21 Sep 2011
The usefulness and value of new generic top level domains (gTLD's) such as ".apple" and ".sports" were called into question at a panel debate held today in Victoria London.
Icann CEO Rod Beckstrom was grilled by a panel comprising Lesley Cowley, CEO of .uk registry Nominet, Lorna Gradden, director of the Com Laude registry, and freelance journalist Kevin Murphy.
Beckstrom began by insisting there was a demand for the new gTLDs.
"Based on market feedback and forecasts, [the registries and web site owners] have a desire for new gTLD's," Beckstrom said, although he declined to give details.
Beckstrom did concede that the application process might be prohibitively expensive for individual web site owners, with some likely to be asked to pay as much as $500,000.
But Murphy argued that the process could end up costing companies a lot more than this.
He said that if two companies are interested in the same gTLD, then the result could be a bidding war.
He argued that once the gTLD was up for auction it could end up costing upwards of $20m.
Beckstrom explained that only bona-fide businesses or organisations with an interest in the domain area they were looking to secure would be provided with a domain name, and that there would be thorough checks to determine this.
These checks should prevent cyber squatters from hijacking a brand, Beckstrom said.
However, he added that there would be no restrictions on businesses or organisations selling on domain names.
Despite the costs, Gradden argued that gTLDs do provide benefits to businesses.
She said that the protection of intellectual property is vital, especially if the trademark is in demand.
Gradden said luxury brands would benefit from a new gTLD as the domain would be seen as a trusted entity.
Online applications for the new gTLD's will be accepted between 12 January and 12 April 2012.
Bearing in mind that ICANN won't allow applications from individuals or sole proprietorships, effectively ignoring the interests of the vast majority of Internet users worldwide. Add in non-refundable deposits of $185,000 per extension, $500,000 for "integration" plus potentially unlimited annual costs and expenses etc, and how many new TLDs will actually see the light of day? Is this a commercial venture or simply a loss making exercise in vanity?
ICANN’s main aim has always been to convince Internet users they're the only game in town and to try and herd everyone into a tiny part of an otherwise infinite universe....but that's like telling people that the only place they can shop anywhere on Earth is a “convenient” Safeway store in Toronto, Canada. Yes, the current ICANN Internet set-up may be “convenient” right now, but then some years ago sending a telegram was convenient and sending an email meant inventing the computer (and World Wide Web). So....before making any "investment", it’s worth considering whether instead of bringing organisations to the forefront, ICANN's new TLDs will actually isolate you. It’s also worth considering that the Internet is evolving with more fitting and less expensive options coming on-stream.
Increasingly ICANN finds itself under pressure to modify. The rules have changed and Alternatives are already available; for example as well as "Dotcoms", there are now free "Dashcoms" (at sites like Dashworlds.com, you can already create domains like "computing-com" or “happy-birthday" at zero cost). As ICANN realises that competition is finally at hand, the true value (or the true cost) of their TLD "opportunities" will become all too apparent. Still, look on the bright side, at least ICANN and their associates will have made money from your efforts.
Disclaimer: Author provides dashcom (not dotcom) domain names.
Posted by: Dashworlds 21 Sep 2011
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