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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jun/13/icann-criticised-commercial-landgrab-internet
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Icann criticised over 'commercial landgrab' of internet | Icann criticised over 'commercial landgrab' of internet |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 1,000 new internet "top level domains" – such as .app, .kids, .love, .pizza and also .amazon and .google – could come online beginning early next year, with the potential to radically change the face of the web. | More than 1,000 new internet "top level domains" – such as .app, .kids, .love, .pizza and also .amazon and .google – could come online beginning early next year, with the potential to radically change the face of the web. |
| But the move by Icann, the US-appointed company which decides what new domains can be added to the web, has been criticised by some as allowing a commercial landgrab of the internet. | But the move by Icann, the US-appointed company which decides what new domains can be added to the web, has been criticised by some as allowing a commercial landgrab of the internet. |
| Documents released by Icann on Wednesday show that Amazon and Google have made dozens of applications to control hundreds of domains – including .shop, .book, .love, and .map and .mba. | Documents released by Icann on Wednesday show that Amazon and Google have made dozens of applications to control hundreds of domains – including .shop, .book, .love, and .map and .mba. |
| The most applied-for domain is .app, which 13 organisations have staked a claim to own, including both Amazon and Google. Only one entity can own a top-level domain. | The most applied-for domain is .app, which 13 organisations have staked a claim to own, including both Amazon and Google. Only one entity can own a top-level domain. |
| The next is .home and .inc, with 11 applications, .art with 10, and then .book, .blog, .llc, and .shop with nine each. | The next is .home and .inc, with 11 applications, .art with 10, and then .book, .blog, .llc, and .shop with nine each. |
| Those put in charge of allotting such domains will have complete power over whether a company or individual can apply for a website or domain name within them – so that if Amazon was to control .book, it could deny a rival such as Waterstones the chance to create waterstones.book. | Those put in charge of allotting such domains will have complete power over whether a company or individual can apply for a website or domain name within them – so that if Amazon was to control .book, it could deny a rival such as Waterstones the chance to create waterstones.book. |
| The new top-level domains, or TLDs, will start to come online in the first quarter of 2013, said Rod Beckstrom, the chief executive of Icann, who unveiled the list of 1,930 applications for 1,700 different new TLDs at a press conference in London. | The new top-level domains, or TLDs, will start to come online in the first quarter of 2013, said Rod Beckstrom, the chief executive of Icann, who unveiled the list of 1,930 applications for 1,700 different new TLDs at a press conference in London. |
| "This is an historic day for the internet and the two billion people around the world who rely on it," Beckstrom said. | "This is an historic day for the internet and the two billion people around the world who rely on it," Beckstrom said. |
| "The internet is about to change forever. Through its history the internet has renewed itself through new ideas; we're on the cusp of new ideas and innovation which will give rise to new jobs and ways to link communities and share information." | "The internet is about to change forever. Through its history the internet has renewed itself through new ideas; we're on the cusp of new ideas and innovation which will give rise to new jobs and ways to link communities and share information." |
| Companies, individuals and communities were able to apply for the new TLDs, which cost $185,000 per registration. But the cost of registration and the complexity of filling out the 250-page forms appears to have dissuaded applications from Africa, which produced only 17 of the 1,930 applications. | Companies, individuals and communities were able to apply for the new TLDs, which cost $185,000 per registration. But the cost of registration and the complexity of filling out the 250-page forms appears to have dissuaded applications from Africa, which produced only 17 of the 1,930 applications. |
| By contrast, North America produced 911 applications – although Amazon's 76 applications have been made through its Luxembourg office, almost certainly for tax reasons. Google has made more than 100 applications, including .android, .baby, .blog and others. | By contrast, North America produced 911 applications – although Amazon's 76 applications have been made through its Luxembourg office, almost certainly for tax reasons. Google has made more than 100 applications, including .android, .baby, .blog and others. |
| Guardian Media Group, which publishes the Guardian and Observer newspapers and the guardian.co.uk website, has applied for five, though it faces a contest for the principal one, .guardian, which has also seen an application from the US-based Guardian Life Insurance company, which also owns the worldwide guardian.com domain. | Guardian Media Group, which publishes the Guardian and Observer newspapers and the guardian.co.uk website, has applied for five, though it faces a contest for the principal one, .guardian, which has also seen an application from the US-based Guardian Life Insurance company, which also owns the worldwide guardian.com domain. |
