Generic Top-Level Domains: New System coming

The generic top-level domain name (gTLD) system is the subject of a report recently released by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The report advocates major changes to the 370 approx. existing TLDs.

A TLD is the suffix that appears at the end of the domain name, for example com, .org, .biz, .edu and .asia or .com, .au, .uk; which is either a type or country descriptor. The new gTLD program proposed by ICANN would permit applicants to register four kinds of names as gTLDs:

• generic word TLDs (eg .web, .home)

• corporate TLDs (eg .apple, .sony) 

• community TLDs (eg .redcross, .amnesty)

• geographic TLDs (eg .sydney, . melbourne)

The proposed changes are quite far reaching and as a recent article by Middletons posted to Mondaq indicates like to be complex covering areas like:

• processes for applying for a domain name

• domain name monitoring and trademarks

• suspension etc for capricious on non valid registrations

What are your views on these changes?

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