Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved the extension of generic top level domain names (gTLDs). Though other important issues have yet to be decided but at least the way for allotting new gTLDs has opened.How this decision of ICANN would change the Internet is yet to be seen but ICANN must be prepared for unforeseen challenges. Further, domain name disputes and other intellectual property rights (IPRs) disputes would arise in future with this expansion of gTLDs.
The same would still be governed by the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) of ICANN till some modified rules or procedure is established by ICANN.
Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012. The same should be made as per the procedure prescribed by ICANN’s Applicant Guidebook.
In future, ICANN’s Applicant Guidebook needs to consider and adopt many more crucial issues like upgradation of UDRP procedure, better and expeditious Dispute Resolution Mechanism, enhanced Cyber Security Initiatives for Domain Name and DNS, better National and International Cooperations with Governments, NGOs and Dispute Resolution Providers, considering interests of Developing Countries and NGOs, etc, suggests Praveen Dalal, managing partner of New Delhi based ICT and IP law Firm Perry4Law and CEO of the exclusive Techno Legal Online Dispute Resolution Centre of India (TLODRCI).
While additional gTLDs have been approved by ICANN yet it requires lots of efforts to successfully manage this ambitious expansion. ICANN would start spreading public awareness about it very soon. It would be beneficial for the applicants to seek help of good techno legal professionals in this regard.
