The domain name game is about to change in a big way. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’) has announced that next year it will allow unlimited new top level domains to anyone who can pay the $185,000 and get through the approval process. Right now there are 22 top level domains like .com, .net, .gov, etc. but within two years there could be thousands with the selection running as far as you can imagine. Maybe .news or .camera or .blogs (PC Mag has some good guesses at the most wanted TLDs) for example. Here’s how it will work: ICANN will accept applications (here’s the guidebook) for new TLDs between January 12 and April 12, 2012. Applicants must pay $5,000 upfront (of the $185,000 fee). After April 12th, ICANN will publish a list of all requested TLDs, at which time people can file objections.Is your mind already spinning at the possibilities and how many sites you would need to then acquire from various administrators to protect your name and online positioning? Could your trademark be applied for and how do you protect it, i.e. Coke as .coke? If you’re a small business would it be worth owning and marketing many domain names besides your .com?Anyone who is the online publishing space needs to pay careful attention in the coming year and we will continue to update you with the latest advice on how new TLDs from ICANN will impact your online subscription business.
