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ICANN-sells-domain-suffix-bids | January 17, 2012

ICANN accepting bids for new top level domains

Candice Schwager's photo
Houston Small Business Examiner

At one minute past midnight (UTC) on Thursday, 12 January, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) began accepting applications for new generic Top-Level Domains, marking one of the biggest changes in the Internet's evolution. The new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program will greatly expand the current number of 22 Top-Level Domains (i.e., .com, .gov, .net, etc.) to include almost any word or name. It also allows, for the first time, non-Latin language scripts. Bids will be accepted through April 12, 2012, ICANN reporting the new domain registrars soon thereafter, assuming trademark conflicts have been resolved.

Suffixes will be available for almost anything imaginable, but most speculate that only large Corporations, sports teams, and wealthy Entrepreneurs will participate.  News outlets have already speculated that suffixes such as .nyc, .sports, .sydney, .vegas, .canon, and .apple will be purchased.  Critics believe that .confusion,  .chaos, and .scams will be the inevitable result. 

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ICANN first envisioned large Hotels and Casinos in Las Vegas to rush to obtain the coveted .Vegas. Corporations such as Canon and Entrepreneurs have already expressed interest in obtaining their respective .identity. Companies expressing interest in purchasing unique domains anticipate enormous profit from others purchasing domains with their suffix.  Domain suffixes other than .com have been marginally successful, when compared to .com. Critics question whether their websites will be located as easily as those ending in .com.  Google Chrome could potentially eliminate this concern, assuming Chrome gets into Google's favor after its 60 day demotion. Large Corporations are virtually certain to not participate in the sale of memberships ending in their domain suffix. 
 
The fear of widespread  scams, defrauding consumers by misleading internet consumers into purchasing their "products" through e-commerce is almost certain to occur. Critics question whether sufficient protections can be implemented to avoid fraud. Nevertheless, such scam will be expensive due to the $185,000 bid and $5000 deposit, prior to act auctions that will be held. In response to concerns of self-dealing, Rod Bergstrom, CEO of ICANN stated that "clear separations" would be in place between the Board of Directors, Staff, and Web Community. Still, history demonstrates that into even the best laid plans, creeps a bit of corruption.
 
Given the uniform bidding fee, auctions are expected to begin as early as February, as this new initiative is not being offered on a "first come, first serve" basis. Applicants must pass criminal background checks and provide detailed plans concerning their use anticipated plans as registrar for managing their respective domain suffixes. ICANN will continue to monitor the suffix indefinitely.  Newly acquired domain suffixes are not anticipated to be operational for a few months due to the set up intricacies involved.  
 
An estimated 4.5 million URL's are purchased each month, requring businesses in many industries to establish mulitiple website, each with a "niche" focus, a relative boon for internet marketing companies in website developers. The internet marketing, search engine optimization ("SEO"), SEM, PPC, Website Design and Development field has grown exponentially.  Despite the cost, it seems predictable that those involved in the internet marketing industry will be among the first to bid on .internetmarketing, .seo, .sem, and .websitedesign, as well as a host of others. If you wish to participate, be cognizant of the April 12th deadline. ICANN's Board contributed $2,000,000 to the program to support its reduced fee bid program for developing countries and others who qualify. The bid is reduced to $47,000, which is substantial. Truth will tell whether this initiative prospers.
Internet Corporation for Registration of Names & Numbers
Internet Corporation for Registration of Names & Numbers
Credits: 
ICANN.org

Slideshow: ICANN Starts Bidding on New Top Level Domains

Bill Clinton served as keynote speaker for ICANN's March 2011 Corporate meeting in San Francisco, California. He is pictured with ICANN CEO, Rod Bergstrom

Slideshow: ICANN Starts Bidding on New Top Level Domains

Video: January 11, 2012 Press Conference of ICANN

ICANN CEO holds press conference to announce the release for bidding on new top level domains worldwide.

Video: January 11, 2012 Press Conference of ICANN

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Houston Small Business Examiner

Candice Schwager is a 14 year civil litigation attorney, sole proprietor of the Schwager Law Firm and of the social media and design company, When...

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