In an OpEd piece published by USA Today, the CEO of ICANN Rod Beckstrom says of the new gTLD program that “It will create space on the Internet that is more secure than what exists today.”
“Applicants will undergo criminal background checks, financial evaluations and challenging technical assessments. More than 300 pages of rules govern the application process.”
“Tough standards will be a major deterrent to cyber criminals looking to take advantage of consumers. Most of these schemers and scammers will not invest the money and time needed to clear the application hurdle, nor will the new domain names — with more protections — be attractive to them.”
“Once applicants meet these high standards, they’ll be required to adopt several new safeguards, among them a process to quickly take down domain names of those who engage in clearly malicious conduct, such as trademark infringement. There are new procedures to secure remedies against wrongdoers.”
“ICANN is not just expanding the domain space. We’re improving it. We’ve heard from hundreds of experts around the world — from law enforcement to leading global trademark authorities — and we’ve incorporated their recommendations.”
“The new registries will also make information about website owners more accessible in the “Whois” databases, and create a one-stop location where accredited parties, such as law enforcement investigators, can view registry data.”
“It is simplistic to argue that expanding the Internet domain space will expand the possibility of online malfeasance. That’s like arguing that building more homes increases the possibility of home burglaries. The argument ignores the fact that this new part of the Internet’s domain-name system will offer substantially improved security, strengthened enforcement and greater transparency.”
BrianWick says
Rod Beckstrom – “It will create space on the Internet that is more secure than what exists today.”
Sure its a lot of new manufactured beachfront property – of course its beachfront property with sludge on a sanitation reservoir – but if someone wants it – then someone has to sell it.
TopDomainDeal says
“We’ve heard from hundreds of experts around the world — from law enforcement to leading global trademark authorities — and we’ve incorporated their recommendations.”
Have thay heard from the customers and clearly there are so many unhappy costumers about this!
°°°° 100per100.info °°°° says
some new generic .TLD are useful while the brands’ .TLD will be a complication of the web
Domain Crusher says
Rod Beckstrom sold his soul to big biz, IMO.
He gave regular domain investors lip service and incorporated only what the big money (registrars and big brands) interests wanted, and of course, most importantly, what ICANN wanted without listening to any of the real experts’ input.
He did nothing that was RIGHT for the Internet ; In fact, he walks away from his job having left the Net damaged from his guidance. These new gTLDs will be his disgraceful legacy, as they got launched on his lookout.
TechnoDomains says
I’m concerned about this development…
Who thinks that this is the beginning of the end to the domain market?
Ron says
Techno .com will only become stronger with all this other garbage floating around, sure each tld has its superstar few domains it will create, but look at .biz, .us, and .info they are dropping like flies. I honestly thought .us would do much better, but end users do not want them, they would rather create a 3 letter .com, then have more of a generic 2 word .net, same rules will apply to new tlds, .xxx is looking to be a bust as well.
M. Menius says
@ Ron – Your comment that .biz/info/us are “dropping like flies” is factually incorrect. They are actually holding even.
TechnoDomains says
Ya, .info and .us are actually increasing.. .biz is pretty much standing still..
My biggest concern regarding the new gTld’s are that they will soon become so cheap to apply for that every mid- to large size company will have one.. I think that would be a threat.
Anon says
Criminal background checks.
Interesting.
Many moons ago, when I was 19 and in college, I beat up a drunk loudmouth pretty good and wound up with a ding on my record.
I wonder if this would preclude me from applying for a gTLD?
G says
I don’t think .com will become stronger, it will be weaker. These new rules bring in competition into the market place and .com’s will have to adapt their pricing. They will still be #1, but when there are alternatives out there – which are respectable in name, then they will lose custom.
I think it will be bad news for people who buy and sell domains. This works because, really, only the country codes and .com are respectable names. Cyber squatters will also end up wasting a lot of time and money as there won’t be just one big top level domain that everyone is forced into.
yes says
nope.
they’re EXPANDING the internet domain space.
big difference.
there’s no money in IMPROVING the domain space (fixing its flaws, reducing confusion). all that would do would protect users, remove artificial scarcity and reduce the number of disputes.
they refused to add scores of new gtld’s in the past (2000 and 2003). and they never charged nonrefundable fees e.g. $185K just to apply. so what’s different now? not sure. but i do know they’ve seen domainers make a lot of money between 2003 and now. icann can’t directly sell names as domainers do, but they can sell registry entries in the ICANN root zone file. cha ching.
did you know that the applicant they approved to create a registry for .xxx also applied to start a registry for .kids?
yes, the internet will be a better place, thanks to ICANN.
Pete W says
The whole gtld concept is a huge .fail and is only going to help solidify .COM as the de facto standard.
In my opinion, Beckstrom will be remembered as the “Jimmy Carter” President of ICANN, a friendly and well-intentioned — but uneducated bufoon who will be remembered for making numerous foolish decisions.