Application window for new TLDs could be pushed back to August.
ICANN’s board set back the process for new top level domain names last week by agreeing to meet with the Governmental Advisory Committee in February to hash out their differences. How long will the delay be?
Kevin Murphy discovered some recently disclosed ICANN staff documents that were used to estimate the previous application starting period of May 2011.
Based on the assumptions in the staff documents, it looks like the earliest date for applications will now be August.
Part of the plan for new top level domain names is a four month communications plan. That communication plan must include information on when applications for new TLDs will be accepted. This, according to ICANN staff, means the applicant guidebook must be approved prior to launching the communications plan:
As stated in earlier papers, the communications campaign should not be launched until the Guidebook is approved. The public question to be answered at the outset of any campaign will be: “What is the date?†Since we cannot answer this with certainty until the Guidebook is approved as final, the communications campaign should not be launched until the Board approval is made.
In other words, you need to add at least four months after the guidebook is approved before starting the application window. It’s possible that ICANN and GAC could settle on items at its February meeting and then the board could quickly approve the guidebook. But given some of the radical changes in the last guidebook, don’t be surprised to see another comment period somewhere in the process.
In other words, more delays.
David J Castello says
ICANN has to tread lightly now because they are practically in an untenable situation. Can you imagine what it will be like to defend themselves in court if just one of the predicted trademark abuse scenarios comes to pass?
Andrew Allemann says
@ David – that’s why they’re reserving about a third of all applicant fees for legal purpose. That could easily be a $30M fund by the end of next year.
jp says
There is really no telling when the first new tld will be live, let alone when the the application process will commence. I’ve never seen a horse with such a will to leave no matter how much they beat it.
enoss says
I think the accuracy of this prediction depends upon what will truly be considered “open” and what actually happens in the GAC/board retreat.
there are a number of areas that could be not completed as well as remedies for areas that are not yet closed that would allow the communication plan to proceed.
one can always hope! 🙂
Andrew Allemann says
@ enoss – true, I suppose the staff documents say a launch date is required in order to do the communication period. A launch date could be selected even if there are a few outstanding issues to be completed.
Yet something tells me that setting a launch date prior to resolving outstanding issues would require a comment period of its own to determine 🙂