Other interesting points of view:
Microsoft, Time Warner, Others Weigh In On New TLDs
Here are some of the comments:
Microsoft: As a practical matter, Microsoft objects to the introduction of new ASCII gTLDs for several reasons. History suggests that the introduction of new ASCII gTLDs will not result in true competitionâ¦the introduction of potentially hundreds of new ASCII gTLDs is far more likely to threaten the security and stability of the Internet as a commercial platform than to ensure it.
Time Warner: ICANN needs to examine seriously for whose benefit the proposed new gTLD round is being launched. If it is truly for the benefit of the ânext billionâ Internet users around the globe, then the launch should focus on IDN TLDs to serve populations that have historically been excluded from full participation in the Internet in their native tongues. If after the launch of new IDN TLDs ICANN can demonstrate that there remains a strong need for additional gTLDs, only then should it consider the launch of such extensions.
US Chamber of Commerce: The new gTLD program will introduce significant threats to businesses and consumers without clear evidence of counterbalancing benefitsâ¦ICANN has provided little persuasive evidence that establishment of additional gTLDs will provide competition against .com addresses.
Internet Commerce Association: The new gTLD process must not be used to resurrect much less validate the concept of differential pricing by registries; any exceptions to this policy must only be for a carefully circumscribed group of âclosedâ registries subject to strict numerical registration limits.
Bank of America: We strongly believe that ICANN is proceeding too hastily to enable the unlimited expansion of new generic Top Level Domain namesâ¦We do not believe there is significant demand from businesses or consumers for additional gTLDs to host commercial sites. The dot com gTLD is the preeminent top level domain in the world. No other commercially-oriented domain comes close to dot com in popularity, whether measured by the number of registered domain names or by the amount of user traffic.
Transcript Cairo public forum, 6 November 2008
ICAAN's Cairo open public forum.
Many questions, internationally, and some of you may find this interesting:
>> PAUL STAHURA:
I am Paul Stahura, the founder of eNOM. And I have four brief points about new TLDs. Number one, many of you know me, and that
I've been waiting ten years to operate a TLD. So you know I will be an applicant. And I'm also a backend provider for more applications. Number two, we think the RFP is a strong and well-prepared document. It reflects more than 18 months of community input and discussion. It's 98% of the way there. Number three,
our applications will respect and protect I.P. rights. Number four, our biggest concern is that the application window slips past Q2, 2009. Subsequent to the Paris meeting, global business and community awareness and interest is very high. There are many backend providers like eNOM spreading the word. So we, the Internet community, have done a great job to get applicants back to the starting line. Our engines are running. Don't let us run out of gas before you start the race. Open the application window in Q2, 2009. Thank you.
Superb article here:
http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2008/dailyposts/12-16-08.htm
Major trademark holders and national advertisers are calling on ICANN to stop, or at least slow down, its plan to roll out an unlimited number of new global TLDs in 2009.
Broadcast & Cable magazine reported that the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), in a letter to ICANN CEO Dr. Paul Twomey, called the proposal premature and counterproductive. ANA represents 9,000 brands that spend $100 billion annually on advertsing and marketing.