| Icann will have to resolve hundreds of such conflicts, which will see a combination of trademark disputes and arguments about which companies or organisations will be appropriate owners of TLDs. | Icann will have to resolve hundreds of such conflicts, which will see a combination of trademark disputes and arguments about which companies or organisations will be appropriate owners of TLDs. |
| It reckons that it will be able to process the applications in batches of about 500 each, taking between four-and-a-half and five months each. That means it will take about 18 months to process the entire set. | It reckons that it will be able to process the applications in batches of about 500 each, taking between four-and-a-half and five months each. That means it will take about 18 months to process the entire set. |
| The applications from Africa, however, are guaranteed to be in the first tranche considered, and so should go online first if they succeed in the selection process. | The applications from Africa, however, are guaranteed to be in the first tranche considered, and so should go online first if they succeed in the selection process. |
| Alexa Raad, chief executive of Architelos, which provides consultancy services to businesses looking to run domains, said: "It's like the difference between owning a flat in an apartment, and owning the whole apartment block. If you own the block, you can decide who gets in and out of it, you can decide on the behaviour in there. | Alexa Raad, chief executive of Architelos, which provides consultancy services to businesses looking to run domains, said: "It's like the difference between owning a flat in an apartment, and owning the whole apartment block. If you own the block, you can decide who gets in and out of it, you can decide on the behaviour in there. |
| "For Amazon, it could decide to reward its most loyal customers with a '.amazon' email, for example, and it will know that that email is never going to go away. People are focusing just on the names but it's not the name that's important, it's the business models that will lie behind them." | "For Amazon, it could decide to reward its most loyal customers with a '.amazon' email, for example, and it will know that that email is never going to go away. People are focusing just on the names but it's not the name that's important, it's the business models that will lie behind them." |
| Comments | Comments |
| 68 comments, displaying first | 68 comments, displaying first |
| 13 June 2012 4:44PM | 13 June 2012 4:44PM |
| I don't mind brands applying and using their registered trademarks like .android or .cocacola, but I don't like that they're being allowed to own generic dictionary words. No one company should have the right to own .blog, .book or.baby... those sorts of domain extensions should just be made publicly available .TLDs like .biz, .com and so on currently are. | I don't mind brands applying and using their registered trademarks like .android or .cocacola, but I don't like that they're being allowed to own generic dictionary words. No one company should have the right to own .blog, .book or.baby... those sorts of domain extensions should just be made publicly available .TLDs like .biz, .com and so on currently are. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 4:50PM | 13 June 2012 4:50PM |
| Does it really matter? The vast majority of users will still visit a web site via a search engine anyway, even for the most popular web sitae (for example, I'm a pretty net-savvy person but I still go to Amazon via Google, purely for the ease of typing "ama" into the Google search bar and letting it auto-complete). It won't make a blind bit of difference to me whether it's amazon.co.uk or amazon.amazon or amazon.uk.amazon (for example). | Does it really matter? The vast majority of users will still visit a web site via a search engine anyway, even for the most popular web sitae (for example, I'm a pretty net-savvy person but I still go to Amazon via Google, purely for the ease of typing "ama" into the Google search bar and letting it auto-complete). It won't make a blind bit of difference to me whether it's amazon.co.uk or amazon.amazon or amazon.uk.amazon (for example). |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 4:52PM | 13 June 2012 4:52PM |
| given that, apart from anything else, 'app' is an abbreviation of 'apple', then obviously Apple should get '.app'. | given that, apart from anything else, 'app' is an abbreviation of 'apple', then obviously Apple should get '.app'. |
| Then again ICAAN may be turn out to be the interweb equivalent of The Supremes appointing George Bush President. | Then again ICAAN may be turn out to be the interweb equivalent of The Supremes appointing George Bush President. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:00PM | 13 June 2012 5:00PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 13 June 2012 5:03PM | 13 June 2012 5:03PM |
| Kerching. | Kerching. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:04PM | 13 June 2012 5:04PM |
| Interesting that the Guardian Media Group is going for one. You didn't mention the bizarre way ICANN plans to choose the bold first 500: a digital shootout with digital archeryadding to costs as applicants have to pay digital archery services to compete. The whole process has been dogged by technical failings and dubious commercial cross-interests of the ICANN board, so can we look forward to protracted legal wrangles about these domain names? And what if they go bust or get hijacked - who is in charge then? | Interesting that the Guardian Media Group is going for one. You didn't mention the bizarre way ICANN plans to choose the bold first 500: a digital shootout with digital archeryadding to costs as applicants have to pay digital archery services to compete. The whole process has been dogged by technical failings and dubious commercial cross-interests of the ICANN board, so can we look forward to protracted legal wrangles about these domain names? And what if they go bust or get hijacked - who is in charge then? |
