ICANN announces complete overhaul of domain names system
ICANN announces complete overhaul of domain names system
ICANN, which administers the global market for generic Top Level Domains - or gTLDs - such as .com, confirmed this week that the system will be completely overhauled next year.
Currently there are only 22 gTLDs in total, and only four in widespread use (.com, .info, .net and .org). Under the new rules, organisations will be able to use internet addresses ending in any word. Non-latin characters such as Arabic and Chinese will also be allowed.
According to ICANN’s chairman, Peter Thrush, the new system is intended to promote creativity and innovation by lifting restrictions which have existed for decades. The announcement will certainly appeal to companies which have been locked out of a .com name and now have the chance to enhance their internet branding. But it will be unwelcome for many other brand owners who will have to consider the impact on their trademarks and other intellectual property, as well as their domain name portfolios.
Industry analysts are predicting a flood of new domains next year, with ICANN taking applications from 12 January 2012. The bad news is that the starting price for a new gTLD suffix will be $185,000 and the application form is 360 pages long (yes, you did read that right).
Critics are already calling the new system a classic example of ‘a solution without a problem’ and some have even accused ICANN of running what amounts to a protection racket on behalf of domain name registrars and registries who will profit from the expansion of internet addresses.
There is also likely to be an impact for companies which have to defend their trademarks online. Mei-Lan Stark, chief intellectual property lawyer for News Corp’s Fox Entertainment Group, told the US congress in testimony last month that the changes could cost Fox $12m. To protect its brands, she said, Fox could be forced to register 300-400 different names in each of the 500+ new generic top-level domains that could be created.
Companies which don’t apply for a new domain could put their trademarks at risk from cybersquatters - organisations which register, traffic or use domain names to profit from the trademark owner’s goodwill. ICANN has procedures to deal with domain name disputes but these are often more costly than registering a domain name in the first place.
It’s undoubtedly true that the expansion of the domain name system will be a costly headache for many brand owners. But the need to expand the list of gTLDs has become increasingly pressing as the use of languages other than english online has grown, and the shift towards IPv6, a new numbering system for internet addresses, has radically expanded the number of devices with direct access to the internet.
ICANN’s decision follows years of discussion and debate and the proposals have been through at least seven revisions. ICANN insists that every effort has been made to address the interests of all parties concerned, and to maintain the security, stability and resilience of the internet.
ICANN Announces Biggest Shake Up Of Domain Names For 25 Years
21/06/2011
.anything
The restrictions on .com and other top level domain names will be scrapped from next year
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