New Top Level Domains Still Two Years Away from Reality
Monday, October 5th, 2009
Latest ICANN guidance and remaining challenges means new TLDs are a long way away.
The introduction of new top level domain names, such as .green and .food, looks to be at least a couple years away from reality.
ICANN’s latest draft guidebook for entities wishing to apply for a new top level domain name states that the application process is likely to start in the “first half of 2010″. Previously, the goal was the first quarter of 2010, but even that was the result of multiple delays.
Assuming that ICANN meets this new deadline and opens up applications in May or June of 2010, there will still be a long delay before any applications are approved. ICANN expects the typical application lifecycle to last eight months, and more complex applications could take as many as 19 months.
Top level domains that could be considered complex vary widely. Any existing top level domain or applicant can file an objection to a new TLD, which could delay the process. Based on existing guidelines, the applicant for .green could object to .eco on the basis of it it having “visual, aural, or similarity of meaning”. You can expect some applicants to play hardball, such as .Sport Policy Advisory Council to object to applications for .basketball or .run.
Once the application lifecycle is complete, applicants will have to complete preparations for launch, including getting registrars on board, and getting software companies to add compatibility for the new TLD to their software. If this is done in conjunction with the application process, this could conceivably mean a new top level domain hits the web in mid 2011
But that seems like a stretch. There’s still a lot of work to be done on new top level domains. And if the process so far is any indication, new top level domain names are a long way from coming to a browser near you.
Further Reading:
New Top Level Domains Still Two Years Away from Reality – http://tinyurl.com/ye8mmxd
When you factor in other looming speed bumps the introduction of new gTLDs may be even further delayed. These include:
- The expanded power just provided to the GAC in the new AOC between the U.S. and ICANN, and the GAC’s recent call for additional studies before applications are accepted as well as strong questioning of the whole concept of unlimited numbers of new gTLDs;
- The just released ICANN-funded root scaling study that suggests that trying to introduce DNSSEC, IDNs, new gTLDs, and IPv6 simultaneously risks crashing the DNS, and that recommends that DNSSEC receive first priority.
More details on all these subjects are provided in recent posts at http://www.internetcommerce.org .
Given this probable additional delay there is even less reason to rush through unbalanced trademark “solutions” and other DAG provisions based on the supposition hat allowing extended discussion and debate will somehow delay the opening of the new gTLD application window, as that is at least seven months away, and more likely nine months to a year, or longer.
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