History of NewMedia Holdings

Our Beginnings

In 1995, and while still maintaining a full time law pratice, Gregory Paley founded NMHCO's predecessor and started overseeing the development of its online properties. Between 1996 and 1998, development continued on each of the sites with designs, features and functionality being introduced that would later form the basis of the current sites. Although rudimetary by today's standards, each domain offered a search engine, business directories, discussion boards, vanity email, and other community features that have become commonplace today.

Operating Company Formed

In 1999, Gregory assumed full time responsibilities over our business. During that same year, the domain properties were consolidated into a formal operating entity known as Virtual Countries - a name reflecting our primary focus- developing niche online properties based upon the common geographical names of countries.

Government's Challenges Defeated

Beginning in 2000 and continuting through 2002, Virtual Countries faced three separate legal challenges brought by foreign governments over our right to own GeoNames. In each of those proceedings, we prevailed and affirmed a private right of ownership over a domain name based upon a country or geographical name. Copies of those decisions as well as academic commentary about those proceeding can be found in our Reading Room.

The Dust Settles

Early 2005 brought a reorganization when Virtual Countries changed its organizational structure and was renamed, NewMedia Holdings -the holding company which holds ownership over the domain assets. Concurrent with the reorganization, NMHCO assigned day-to-day management and development of its domain properties to a web consultancy company.