Group must hurry to make determinations before new TLD application window closes.
ICANN has announced the seven members of a Technical Study Group that will look into connections between blockchain naming systems and DNS:
- Sebastien Ducos, Unstoppable Domains
- Nick Johnson, ENS Domains
- Brian Lonergan, Identity Digital
- Georgia Osborn, Security and Stability Advisory Committee
- Don Ruiz, Orange Domains LLC
- Swapneel Sheth, Verisign
- Suzanne Woolf, Public Interest Registry
Officially, the group is called the Technical Study Group on New gTLD Integrations with Alternative Naming Systems.
Unstoppable Domains and ENS Domains have issued alt-root top level domains based on blockchain technology. ENS operates Ethereum Name Service. Orange Domains operates .locker, an ICANN-issued TLD that integrates with the Bitcoin Name Service.
The group will have to quickly come to a determination on the risks of these integrations and what should be allowed: many top level domain name applications will be dependent on what ICANN ultimately decides. The deadline to apply for a top level domain is August 12.
Of course, without an IP disclosure/licensing policy, this process is ripe for abuse, as participants steer the recommendations toward their IP.
Missing Handshake, the one that matters
Agreed. Handshake needs to be involved.
With all due respect to the participants and their experience, it just feels like this “group” isn’t diverse/broad enough. Hopefully this isn’t a rush-assembly that results in a ton of missteps down the road. The domain space is already plagued with enough bias.
Interesting group
With that study group announced in June and applications just closed in August 12, was there really enough time to properly consider existing alternative namespaces and potential conflicts?
It’ll be interesting to see how Handshake is considered, given HNS didnt appear to be directly represented.
Erwin
#OwnTheDot