| (Sorry can't edit previous post, could a moderator just delete that as it is semi-duplicate?) | (Sorry can't edit previous post, could a moderator just delete that as it is semi-duplicate?) |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:04PM | 13 June 2012 5:04PM |
| The battle for generic TLD's will be an interesting one. For example Amazon is making a bid for .like. Can't say Facebook would approve of that with a thumbs up. | The battle for generic TLD's will be an interesting one. For example Amazon is making a bid for .like. Can't say Facebook would approve of that with a thumbs up. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:06PM | 13 June 2012 5:06PM |
| I think the term 'app' is from 'application'. It was however popularised by the Apple app store, and they even sued Amazon for using 'app store' but it wasn't upheld as its considered a generic term (I think). | I think the term 'app' is from 'application'. It was however popularised by the Apple app store, and they even sued Amazon for using 'app store' but it wasn't upheld as its considered a generic term (I think). |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:12PM | 13 June 2012 5:12PM |
| yes it may matter because google may re-arrange their search algorithm to show preference to those that use their TLDs which is unfair. Icann and the WWW is greedy for money and it's just a means to grab more and hoping all settles. Again Americans screwing things up | yes it may matter because google may re-arrange their search algorithm to show preference to those that use their TLDs which is unfair. Icann and the WWW is greedy for money and it's just a means to grab more and hoping all settles. Again Americans screwing things up |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:14PM | 13 June 2012 5:14PM |
| I applied for .com | I applied for .com |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:30PM | 13 June 2012 5:30PM |
| Actually Google have already said publiclythat these new extensions will NOT get search preference, so they do not get an SEO advantage that they could sell. | Actually Google have already said publiclythat these new extensions will NOT get search preference, so they do not get an SEO advantage that they could sell. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:30PM | 13 June 2012 5:30PM |
| hooda thunk ? | hooda thunk ? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:30PM | 13 June 2012 5:30PM |
| i wonder what joker aplied for "rickroll.com" | i wonder what joker aplied for "rickroll.com" |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:32PM | 13 June 2012 5:32PM |
| Isn't the biggest fear with the TLD regime is that 'net neutrality' is at a threat? | Isn't the biggest fear with the TLD regime is that 'net neutrality' is at a threat? |
| Nothing to stop service providers by simply providing basic access to TLDs only and then you pay through the nose for the increasingly marginalized .coms, .orgs and country domains? Or It could very well be that your only access to google, apple, amazon, (.books, .movies, .TV) in the future is through an add on service as the TLD holders bug out of the existing world wide web and mark all their TLD content as proprietary ? | Nothing to stop service providers by simply providing basic access to TLDs only and then you pay through the nose for the increasingly marginalized .coms, .orgs and country domains? Or It could very well be that your only access to google, apple, amazon, (.books, .movies, .TV) in the future is through an add on service as the TLD holders bug out of the existing world wide web and mark all their TLD content as proprietary ? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:49PM | 13 June 2012 5:49PM |
| So a single company ends up owning tesco.shop, Amazon.shop, 000a000.shop with the right to distribute as they see fit? | So a single company ends up owning tesco.shop, Amazon.shop, 000a000.shop with the right to distribute as they see fit? |
| It's akin to letting a single retailer own our highstreets. | It's akin to letting a single retailer own our highstreets. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 5:52PM | 13 June 2012 5:52PM |
| Actually Google have already said publiclythat these new extensions will NOT get search preference, so they do not get an SEO advantage that they could sell. | Actually Google have already said publiclythat these new extensions will NOT get search preference, so they do not get an SEO advantage that they could sell. |
That link didn't work for me. Perhaps you meant https://plus.google.com/109412257237874861202/posts/4VaWg4TMM5F | That link didn't work for me. Perhaps you meant https://plus.google.com/109412257237874861202/posts/4VaWg4TMM5F |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:07PM | 13 June 2012 6:07PM |
| An interesting point, and one I hadn't thought of. Though I've been thinking for a long time that domain names are the real estate of the future, and if you have a good one you should hang onto it. This is a game changer, they're selling off a whole new internet to those that can afford it, like they're selling the land from under everyone's feet. I could easily see a future where domains could only exist under the tlds. This is definitely an attempt to transfer control of the net to a few corporations. | An interesting point, and one I hadn't thought of. Though I've been thinking for a long time that domain names are the real estate of the future, and if you have a good one you should hang onto it. This is a game changer, they're selling off a whole new internet to those that can afford it, like they're selling the land from under everyone's feet. I could easily see a future where domains could only exist under the tlds. This is definitely an attempt to transfer control of the net to a few corporations. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:25PM | 13 June 2012 6:25PM |
