ICANN, the body that manages the internet's domain name system,
has launched a consultation over proposals to introduce three new
sponsored top level domains. The body is inviting comments on
whether and how it might move forward with the plan, in parallel
with an evaluation of the domains introduced over the past
year.
Sponsored top level domains (TLDs) are only open to defined
communities, unlike publicly available TLDs such as .com and .net.
For example, the recently launched .aero TLD is only open to those
connected with the aviation industry.
ICANN president Stuart Lynn said in a statement that experiences
with the already introduced sponsored TLDs indicate that they "can
be added smoothly and with little fanfare", because they "fill
easily demonstrable community needs."
He also claimed that sponsored TLDs raise fewer business
concerns, such as trade mark infringement, than unsponsored
TLDs.
He also rejected concerns that sponsored TLDs might go the way
of .org, originally formed for limited registrations, saying that
the sponsored registries are contractually bound to follow their
charters. He added, however, that there are still "significant
unanswered questions" regarding the technical and business
standards of the new sponsored TLD registries.
ICANN's invitation for comments is open to applicants for
sponsored TLDs that were unsuccessful in the past and also open to
new proposals and comments from any other interested parties.
Comments should be submitted by 10th December 2002.
Stuart Lynn's statement and personal assessment of the proposals
can be found at:
www.icann.org/committees/ntepptf/new-gtld-action-plan-18oct02.htm
