The Domain Applications

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has two primary goals — to ensure the internet is stable and unified, and to promote & oversee growth and competition in the domain name system.

As at 2013, the number of registered domains in all categories is approaching 250 million, and annual growth is running at somewhere like 12%. Obviously, with a limited number of extensions, the world needs more domains.

Under ICANN's new TLD program, more than 1,000 new domain extensions will launch in the next few years. A comprehensive range of hundreds of new domain options will join the current limited list. This dramatic explosion of naming possibilities will change the internet forever, though nobody knows to what degree.

The new domains will significantly expand the naming spectrum. Given that the number of meaningful, intuitive domains is very finite, it has been increasingly difficult for individuals and companies to acquire domains for their websites. But under the new paradigm, millions of new domain names will be made available subject to various factors.

There are numerous obstacles to be overcome before the new domains become a reality. Some of these factors, for example the "sensitivity" of certain strings such as .kids, are highlighted on the Controversy page.

The Categories

Generic TLDs

Prior to 2013 and the dawn of the new generics, there were only 22 generic TLDs. That is about to change in a big way with the introduction of possibly more than 600 new options. An opportunity is emerging for fast thinking companies to conceive of and acquire a modern and premium domain name.

Until the rollout begins, most domains had most of their meaning on the left of the dot — that is, in a domain like SmartPhones.com for example, the essential meaning is "smart phones" while the "com" serves a different purpose more concerned with things like authority and navigation. Of course, other extensions like .info have some direct meaning on the right of the dot, domains like SmartPhones.info.

This looks set to change. Soon, countless domains will appear in which half the meaning has jumped to the right of the dot. To continue with the phones example, you will soon see domains like Smart.phone.

Everyone loves short, meaningful and memorable domains, so these new domains are likely to be reasonably successful and popular in many niches. Continuing with the "phone" example, lots of new domains like My.phone, Mobile.phone, Buy.phone, Malibu.phone, Warehouse.phone, Cell.phone and Discount.phone will materialize on the web.

Here are some examples of what will likely be some of the most popular new strings:

.movie .game .blog .cloud .baby .shop .llc .corp .video .web .home .app .sale .tech .gmbh .vip .book .style .inc .free .auto .flowers .search .health .restaurant .chat .mail

The major commercial and media categories are amply covered, and other broad, non-specific strings like .web offer countless naming options in all categories.

There is one huge controversy looming that involves the new generic top level domains — the possibility of closed registries. Certain companies want to own and operate entire domain strings on common dictionary words and exclude their competitors from the space. This is discussed in detail on the Controversy page, and the GAC is currently considering this critical issue.

More info about the GAC can be found on the ICANN website.

More info about the GAC objections to closed gTLDs and other problems can be seen in the Beijing Communiqué (PDF).

Brand TLDs

The dot brand applications are based on trademarks owned by many of the world's greatest corporations. The vast majority will be approved without objection and the brand domains will take their place serving both the corporations themselves and their customers who will have an improved and safer online experience.

For consumers, it will become much easier to find an authentic site for information and purchasing, and the word "trust" is a frequent expression found in many of the dot brand applications. Since it will be a closed registry, visiting any dot brand site such as DigitalCameras.canon will be guaranteed trustworthy since it will be technically impossible for fraudsters to implement a ".canon" domain name. Consumers will quickly learn to make this distinction.

Dot brand = authentic

There are however, a few cases in which serious objections have been made to dot brand applications. Notably, objections have been made to the applications for .amazon and .patagonia by the two respective companies who have trademarks on those terms. The grounds are that the words are geographical terms and the residents of those two South American regions have a fundamental prior human right to use of those words. (Amazon and Patagonia, the companies, wish to operate the two strings as exclusive, closed registries).

The objections come from the powerful Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) who take advice from various constituents and in turn advise ICANN on behalf of world governments. ICANN is obliged to take notice of GAC advice and some sort of agreement must be arrived at through negotiation. (What happens to that negotiation if it is inconclusive is beyond the scope of this website).

The applications for .amazon and .patagonia are likely to be rejected. That seems fair and reasonable — the two companies took the names of those pre-existing regions to leverage their pre-existing glamor and prestige, and are now seeking to exclude them from their own heritage. That would be an injustice.

More info about the GAC objections to .amazon and .patagonia can be seen in the Beijing Communiqué (PDF).

City TLDs

The city (and region) TLDs look set to become reality with relatively few hurdles. Since they will be administered and regulated by the city authorities themselves, who of course have the undisputed moral right to control their own domain strings, they should proceed without controversy.

It is expected that the city domains will function in a broadly similar way to the existing 280 country code domain strings.

TERMS, CONDITIONS, DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the express written permission of the copyright holder. The right of David Tyrer to be identified as the author of this work is asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The Domain Name Explosion site (www.domainnameexplosion.com) shall not be re-transmitted, repurposed, printed, lent or otherwise circulated in any printed or electronic form without the written permission of the copyright holder, and shall not under any circumstances have these conditions waived for any recipient. The artistic integrity of the work contained herein may not be altered or repurposed in any way, shape or form without the express written permission of the copyright holder. This site contains links to other sites outside our control or ownership. No responsibility is taken for any action or advice you may take from these sites or from any of the information presented by these pages. Domain Name Explosion bears no relationship with some third party advertisers displayed on this site. Display of those advertisements does not constitute endorsement, recommendation or association with them. Any references to any trademarks or service marks are not our responsibility and not under our control. Information on this site is presented on an "as is" basis in good faith only and as such Click as a Flash makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any of the material provided. We cannot be held liable for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in the material presented on this site or its links, nor for the consequences of acting on any information that may be presented, which may have changed or be out of date. We cannot be held liable for any financial or any other damages that may occur from accessing, relying upon or using any hypotheses, opinions, investment advice, commercial advice, ideas or concepts presented here. No information presented here should be construed as legal advice. Content of this site is well-intended opinion and hypothetical speculation only and should not be construed as legal or expert advice. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy of this site and any information used is at your sole risk. No liability whatsoever is accepted with the exception of any that may be required under Australian law. Any brand names mentioned on this site are trademarks or registered marks of their respective owners. Any use of these marks on these pages is purely speculative and hypothetical and any discussion of those marks and/or companies is purely opinion expressed in the public interest. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Copyright in some images resides with istockphoto® and these photos are used under licence. All data, images, text, videos and audio are presented for viewing purposes only. No part of the data, images, text, photos, art, audio, logos, movies or trademarks or any other content may be repurposed, copied, saved, resold or reproduced in any way without written permission. Click as a Flash's registered Australian Business Number is ABN 62 188 088 529. © David Tyrer 2013 All Rights Reserved.