| Once you bookmark a site you don't care what it is called but the spirit of the Internet means that you do not allow Organisations to own a TLD. | Once you bookmark a site you don't care what it is called but the spirit of the Internet means that you do not allow Organisations to own a TLD. |
| I actually have a .name which I use generally for mail as I don't have the front to believe that I should consider that, that name should only mine. | I actually have a .name which I use generally for mail as I don't have the front to believe that I should consider that, that name should only mine. |
| Nor would I consider the Amazon, Google or any others have right to control the Internet. | Nor would I consider the Amazon, Google or any others have right to control the Internet. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:26PM | 13 June 2012 6:26PM |
| It's crazy. | It's crazy. |
| The security implications of this through phishing and spoofing attacks on the average person are going to be horrendous. | The security implications of this through phishing and spoofing attacks on the average person are going to be horrendous. |
| I wonder if anyone put in for .virus or .malware :) | I wonder if anyone put in for .virus or .malware :) |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:26PM | 13 June 2012 6:26PM |
| I must apply for .porn - I bet nobody has thought of that. | I must apply for .porn - I bet nobody has thought of that. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:28PM | 13 June 2012 6:28PM |
| It's crazy. | It's crazy. |
| The security implications of this through phishing and spoofing attacks on the average person are going to be horrendous. | The security implications of this through phishing and spoofing attacks on the average person are going to be horrendous. |
| I wonder if anyone put in for .virus or .malware :) | I wonder if anyone put in for .virus or .malware :) |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 6:39PM | 13 June 2012 6:39PM |
| I really don't understand that in the UK and europe we allow companies & exceptionally rich individuals to use Luxembourg and Switzerland as tax havens when they aren't even members of the EU (?). Why don't we just tax any monies heading to banks/companies in those countries at 20%, they'd only be paying what their supposed to anyway and what are they gonna do in retaliation, what leave the EC.? | I really don't understand that in the UK and europe we allow companies & exceptionally rich individuals to use Luxembourg and Switzerland as tax havens when they aren't even members of the EU (?). Why don't we just tax any monies heading to banks/companies in those countries at 20%, they'd only be paying what their supposed to anyway and what are they gonna do in retaliation, what leave the EC.? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 7:26PM | 13 June 2012 7:26PM |
| Icann criticised over 'commercial landgrab' of internet | Icann criticised over 'commercial landgrab' of internet |
| Criticised by whom, exactly? The report fails to quote a single objector. | Criticised by whom, exactly? The report fails to quote a single objector. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 7:35PM | 13 June 2012 7:35PM |
| You can easily tell if it is a reputable internet shop because it will have a '.shop' at the end. | You can easily tell if it is a reputable internet shop because it will have a '.shop' at the end. |
| If you shop anywhere else, you will be buying counterfeit goods and supporting drugs and terrorists. | If you shop anywhere else, you will be buying counterfeit goods and supporting drugs and terrorists. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 7:39PM | 13 June 2012 7:39PM |
| As others have said,there should be a limit on companies owning generic "dictionary" names such as shop/book etc. Having said that there are already loads of names .com, .net org.info .name et al., plus oodles of country domains .de/us/.uk/ (please Britain get rid of the .co crummy prefix part ) However .com is and probably will be king for a long time to come. So many new domains and addresses could actually make .com seem more important as confusion takes over. Even now, a .com address gives a business more kudos. With another domain you can still make it; it's just means more work. Btw, by putting all your eggs in Google's basket in order to be found, you risk ending up like Humpty Dumpty. What happens if they change their business model in future and you find yourself on page 10 lost in space? | As others have said,there should be a limit on companies owning generic "dictionary" names such as shop/book etc. Having said that there are already loads of names .com, .net org.info .name et al., plus oodles of country domains .de/us/.uk/ (please Britain get rid of the .co crummy prefix part ) However .com is and probably will be king for a long time to come. So many new domains and addresses could actually make .com seem more important as confusion takes over. Even now, a .com address gives a business more kudos. With another domain you can still make it; it's just means more work. Btw, by putting all your eggs in Google's basket in order to be found, you risk ending up like Humpty Dumpty. What happens if they change their business model in future and you find yourself on page 10 lost in space? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 8:43PM | 13 June 2012 8:43PM |
