Hello
After much reflection, we’re announcing that We Are Open Co-op will close on May 1, 2026, marking the end of a decade of collaboration and cooperation.
You can read all about it in our blog post, in which we also share how we’re archiving our work and ways to stay in touch.
We’ll be closing down our co-op email accounts, so to stay in touch please use:
We’ve enjoyed meeting many of you over the years and hope to work with you again someday 
Warmly,
John (Laura and Doug say hi)
Hi John, Doug and Laura,
Sorry to hear that We Are Open is closing! I am glad that you have had lots to remember and reflect on over the last 10 years, that’s really amazing. Best wishes for what’s next to come.
Sorry to hear that - good luck with what comes next!
Your work will be missed. 
Just as an FYI, and a word of warning:
Please make sure that your domain names are fully paid up for 20 years, with a static webpage with the direct links to where your work can be found on the Internet Archive.
Add in a hosting package that uses a fixed amount of bandwidth-data-per-month, with a run-out-of-data-refer-to-the-IA page when the monthly data-cap is hit.
This will allow your website to remain partially functional, so people can find the links to your past work, but avoids any of the problematic bills caused by bots and scrapers hitting your website.
By paying for the domain name for years in advance, you will avoid some of the problems caused by scammers, scalpers, gambling websites, and, porn sites, trashing your reputation in future.
I’ve seen too many interesting websites get hit by this problem, so a couple of years after they shut down, their old domain name gets grabbed by speculators, who make it look like the original website has given their permission for the casino to post the links.
Usually you can get a good discount if you buy that far in advance.
This is probably the biggest advantage of a .coop domain – weareopen.coop can’t be registered by domain name squatters as .coop domains are not available to organisations or people outside the co-operative movement.
For other top level domains you are right, when they lapest you should expect that they will be taken over by squatters and probably used for malicious purposes.
TIL something new.
I didn’t know that the .coop domain worked like that.
Excellent!
John, I was thinking of you last week and our conversations about badges in relation to the question of community authentication of the global Co-op marque, sorry that didn’t go anywhere 
Good luck, please stay in touch and please keep up your Solidfund participation if you can - we’ll be communicating about exciting developments soon, by email.