Usefulness Score
You're In Business

The project claims to operate the '.shop' Top-Level Domain (TLD) registry, but factual verification confirms that GMO Registry (Japan) acquired the rights to .shop in a 2016 ICANN auction for $41.5 million. The submitter (Commercial Connect LLC) was a losing applicant. The submission relies on statistics from 2008-2009 and claims a market cap of $17M without verifiable revenue or current operations matching the description. The claim that 'most people have used my product' is demonstrably false in the context of the .shop registry ownership. The domain dotshop.com currently redirects to an unrelated AI marketplace, suggesting the submission is either a legacy artifact or a misrepresentation.

Ready to Compete for $150k+ in Prizes?

Move this data into a HackerNoon blog draft to become eligible for your share of $150k+ in cash and software prizes

View All Reports

Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+1.25
Audience Reach Impact+0.00
Technical Innovation+0.00
Evidence Of Traction+0.00
Market Timing Relevance+0.00
Functional Completeness+0.50
Subtotal+1.75
Usefulness Multiplierx1.12
Final Score+2

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Commercial Connect, LLC is a technology company that will offer the dotShop (.shop) top level domain (TLD) name to establish a new paradigm for global eCommerce. We want to make online shopping safer, easier, and more affordable. (www.example.shop) Safer and More Affordable: We've all heard of Internet fraud and at some point in our lives many of us have had to deal with it directly and it is becoming more and more common online. Think about how many scam or phishing emails about new or extremely cheap products you get in a week. In fact in 2008 Internet fraud increased by 33% and in 2009 there was a 50% increase between February and March alone! The registry process for a .shop domain name is designed to provide a more transparent view of who owns the website while making it comparatively financially beneficial for the online retailer and the consumer. Easier: When consumers want to buy a product from a corporate website they have to navigate the site to find the products and services. This can be confusing and will even discourage people from buying anything at all. Well, .shop is designed specifically for eCommerce, clarifying the purpose of the website; which is to buy products and services, eliminating the navigational issue.

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Growing utility with room for optimization
User Engagement
Documented reach suggests active user community
Technical Stack
Modern tech stack aligned with sponsor technologies

Recommendations to Increase Usefulness Score

Document User Growth

Provide specific metrics on user acquisition and retention rates

Showcase Revenue Model

Detail sustainable monetization strategy and current revenue streams

Expand Evidence Base

Include testimonials, case studies, and third-party validation

Technical Roadmap

Share development milestones and feature completion timeline