| This sounds far more like a way for ICANN to make money and moreover to justify their own existence, than a measure to help the average internet user. | This sounds far more like a way for ICANN to make money and moreover to justify their own existence, than a measure to help the average internet user. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 9:12PM | 13 June 2012 9:12PM |
| Response to 000a000, 13 June 2012 5:49PM | Response to 000a000, 13 June 2012 5:49PM |
| You can easily tell if it is a reputable internet shop because it will have a '.shop' at the end. | You can easily tell if it is a reputable internet shop because it will have a '.shop' at the end. |
| If you shop anywhere else, you will be buying counterfeit goods and supporting drugs and terrorists. | If you shop anywhere else, you will be buying counterfeit goods and supporting drugs and terrorists. |
| Bugger ... I was about to register .turst for the US market. | Bugger ... I was about to register .turst for the US market. |
| Right after .nookular actually. | Right after .nookular actually. |
| Thwarted again -- mwAhaha etc | Thwarted again -- mwAhaha etc |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 9:13PM | 13 June 2012 9:13PM |
| Landgrab is a good way to put it. But ICANN is not so much allowing as it is enabling big companies, which already have lots of cash, to buy sections of the web and use them to make even more cash. | Landgrab is a good way to put it. But ICANN is not so much allowing as it is enabling big companies, which already have lots of cash, to buy sections of the web and use them to make even more cash. |
| For its part, ICANN is running a protection racket. I think there's a stark and interesting contrast between the views of those who have applied and those who haven't. Some companies, like Coca-Cola, have refused to be sucked into protecting their brands, while others, like the BBC, have decided it's essential to spend my money on it. | For its part, ICANN is running a protection racket. I think there's a stark and interesting contrast between the views of those who have applied and those who haven't. Some companies, like Coca-Cola, have refused to be sucked into protecting their brands, while others, like the BBC, have decided it's essential to spend my money on it. |
| ICANN should be asked some questions about its plans for the fees it's earning: perhaps better described as 'the vig'. (Will Clemensa be collecting it in a paper bag?) Its income has to be re-invested to support the organisation's defined role but what, specifically, will all the money be used for? | ICANN should be asked some questions about its plans for the fees it's earning: perhaps better described as 'the vig'. (Will Clemensa be collecting it in a paper bag?) Its income has to be re-invested to support the organisation's defined role but what, specifically, will all the money be used for? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 9:22PM | 13 June 2012 9:22PM |
| This has been running since the late nineties when the opening up of domain names was first proposed by Jon Postel. I fought through the domain name wars back then. However, they seem to have taken the most dumb approach possible 1. It costs $185,000 to apply 2. There is no enforcement of the registry/registrar split on generics. So it's designed for businesses who an afford to sink costs up front to do so and then recover by setting onerous prices/terms or holding names to ransom. However, there are already a bunch of very obscure names from an earlier liberalisation, none of which have really ever been heard of again (.coop? .aero? .biz?) apart, maybe, from .info | This has been running since the late nineties when the opening up of domain names was first proposed by Jon Postel. I fought through the domain name wars back then. However, they seem to have taken the most dumb approach possible 1. It costs $185,000 to apply 2. There is no enforcement of the registry/registrar split on generics. So it's designed for businesses who an afford to sink costs up front to do so and then recover by setting onerous prices/terms or holding names to ransom. However, there are already a bunch of very obscure names from an earlier liberalisation, none of which have really ever been heard of again (.coop? .aero? .biz?) apart, maybe, from .info |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 9:41PM | 13 June 2012 9:41PM |
| Luxembourg is a member of the EU. It is, however, also a tax haven it's true. | Luxembourg is a member of the EU. It is, however, also a tax haven it's true. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 9:46PM | 13 June 2012 9:46PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 13 June 2012 10:24PM | 13 June 2012 10:24PM |
| This is the great unwashed putting their noses where they're not wanted. | This is the great unwashed putting their noses where they're not wanted. |
| With such humongous fees attached to the registrations, were these domains not created to capitalise on big industry via the threat of single use extensions? | With such humongous fees attached to the registrations, were these domains not created to capitalise on big industry via the threat of single use extensions? |
| Still, we shouldn't be ungrateful. Remember when they released the .biz extension for the commoners business? The ZED makes you sound like you're down with the yoofz of today, yet you're a business, innit! | Still, we shouldn't be ungrateful. Remember when they released the .biz extension for the commoners business? The ZED makes you sound like you're down with the yoofz of today, yet you're a business, innit! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 10:26PM | 13 June 2012 10:26PM |
| I'd be interested to see the cost breakdown of that $185k. | I'd be interested to see the cost breakdown of that $185k. |
