Will we soon see top-level domains “.radio,” “.nyc” and “.lol”? We’ll know better soon.
Next Wednesday is the day ICANN will unveil applications for new registries of Generic Top-Level Domains. As RW has reported, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is adding competition to the top level of its naming system, most familiar for its widely used “.com,” “.edu” and so forth. At least two organizations (the EBU and BRS Media) hope for “.radio.”
Kathy Kleiman of law firm Fletcher Heald & Hildreth — who helped found ICANN — explains some of the ramifications in a helpful blog post:
“Over 2,000 applications have been filed by more than 1,200 applicants,” she wrote recently. “On June 13, ICANN will reveal to the world who applied and what gTLDs they asked for.
“But the new gTLDs won’t go on the Net quite yet,” she continued. “First, let the objections fly! ICANN, under the terms of its ‘New gTLD Applicant Guidebook,’ will accept objections from legal rights holders, such as trademark owners. Check back here for updated information as the time for objections approaches.” (One big change with the new system: the new gTLDs can be in non-English language scripts.)
The law firm added a footnote for clients explaining that Kleiman had helped to write and edit sections of ICANN’s guidebook.
“When ICANN opens the applications to objections, Kathy will lead a team here at Fletcher Heald to slice and dice the list in search of the bad (e.g., possible conflicts with client-owned trademarks), and the good (e.g., possible business and other opportunities based on client interests and locations),” it wrote. “But time will be short. If you want our help with either problems or opportunities in the new gTLD list, it’s best to let us know soon.”
Related
EBU Seeks to Acquire ‘.Radio’
BRS Media Applies for ‘Dot-Radio’
ICANN Approves Custom Domain Extensions (June 2011)
