New gTLDs

The Internet is changing. ICANN, the not-for-profit corporation responsible for managing the stability and security of the Internet’s domain name addressing system, is to liberalise global level domains.

generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) will be available to any organisation that can meet stringent application and evaluation criteria. Three types of applicant are expected:

With over 2000 applications submitted in the first application round and a large proportion of these likely to go live over the next few years it is clear that there has been significant interest in new gTLDs, so why have these organisations applied?

Benefits

  • Brand – visibility for your brand at the highest level of the Internet – directly within web browsers and at the top of the search engines, a sign of authenticity
  • Security – control who is in your registry – lock out fraudsters such as phishing and malware scams – building trust in your online presence as a safe and secure domain
  • Stability – operate your domain registry in a jurisdiction of your choice with a technical infrastructure you know to be resilient
  • First mover advantage – the first round of applications opened in January 2012, with a second round not likely to open until 2014 or 2015, so including the time for evaluation and transition to delegation, successful first round applicants will have an estimated three year lead over competitors who decide to apply in the second round of applications. It is not possible to buy a gTLD registry in the same way that domains can be purchased in the Aftermarket, so when a keyword is gone, its gone.

Challenges

  • gTLD technical registry operations are beyond the competency of most companies
  • Responsibility for maintaining a safe, secure registry connected to the world root of the Internet
  • A complex gTLD application process with stringent financial, technical and operational requirements for assessment by independent evaluators
  • The character string you select for your domain may be open to objections from third parties, or in contention with rival applicants, during the application process. The cost of defending your chosen term, or bidding for a popular generic term, could be very expensive

Valideus has the business experience and technical partnerships to help you create a successful application and to operate a state-of-art registry that is secure and stable.