The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) publicly revealed the generic top level domains (“gTLD”) that have been applied for in the first round of applications for this new program which is the culmination of six years of planning, discussions and public consultation.
A gTLD is the letters that appear to the right of the “dot”, such as .com, a .org or now .apple, .hotel, and .bank.
A review of the list of applied for gTLDs which can be found here: reveals that over 1000 applications were made, of which many are duplicates for the same generic words such as .movie which, by way of example, is the subject of 8 applications.
The domains will be evaluated in batches, using a controversial method of digital archery where applicants select their target time and date and then attempt to log into the system at that precise time and date, which will determine in which batch their application is evaluated.
The objection period is open as of today and will remain open for approximately 7 months. Grounds for objection include: “string confusion” objections, which arise when more than one party is applying for a gTLD that is the same or could be confused with another; legal rights objections by owners of registered or unregistered trade-marks; community objections; and limited public interest objections.
