The Global Village is Set to Expand

On 26 June 2008, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), an international, non profit, private-public partnership responsible for the administration of the internet, accepted a recommendation to expand the current generic Top Level Domain (TLD) names.

Currently, there are limited numbers of TLDs available wherein businesses or individuals can register domain names. The most common current TLDs include .com, .net, .org etc. Since the original seven domain “dots” were established, ICANN has expanded the number of TLDs rarely and only by a handful each time.

With such limited TLDs available, and cybersquatters holding a number of useful and desired domain names, individuals and businesses are running out of viable options to register user friendly domain names.

The effect of ICANN’s decision to expand is that the possibility now exists to register a domain name with a specific customised TLD. Probable applications would be to register the name of your business under your city’s TLD. For example legalservices.pretoria or trademarks.adams

Such registrations may also be of particular interest to proprietors of trade marks, as proprietors may apply for their trade marks to be registered as TLDs. In doing so, proprietors will be able to market their trade mark by using the trade mark as a TLD. Such registration should make the marketing of the web address simple and easy to remember.

At present, ICANN has not decided on the procedure to be followed for new applications or on the cost of such applications. However, a decision should be made within the next couple of months as ICANN intends receiving the first applications in the second quarter of 2009.

What is certain is that, just as Christopher Columbus’ 1492 voyage opened up an exciting new world, the 2009 expansion will discover a new world on the internet.

Dale Verster
Candidate Attorney
dale-v@adamsadams.co.za

Steven Yeates
Partner
steven@adamsadams.co.za

July 2008