NEW gTLDs
Some organisations have planned to apply for multiple strings under the new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) programme, while some are focusing on just one. Online speculation as to how many applications there will be have ranged from hundreds to thousands. With the looming possibility of so many new gTLDs entering the existing domain name space, many companies are at a loss as to how to adjust their domain portfolios to accommodate this infl ux.
While the full list of applications to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is not yet available, many applicant groups have announced their intention to apply. A comprehensive list can be found online at
http://uniteddomains.com/newgtlds. T e path
www.worldipreview.com
to approval will be lengthy, but ICANN’s timeline shows that the earliest new gTLDs could be available in the fi rst quarter of 2013.
It is useful to think of the new domains as falling into the following fi ve categories: geographic, functional, interest, community and causes.
Geographic
As the name implies, this category includes new gTLDs based around a geographic region or location. Announced applications include .bayern (Bavaria), .nyc (New York City), .london (London), .paris (Paris), and .quebec (Quebec).
Functional Functional TLDs are a more innovative use of
domains, putting the site’s use right in the URL. Examples of functional TLDs include .shop (e-commerce or shopping sites), .bank (banking and fi nance sites), .secure (secure soſt ware sites), and .radio (online radio stations).
Interest
T is is a group of TLDs that appeal based on an activity or hobby. Some of the proposed interest TLDs are .bike (bicycles), .horse (equestrian interests), .wine (for oenophiles), and .sport (for fans of all sports).
Community
While the offi cial ICANN Applicant Guidebook uses ‘community’ to refer to any non-geographic TLD, this category refers to proposed TLDs that
Trademarks Brands and the Internet Volume 1, Issue 2 61
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