| $20 - administration fee $15 - printed certificate $184,965 - coke and whores | $20 - administration fee $15 - printed certificate $184,965 - coke and whores |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 10:34PM | 13 June 2012 10:34PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 13 June 2012 10:51PM | 13 June 2012 10:51PM |
| Since the Guardian newspaper predates the insurance company by 39 years, I'd give it to The Guardian without any hesitation. I'd venture a guess that more people check the news than look for life insurance on any given day. | Since the Guardian newspaper predates the insurance company by 39 years, I'd give it to The Guardian without any hesitation. I'd venture a guess that more people check the news than look for life insurance on any given day. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 10:58PM | 13 June 2012 10:58PM |
| I'm really hopeful of getting .fuckyoucorporatebitches | I'm really hopeful of getting .fuckyoucorporatebitches |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 11:00PM | 13 June 2012 11:00PM |
| Yeah wasn't sure what the crack was with them but I still have a funny feeling that Luxembourg probably gets a helluva lot more out of the EU than it has to give plus it highlights the fact that they shouldn't be able to offer nefarious banking/tax avoidance possibilities. | Yeah wasn't sure what the crack was with them but I still have a funny feeling that Luxembourg probably gets a helluva lot more out of the EU than it has to give plus it highlights the fact that they shouldn't be able to offer nefarious banking/tax avoidance possibilities. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 11:03PM | 13 June 2012 11:03PM |
| What we need is .sucks so we could have google.sucks, amazon.sucks, etc.sucks | What we need is .sucks so we could have google.sucks, amazon.sucks, etc.sucks |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 13 June 2012 11:43PM | 13 June 2012 11:43PM |
| I suppose its all to do with providing a better service for users and nothing to do with these companies making sure that they can extract even more money out of people. ICAnn should limit the number of domains any one person or company can own so that there can be more equal competition across the internet. A the moment its greed that is fueling these large companies who on the internet are fast becoming unstoppable and untouchable, money is the name of the game and with stupid governments making proposals like the UK have over storing our data and paying huge sums someone needs to clip their wings. | I suppose its all to do with providing a better service for users and nothing to do with these companies making sure that they can extract even more money out of people. ICAnn should limit the number of domains any one person or company can own so that there can be more equal competition across the internet. A the moment its greed that is fueling these large companies who on the internet are fast becoming unstoppable and untouchable, money is the name of the game and with stupid governments making proposals like the UK have over storing our data and paying huge sums someone needs to clip their wings. |
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| 13 June 2012 11:49PM | 13 June 2012 11:49PM |
| I agree, unfortunately the way I envisage the situation to workout is if a company is non-US they will lose out over a US company. Those US will look out for their own but I hope in this instance that I am proved wrong. | I agree, unfortunately the way I envisage the situation to workout is if a company is non-US they will lose out over a US company. Those US will look out for their own but I hope in this instance that I am proved wrong. |
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| 13 June 2012 11:53PM | 13 June 2012 11:53PM |
| I'm waiting for domains that include special characters. I want the ones that go ... and ..-. ..- -.-. -.- -.-- --- ..- | I'm waiting for domains that include special characters. I want the ones that go ... and ..-. ..- -.-. -.- -.-- --- ..- |
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| 14 June 2012 12:25AM | 14 June 2012 12:25AM |
| I think ICANN lost any claim on impartiality it may have had when it decided to allow domain names using character sets other than Roman, which meant a lot of people are completely unable to access web sites in China, India etc. | I think ICANN lost any claim on impartiality it may have had when it decided to allow domain names using character sets other than Roman, which meant a lot of people are completely unable to access web sites in China, India etc. |
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| 14 June 2012 12:34AM | 14 June 2012 12:34AM |
| Is there an Eastenders fan bidding war for .Cotton ? | Is there an Eastenders fan bidding war for .Cotton ? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 12:36AM | 14 June 2012 12:36AM |
| I see someone has applied for .sucks as a TLD. | I see someone has applied for .sucks as a TLD. |
| The machinations of secondary levels related to that should keep a whole generation of lawyers in business. | The machinations of secondary levels related to that should keep a whole generation of lawyers in business. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 12:50AM | 14 June 2012 12:50AM |
| It could be a mis-type of .lorn, .prn, .pron, .oprn, or .oorn - get those with a good reason and it could be an oyster card. ICANN has missed a serious opportunity to build some trust into the internet. For example, .bank could be thoroughly controlled and overseen. Contol of a TLD like that (with thorough control of the DNS servers) would wipe out a level of scaminess. | It could be a mis-type of .lorn, .prn, .pron, .oprn, or .oorn - get those with a good reason and it could be an oyster card. ICANN has missed a serious opportunity to build some trust into the internet. For example, .bank could be thoroughly controlled and overseen. Contol of a TLD like that (with thorough control of the DNS servers) would wipe out a level of scaminess. |
