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Opportunities and Threats of new Top Level
Domain Launches
Bart LiebenDomainer Meeting, Paris19 June 2008
2© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
Agenda
• Our Experience in Top Level Domain Launches / Liberalisations
• Opportunities of new Top Level Domain Launches
• Threats of new Top Level Domain Launches
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
3© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
Our Experience
• Assisting registries in the past, present and future:
• Assisted in the drafting of various domain name registration, Sunrise, and DRP Policies
• Assisting clients in domain name registration strategies and dispute resolution proceedings
• Appointed by ICANN to draft the RFP for new gTLD applicants in the framework of ICANN’s New gTLD Program
4© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
TLD Launches: past experiences
• Launching a new TLD is a complex exercise
• Issues and risks from an operational, technical, strategic, marketing, legal, … point of view
• Complexity of the operation entails that there is no simple, “one fits all” solution
• Marrying different interests:
–registry
–domain name registrars
– “domainer” community
–holders of IP rights
–cybersquatters
– the public / community at large
5© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
New TLD Launches: opportunities
• Implementation of IDNs within existing TLDs, liberalisations
• New “generic” TLDs
– open gTLDs
– community-based gTLDs
– internationalised TLDs (IDNs after the “dot”)
• Everybody is in support of “stable registries”
• GNSO Recommendation not to allow TLD strings that are confusingly similar to existing TLDs, reserved names and other applied for gTLD strings in the context of the New gTLD Program
6© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
New TLD Launches: threats
• Will interests be repositioned or change following introduction of ICANN’s New gTLD Program?
–registries: from “quantity” to “quality”?
–domain name registrars: how to cope with internationalisation, possibly many new TLDs and the complexity they entail?
– “domainer” community: how to cope with changes in TLD landscape, policies, and strategies?
–holders of IP rights: shift from proactive to reactive approach?
–cybersquatters: changed legal framework and attitude may impose risks?
– the public / community at large: (increased) confusion when the TLD landscape will be broadened?
7© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
New TLD Launches: what to expect
• At the Registry level
–rise of new “Communities” claiming their own TLD
–regions/languages/cultures:
– .GAL (Galicia - http://www.puntogal.org),
– .SCO (Scotland - http://www.dotsco.org)
– .CYM (Wales - http://www.dotcym.org)
– .BZH (Brittany - http://www.pointbzh.com)
– .VLX (Flanders - http://www.puntvl.net/)
– .EUS (Bask - http://www.blogak.com/martinhalty/lortu-dezagun-eus)
–continents:
– .LAT (Latin America)
8© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
New TLD Launches: what to expect
• At the Registry level
–cities:
– .BERLIN (http://www.dotberlin.org)
– .PARIS (http://www.dotparis.net)
– .NYC (http://www.connectingnyc.org)
– …
–“trademark” TLDs
–come-back of prior initiatives?
– .WEB (http://www.webtld.com)
– .XXX
9© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
Recommendations
• Be informed of evolutions
–round 2003 gTLD launches (expected: .TEL)
–new ccTLDs (recently: .ME)
– liberalisations of existing TLDs (recently: .NL)
–private initiatives (expected: .CO.NL)
– introduction of IDNs in the advent of IDN TLDs
–ICANN’s New gTLD Round
• Reach out
10© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga)Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches
Contact Information
Bart Lieben
Laga
Berkenlaan 8a
1831 Diegem
Belgium
+32 (0)473 910 621
11Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launcheswww.laga.be