Shares of the company are up  7%+ today on the news

Here is the press release:

“The Directors of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited (AIM:TLDH.L), the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating new generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), are delighted to announce that the Company has today conditionally placed 109,468,353 new ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”) at a placing price of 8.25p per Ordinary Share (the “Placing Price”) with institutional and other investors to raise £9,031,139 before expenses (equivalent to approximately US$14.2 million at current exchange rates) subject to admission (the “Placing”).”

“The Company intends to use the Placing proceeds to provide additional working capital and in particular, to fund the application slots and subsequent fees for new gTLDs on behalf of itself and clients of Minds + Machines. ”

“The Company expects to submit multiple batches for application slots during the application window having already submitted for its first twenty application slots. In January, TLDH announced that Minds+Machines will also be providing the back-end registry services for the proposed new .BAYERN domain.”

Antony Van Couvering, CEO of TLDH, commented:
“We are delighted that both existing and new investors have responded so positively to our plan.  With a new cash balance of approximately US$25 million, no debt, and a public stock, we believe that TLDH is ideally positioned to participate in the new gTLD opportunity.”

Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of TLDH, added:
”TLDH management believes that the increased capital will allow it to increase significantly the number of applications it is able to make, allowing it to develop a wider, more diversified portfolio of names in multiple languages and scripts.”

The new Ordinary Shares being issued pursuant to the Placing will, on issue, rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue and application will be made for the new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Trading in the new Ordinary Shares on AIM is expected to commence on or around 17 February 2012.”…

In its new updated timeline ICANN under the date of  November 30, 2012 says:

“”In the ideal case, an application that has encountered no problems has passed evaluation by this date.

“The applied-for string can begin a transition that will result in being delegated into the root zone, and eventually the string will be live and reachable on the Internet as a TLD. ”

“However, some applications will be subject to special processes depending on the circumstances. For example, if more than one party has applied to operate the same TLD (a circumstance referred to as string contention), attempts to resolve the contention begin.”

“As you can see, the New gTLD Program forecasts a busy 2012.”

“Some new gTLDs will clear the process late in the year, and be ready for delegation in early 2013.”

“Other new gTLDs will have a longer path.”

You can read the ICANN announcement with the new gTLD time frame here

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“”Public comment is requested as to why there may be a perceived need for defensive new gTLD applications and steps that could be considered to help alleviate this concern.”"

The comment period closes  on February 27th.

In announcing the opening of the comment period ICANN said:

“”The New gTLD Program was designed to increase competition and choice by introducing new gTLDs into the Internet’s addressing system. The Application Submission period for gTLD applications opened on 12 January 2012 and will close on 12 April 2012.

“”During the development of the New gTLD Program, some trademark holders indicated that they were concerned about the perceived need for defensive applications for top-level names, i.e., names applied for as registries in the new gTLD program.”"

“”This concern prompted discussion and consideration of several mechanisms during the development of the policy for the introduction of new gTLDs. Community discussions during the implementation of the program yielded a suite of additional trademark protections for new gTLDs. These are the rights protection mechanisms that were developed over a period of years by a set of intellectual property experts convened by ICANN and later enhanced by governments that participate through ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee.”"

“”"Despite the adoption of these enhanced protections, some stakeholders recently indicated that they are concerned about the perceived need for defensive applications at the top level and encouraged ICANN to ensure that the program was launched in a manner that protects intellectual property rights.”"

“”This announcement briefly reviews the existing protections against infringement of rights at the top level.”"

“”Public comment is requested as to why there may be a perceived need for defensive new gTLD applications and steps that could be considered to help alleviate this concern.”"

Top-Level Protection: The Objection and Dispute Resolution Process

“”The New gTLD Program implements consensus policy advice that new gTLDs must not infringe the existing legal rights of others. Based on input received during public consultations and extensive research, a formal objection and dispute resolution process was developed for the protection of certain legal rights. This process allows a party to challenge a gTLD application on the grounds that it infringes on the party’s established legal rights (e.g., trademark rights). The program has established standing requirements and other criteria that must be met in order to prevail in a Legal Rights Objection and has designated the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as the dispute resolution service provider.”"

“”In addition to the objection process, there is also a formal process for governments, through ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee, to provide advice to the ICANN Board in relation to the approval of an application.…

One of  the TLD the legislature is requiring the state to apply for .Hi isn’t even available to be applied for under the Guidebook  so if they make application for it, they will basically be throwing their $185K  away.

Here is the bill in part:

Jeff Neuman of NeuStart Tweeted today:

“Check your applications in TAS. Reports of missing applications- Our application 4 .Neustar is 1 of them”

“”TAS also lost our “unique” ID which we got upon paying initial 5k. We need ID to pay remainder, fill out app & see all apps.”"

Ken Hanson of Neustar also Twitted today:

“Check your applications in TAS this morning. Reports of missing application”

On Tuesday we were on a blogger call with Rod Beckstrom the CEO of ICANN who told the bloggers that everything was “running smoothly” on the new gTLD process.

Looks like today there maybe an issue which apps getting lost during the submission process.

We will keep checking Twitter for other reports of problems and will update you as the day goes on.

UPDATE

ICANN has now tweeted:

“A display issue occurred in TAS, it has been corrected. All data is now visible & no information was lost”

 …

“For us, No news is good news, things are running smoothly we have not encountered any major technical or service issues.”

