Icann chief made to defend new gTLDs at London debate

Rod Beckstrom admitted fees will be too steep for smaller web site operators

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.