Domain Name News

Generic Top Level Domain Application Wars Heat Up

September 26, 2012

Many of the 1,930 new gTLD applications received by ICANN are being strongly objected to.

It was never going to be a cakewalk for applicants with their sights set on securing the operation of new generic Top Level Domains - financially or otherwise.

Over 1,000 submissions have been posted on ICANN's comments section in relation to gTLD applications, which would see a flood of new domain extensions if all were approved.

A couple of objections stand out as they are repeated for each gTLD in question - including one posted two days ago concerning 333 gTLD applications made by just two parties. These applications represent a near $60 million investment just in application fees; with no guarantee of success of securing the extensions the parties have applied for. 

The comments were submitted by a party stating he is a representative of a law firm; one that consists of over 400 lawyers with offices in Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Wilmington.

The objection claims the parties should not survive the Background Screening standards of  the gTLD Applicant Guidebook, due to an alleged connection to cybersquatting and a subsequent cover-up.

Part of the ICANN application process includes a background screen with regard to "Criminal/Domain Abuse History of Principals".

Other objections to various gTLD's include:

• The use of the .mail gTLD with email as contemplated by an applicant poses a significant risk to consumers.
• A number of applicants allegedly in contempt of a patent infringement injunction and illegally calling millions of customers in connection with another activity.
• A company with connections to the online gaming industry wanting to secure a gambling related extension.

Some new gTLDs may have fully completed the evaluation process and be ready for delegation in early 2013 - and then it remains to be seen if consumers will embrace the new extensions, or if they stick with visiting sites or registering name using the tried, tested and trusted domains already available such as .com and .com.au.

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