Beyond that Mr. Beckstrom was unwilling to give any updated numbers in terms of the number of applications submitted or the number of companies that had paid the $5,000 for the spot to file and application.

ICANN has previously stated that 25 companies had paid the $5K fee.

Today Mr. Beckstrom wouldn’t disclose how many application fees of $180K (less the $5K fee for the spot online to file) have been received.

Another uncertainty in the process is the selection of the company(s) that will handle the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) and whether any company will be willing to undertake hearing those for the published goal of $300-$500 per, as we sit today, its not clear that anyone is beating down ICANN door to take this project on.

Beckstrom did indicate that they have received interest from qualified company(s) to operate the Trademark Clearing House and it sounds like ICANN is closer than to making a selection.  Also from the call its clear that there will not be a public comment period on ICANN’s selection of the provider to run the Trademark Clearing House.

Finally as far as publishing the list of applications received, although shooting for two weeks after the closing of the application period Mr. Beckstrom would not commit to the list being published on May 1, 2012.

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The implementation of the new top-level domains will make possible websites with addresses such as WWW.COMPANY.MOSCOW and for museums МУЗЕИ.МОСКВА.

From the PR:

“Russia, though cautious in their approach to IDNs in the new TLD program, trusts Sedari with one of their critical national assets – its capital city” said Sedari’s CEO Dr Liz Williams. “This is the first of Sedari’s city domain names to be signed and one of a number of Internationalised Domain Name applicants we are advising. FAITID is a great organization full of enthusiastic and experienced professionals who will offer Muscovites and others exciting opportunities for second-level names in Russia,” Williams continues.

The .MOSCOW and .МОСКВА project is backed by Moscow’s local government and won an impressive showing of support from over 17,000 Internet users in on-line and off-line polls.

“Implementation of any TLD is a complicated project with many issues to resolve” says Dmitry Burkov, FAITID Board Member, “That’s why we’ve chosen Sedari as our strategic international partner for .MOSCOW and .МОСКВА. Sedari management has the experience and industry knowledge on ICANN that makes us confident the company is familiar with all the procedures of the corporation, in particular related to new TLDs. Together with Sedari we’ll make the project for Moscow top-level domains successful giving Russian users more choice in the domain name space.”…

“This first tranche will include slots for client applications for geographic-based gTLDs and generic words.”

“The Company expects to submit multiple batches for application slots during the application window.”

So to be clear here what the company is saying is they are sending ICANN in $100K to purchase 20 slots (at $5K per) which will then allow them to submit 20 applications at $180K per.   I believe at TRAFFIC Peter Thrush said that Minds+Machines would be making application for  40-50 new gTLD strings at a cost of $10M just for the applications.

“Separately, the Directors are pleased to report that Minds + Machines has today been appointed as the registry services provider for DOT KIWI LIMITED, a New Zealand company that has publically stated it will apply for the “.kiwi” gTLD string.”

“A proportion of DOT KIWI’s domain revenue and profit will be donated to a trust established to help fund the reconstruction of the earthquake devastated city of Christchurch, New Zealand.”…

The TLD Application System (TAS), the online system for submission of new gTLD applications is now live.

Check out it out here.

Once you fill out that form, you just have to send in your $5K which will allow you to submit your application and the $180,000 balance that goes with.

Applications as of 7PM EST are now being accepted

The deadline to get your application in is April 12, 2012.

Don’t’ forget you have to have your online TAS registration complete and your $5K to reserve your online application spot in by March 28th 2012.

Here is all of the info from ICANN:

“”After more than seven years of planning, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has initiated a process that could trigger a dramatic expansion of the Internet.

Starting today, ICANN begins accepting applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs).  The world of .com, .gov, .org and 19 other gTLDs will soon be expanded to include all types of words in many different languages. For the first time generic TLDs can include words in non-Latin languages, such as Cyrillic, Chinese or Arabic.

Applicants will use the TLD Application System (TAS) to submit their application, in which they answer the 50 questions detailed in the Applicant Guidebook.  Links to register in TAS are provided on the ICANN New gTLD page.

An updated version of the Applicant Guidebook was posted with the opening of the application window. The updated version incorporates clarifications made through responses previously published by the gTLD customer service center. Main points of clarification are on topics such as batching, background screening, the applicant support program, Continued Operations Instrument, GAC advice processes, and the registry code of conduct. Additional information and answers to previously asked questions can be found in the Program’s Supplemental Notes. These materials are not intended to introduce new requirements or criteria. Links to both the Applicant Guidebook and the Supplemental Notes can be found at the ICANN New gTLD page.

Also available now are changes to the Applicant Support Program: limited financial assistance is offered to qualifying applicants. Through this program, applicants, especially from developing economies, have access to financial assistance in the form of an evaluation fee reduction and other in-kind or community pro bono services.…

The article of course is talking about the new gTLD’s and is just one of a hundred stories written about the new gTLD’s this week by non-domain publications.

Its certainly the most aggressive headline of any story on the new gTLD’s to date but again just one of many that are being written on the subject.

The Huffingtonpost.com story on the subject is entitled:

“”Domain Names: The End Of The Dot-Com Era?”"

Well at least that one had a question mark at the end.

Wired wrote a story today as well which you can read here.

AllthingsD.com story is here

If you want to see  stories on the domain industry coming from outside the domain industry, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter as we post lots more stuff over there than we can on TheDomains.com

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