| There again there would be those that click on .bunk | There again there would be those that click on .bunk |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 12:57AM | 14 June 2012 12:57AM |
| If you happen to own a Trademark name, then why should you be limited in ownnership of domain names? | If you happen to own a Trademark name, then why should you be limited in ownnership of domain names? |
| I'll not include companies or entities that have a name that has a direct 'natural' equivalent in an accepted language - e.g. (in english) apple, shell, total, oyster. The list could be endless, and it seems that language is up for auction? | I'll not include companies or entities that have a name that has a direct 'natural' equivalent in an accepted language - e.g. (in english) apple, shell, total, oyster. The list could be endless, and it seems that language is up for auction? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 1:08AM | 14 June 2012 1:08AM |
| Apple should not be allowed to own .apple | Apple should not be allowed to own .apple |
| That TLD should be reserved, or even preserved as .chutney | That TLD should be reserved, or even preserved as .chutney |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 1:17AM | 14 June 2012 1:17AM |
| Well, I'm applying for . | Well, I'm applying for . |
| And .earth .solarsystem and .universe | And .earth .solarsystem and .universe |
| .scunthorpe has already been banned, but if I get .earth or higher I'm allowing it. | .scunthorpe has already been banned, but if I get .earth or higher I'm allowing it. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 2:07AM | 14 June 2012 2:07AM |
| .dotcom anyone? | .dotcom anyone? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 14 June 2012 3:16AM | 14 June 2012 3:16AM |
| Will someone please apply for .spam ! | Will someone please apply for .spam ! |
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| Comments on this page are now closed. | Comments on this page are now closed. |
| Google's window of opportunity for its Android tablet is closing fast | Google's window of opportunity for its Android tablet is closing fast |
| 16 Apr 2012 | 16 Apr 2012 |
| The approach of Windows 8 on tablets - now less than six months away - will put extra pressure on Google, as its own Android products struggle against Amazon's forked version and the iPad's dominance. By Charles Arthur | The approach of Windows 8 on tablets - now less than six months away - will put extra pressure on Google, as its own Android products struggle against Amazon's forked version and the iPad's dominance. By Charles Arthur |
| 20 Jul 2012 | 20 Jul 2012 |
| Apple steals a march on rivals with iTunes movies in UK | Apple steals a march on rivals with iTunes movies in UK |
| 9 Nov 2006 | |
| Google stands up to White House in row over privacy on web | |
| 12 Aug 2009 | 12 Aug 2009 |
| If Google and Amazon won't innovate, the rest of us must | If Google and Amazon won't innovate, the rest of us must |
| 5 Feb 2010 | 5 Feb 2010 |
| Breakfast briefing: Book wars erupt all over again | Breakfast briefing: Book wars erupt all over again |
| Amazon and Google eye voucher firm deals | |
| 2 Dec 2010 | |
| Google reported to be lining up $6bn takeover of Groupon, while Amazon is said to be ready to invest $150m in LivingSocial | |
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| Amazon and Google dominate applications for new top-level domains, including .app, .shop, .book, .love, .amazon and .google • Icann, top-level domains and their expansion | Amazon and Google dominate applications for new top-level domains, including .app, .shop, .book, .love, .amazon and .google • Icann, top-level domains and their expansion |
| More than 1,000 new internet "top level domains" – such as .app, .kids, .love, .pizza and also .amazon and .google – could come online beginning early next year, with the potential to radically change the face of the web. | More than 1,000 new internet "top level domains" – such as .app, .kids, .love, .pizza and also .amazon and .google – could come online beginning early next year, with the potential to radically change the face of the web. |
| But the move by Icann, the US-appointed company which decides what new domains can be added to the web, has been criticised by some as allowing a commercial landgrab of the internet. | But the move by Icann, the US-appointed company which decides what new domains can be added to the web, has been criticised by some as allowing a commercial landgrab of the internet. |
| Documents released by Icann on Wednesday show that Amazon and Google have made dozens of applications to control hundreds of domains – including .shop, .book, .love, and .map and .mba. | Documents released by Icann on Wednesday show that Amazon and Google have made dozens of applications to control hundreds of domains – including .shop, .book, .love, and .map and .mba. |
| The most applied-for domain is .app, which 13 organisations have staked a claim to own, including both Amazon and Google. Only one entity can own a top-level domain. | The most applied-for domain is .app, which 13 organisations have staked a claim to own, including both Amazon and Google. Only one entity can own a top-level domain. |
| The next is .home and .inc, with 11 applications, .art with 10, and then .book, .blog, .llc, and .shop with nine each. | The next is .home and .inc, with 11 applications, .art with 10, and then .book, .blog, .llc, and .shop with nine each. |
