Question: What criterior should apply for the release of new generic top level domains ?

Nominee Replies

Winfried Schueller - posted on 2000-09-26 09:23:27 The application rules for new TLDs are posted on the ICANN website. Unfortunately the board was not able to achieve a consensus on certain criterions, so the decision which new TLDs will be introduced was postponed till end of this year. I personnaly support the approach of introducing up to 10 new TLDs. Some of them chartered, some of them unchartered depending on their useage. The criteriors should be a strong support for the new TLD within in the internet community and it has to be hosted by reliable providers. Andy Mueller-Maguhn - posted on 2000-09-24 03:15:25 ICANN should introduces rule to ensure a balance between commercial and non-commercial interests and to avoid a structure which is in the danger of beeing controlled cause of beeing to centrally or less redundant set up. Diversity is a chance, that even if shit happens in one area (TLD) that there is a chance to step around. In detail this is a complex and tricky job to do; please see also the answers to who should own the domain name registry for some of my ideas for the process. Jeanette Hofmann - posted on 2000-09-21 16:38:09 Diversity. To me it make no sense at all to merely duplicate existing TLDs like .com. If we added .biz and/or .firm, all domain name holders under .com would rush to register their precious names under the new TLD. (I know, this may happen anyway...) Diversity means chartered & non-chartered, open & closed TLDs that would allow for different sets of rules for domain name registration. Trademark law, for example, could be suspended under certain TLDs. Alf Hansen - posted on 2000-09-20 16:25:47 It is premature for me to say much about these criteria. The criteria for establishing new gTLDs has to be developed in a process based on consensus and negotiations, and may take some time. My general opinion is that ICANN should require a naming policy for a proposed new gTLD, but should leave the content of the policy to the manager of the new gTLD registry. In many ways one can say that ICANN is the root manager and should operate the root as any other manager of a TLD registry for 2nd level domains, except that ICANN is one level up in the domain hierarchy. ICANN must therefor develop a naming policy for the root. This policy will be split in at least two parts, a policy for ccTLDs, and a policy for gTLDs. The latter part will in priciple be the criteria you are asking for.