New gTLD rules as application period opens
28 January 2012
Edward Conlon, London
On January 12 the first round of applications for new gTLDs opened, with last-minute concessions from Icann. But were they enough to placate governments and brand owners? Edward Conlon reports
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| Native Americans can get their money back |
As the first round of applications for new gTLDs opened, Icann made concessions to poor applicants and to governments in its handbooks. But it refused to clarify when a second round would start, bringing greater uncertainty.
The concession to governments' ability to block gTLDs came in Icann's ninth Applicant Guidebook, released on January 11. Various politicians have been pushing for greater powers in order to block gTLDs that violate national laws or are culturally sensitive.
The Guidebook makes a number of minor changes from September's edition, but one significant change is that it hands more power to Icann's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), particularly representatives from smaller countries. The GAC will no longer have to clarify how it achieves consensus before asking Icann to block gTLDs – which it can do during a seven-month objection period beginning in May. And it appears that only...
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