| Those put in charge of allotting such domains will have complete power over whether a company or individual can apply for a website or domain name within them – so that if Amazon was to control .book, it could deny a rival such as Waterstones the chance to create waterstones.book. | Those put in charge of allotting such domains will have complete power over whether a company or individual can apply for a website or domain name within them – so that if Amazon was to control .book, it could deny a rival such as Waterstones the chance to create waterstones.book. |
| The new top-level domains, or TLDs, will start to come online in the first quarter of 2013, said Rod Beckstrom, the chief executive of Icann, who unveiled the list of 1,930 applications for 1,700 different new TLDs at a press conference in London. | The new top-level domains, or TLDs, will start to come online in the first quarter of 2013, said Rod Beckstrom, the chief executive of Icann, who unveiled the list of 1,930 applications for 1,700 different new TLDs at a press conference in London. |
| "This is an historic day for the internet and the two billion people around the world who rely on it," Beckstrom said. | "This is an historic day for the internet and the two billion people around the world who rely on it," Beckstrom said. |
| "The internet is about to change forever. Through its history the internet has renewed itself through new ideas; we're on the cusp of new ideas and innovation which will give rise to new jobs and ways to link communities and share information." | "The internet is about to change forever. Through its history the internet has renewed itself through new ideas; we're on the cusp of new ideas and innovation which will give rise to new jobs and ways to link communities and share information." |
| Companies, individuals and communities were able to apply for the new TLDs, which cost $185,000 per registration. But the cost of registration and the complexity of filling out the 250-page forms appears to have dissuaded applications from Africa, which produced only 17 of the 1,930 applications. | Companies, individuals and communities were able to apply for the new TLDs, which cost $185,000 per registration. But the cost of registration and the complexity of filling out the 250-page forms appears to have dissuaded applications from Africa, which produced only 17 of the 1,930 applications. |
| By contrast, North America produced 911 applications – although Amazon's 76 applications have been made through its Luxembourg office, almost certainly for tax reasons. Google has made more than 100 applications, including .android, .baby, .blog and others. | By contrast, North America produced 911 applications – although Amazon's 76 applications have been made through its Luxembourg office, almost certainly for tax reasons. Google has made more than 100 applications, including .android, .baby, .blog and others. |
| Guardian Media Group, which publishes the Guardian and Observer newspapers and the guardian.co.uk website, has applied for five, though it faces a contest for the principal one, .guardian, which has also seen an application from the US-based Guardian Life Insurance company, which also owns the worldwide guardian.com domain. | Guardian Media Group, which publishes the Guardian and Observer newspapers and the guardian.co.uk website, has applied for five, though it faces a contest for the principal one, .guardian, which has also seen an application from the US-based Guardian Life Insurance company, which also owns the worldwide guardian.com domain. |
| Icann will have to resolve hundreds of such conflicts, which will see a combination of trademark disputes and arguments about which companies or organisations will be appropriate owners of TLDs. | Icann will have to resolve hundreds of such conflicts, which will see a combination of trademark disputes and arguments about which companies or organisations will be appropriate owners of TLDs. |
| It reckons that it will be able to process the applications in batches of about 500 each, taking between four-and-a-half and five months each. That means it will take about 18 months to process the entire set. | It reckons that it will be able to process the applications in batches of about 500 each, taking between four-and-a-half and five months each. That means it will take about 18 months to process the entire set. |
| The applications from Africa, however, are guaranteed to be in the first tranche considered, and so should go online first if they succeed in the selection process. | The applications from Africa, however, are guaranteed to be in the first tranche considered, and so should go online first if they succeed in the selection process. |
| Alexa Raad, chief executive of Architelos, which provides consultancy services to businesses looking to run domains, said: "It's like the difference between owning a flat in an apartment, and owning the whole apartment block. If you own the block, you can decide who gets in and out of it, you can decide on the behaviour in there. | Alexa Raad, chief executive of Architelos, which provides consultancy services to businesses looking to run domains, said: "It's like the difference between owning a flat in an apartment, and owning the whole apartment block. If you own the block, you can decide who gets in and out of it, you can decide on the behaviour in there. |
| "For Amazon, it could decide to reward its most loyal customers with a '.amazon' email, for example, and it will know that that email is never going to go away. People are focusing just on the names but it's not the name that's important, it's the business models that will lie behind them." | "For Amazon, it could decide to reward its most loyal customers with a '.amazon' email, for example, and it will know that that email is never going to go away. People are focusing just on the names but it's not the name that's important, it's the business models that will lie behind them." |