Even Google forgets to renew its domains

If you're publishing a domain name that is supposed to be an example or test domain, there are some reserved TLDs for that! And you never have to register or maintain them!

https://tools.ietf.org/id/draft-ellermann-idnabis-test-tlds-...

domain.example is encouraged for documentation, but you can also use something like example.invalid.

Whenever I review unit tests that have URLs in them, I insist that they use the .invalid TLD. I know that .test is encouraged, but I find that .invalid stands out more when you're browsing a test suite.

The old argument against this was that the average person is really only familiar with .com, .org, and maybe .net, and they wouldn't even recognize something with a less commonly used TLD as a domain name.

But with the rise in popularity of alternate TLDs, I don't think that argument is as persuasive anymore.

i once noticed that Google failed to renew SSL to its AI website, and SSL expiry warning was thrown.. 1) Noticed bug.. 2) waited 4 hours, to make sure it is an issue 3) reported bug 4) the issue got fixed 5) got an update next day that it was not a issue (though i had screenshots)

laughed and promised myself that i will never submit another bug to Google ;)

> Eventually, Google replaced most references to SpottedFig.org in their documentation. They inexplicably left this one though

Small nitpick: this is spottedfig dot com, a domain which they still control.

I wonder what would happen in terms of traffic level if microsoft ever forgot to renew contoso.com , and somebody registered it and pointed its MX at a mail server they control.

I remember way back, I think 2006 or around that time, Google forgot to register Google.com and someone (I think from microsoft) had registered it, then gave it back.

tl;dr: google used a domain in documentation but forgot to renew it. Instead of reclaiming ownership of the domain, they updated their docs.