On Jan. 12, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet’s primary governing body, will begin accepting applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLD). The gTLD program will expand permissible web address suffixes far beyond familiar extensions such as .com and .org, and will allow applications for control of virtually any domain. Any public or private organization may apply—for an initial application fee of $185,000. A top-level domain operator would operate as the registrar for addresses using that extension. Many corporations likely will apply for domains associated with their brands or industries, meaning that the future of the Internet may feature addresses ending in .apple or .cars.

Trademark Concerns

Opening generic top-level domains to applicants expands opportunities for cyber-squatting—bad-faith registration of a domain name confusingly similar to another party’s trademark. At congressional hearings in December, opponents of the gTLD program argued that a massive increase in available domain names will make protecting trademarks from cyber-squatting much more burdensome. They complained that organizations will have to monitor a good deal of new territory on the Internet for infringement, and may feel the need to purchase preemptively numerous domains to keep them out of the hands of cyber-squatters. Additionally, disputes may arise over who is entitled to administer a top-level domain when multiple parties attempt to lay claim.

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