Big changes in domain names system

In Paris, the board of the domain organization ICANN has unanimously adopted the liberalization of domain name extensions. In 2009, anyone with enough money can register new top-level domains. This means that the domain name system, one of the essential pillars of the Internet, will change dramatically.

Instead of a domain name carrying a standard extension such as .nl or .com, anyone may create, register and commercially exploit a multitude of extensions within the near future. In the past few years, various generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as .mobi, .eu and .asia have been added. As of spring 2009, anyone may register a new top-level domain string, e.g.: .hotel, .amsterdam or .vandoorne. Registration of a new gTLD is not cheap: basic rates start at EUR 60,000. Besides the new gTLDs, ICANN will also make available non-Latin scripts. Chinese, Cyrillic (Russian), Devanagari (Hindi), Arabic and Japanese characters will be added soon.

Things have to be worked out still in administrative and legal terms; ICANN is busy detailing procedures in order to properly monitor the anticipated demand for the new gTLDs.

For more information, please contact Karianne Thomas, Intellectual Property Practice.

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