This morning's board meeting in Singapore didn't bring too many surprises. The board voted in favour of launching the new TLD program, though not all board members voted in favour. They've also put out a timeline for applications, which should make quite a few people happy. What is interesting is what the board members said both in favour of the decision and against … [Read more...] about ICANN Board Votes in Favour of New TLDs
gtlds
D-Day For New TLDs?
Later this morning, during the ICANN meeting in Singapore, ICANN's board will meet. This is not a "normal" board meeting, as it has only one item on the agenda: Consideration of New gTLD Program. That single line says so little and yet so much. For the last few years the new gTLD program has dominated ICANN meetings. This meeting could be the one … [Read more...] about D-Day For New TLDs?
New TLD Advocates Circulate Open Letter / Petition To ICANN Board
Next week's ICANN meeting in Singapore could herald the official launch of the new TLD process. ICANN's board might decide to give the entire thing a "green light". Of course it's not that simple. The GAC isn't exactly impressed with ICANN, the US definitely isn't and the IP lobby is still more than a little piqued .. If you think that signing on to the letter and the … [Read more...] about New TLD Advocates Circulate Open Letter / Petition To ICANN Board
ICANN Releases Latest Draft Applicant Guidebook
ICANN has released yet another "Draft Applicant Guidebook" in relation to the new TLD application process.However, this time round they're referring to it as the "Proposed Final New gTLD Applicant Guidebook"You can read the announcement here or go over and download it and submit comments here.You can expect this to be one of the "hot topics" at the upcoming ICANN public meeting … [Read more...] about ICANN Releases Latest Draft Applicant Guidebook
ICANN Board Gets Decisive. Vertical Integration Debate Killed Off
Earlier this morning ICANN made public the resolutions from the most recent board meeting of November 5th 2010. The meeting was not a "normal" meeting - it was deemed a "special meeting" and its sole topic was vertical integration and cross-ownership between registrars and registries. This topic, often simply referred to as VI, has been a subject of debate - often very heated - … [Read more...] about ICANN Board Gets Decisive. Vertical Integration Debate Killed Off
More Competition in New TLDs
GMO Registry, which is part of the GMO Internet group, has been pushing dotShop, but it now appears that at least one other company is interested in pitching for it too.. This isn't the only new TLD project with competition and if ICANN announces tangible timelines in Cartagena you can expect to see a lot more of this.. … [Read more...] about More Competition in New TLDs
.jobs Comment Period Attracts Negative Attention
Over the last couple of years several of the gTLD registry operators have requested contractual changes with ICANN. In many cases the change was small enough that it fit into what is called the Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP), which is the case of "new services" such as Verisign's Registry Lock. In other cases, however, the requested change is much bigger and … [Read more...] about .jobs Comment Period Attracts Negative Attention
Domain Transfers – Domain Hijacking – Make Your Voice Heard
ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO) has formed a working group to consider changes to the domain transfer process to enhance security and reduce hijacking. The working group consists of registrars, aftermarket players, domainers and other members of the ICANN Community. The group published its preliminary recommendations at the ICANN meeting in … [Read more...] about Domain Transfers – Domain Hijacking – Make Your Voice Heard
DAG4 Released
ICANN have published the 4th version of the DAG. The DAG - Draft Applicant Guidebook - is like the "bible" for anyone aspiring to run a new TLD. Unfortunately the new TLD launch cannot take place until the DAG has been finalised - a point that seems to be always just over the horizon. … [Read more...] about DAG4 Released
Vertical Integration – Post-Nairobi
The ICANN Board's statement on vertical integration at Nairobi has left pretty much everyone in an awkward position. Either it is: a masterful move by the board or an act of madness I'd hope it was the masterful move, as it essentially forces everyone to reach a consensus. Failure to do so will have a negative impact on both registrars and registries, as nobody can really … [Read more...] about Vertical Integration – Post-Nairobi