Internet and Society: ICANN accepts new gTLD applications

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched New gTLD Program with the application period opening on January 12th and closing on April 12th 2012.

Any legal entity can apply to operate new generic Top-Level Domain (New gTLD). Top-Level Domains may coincide with full or shortened names of companies and organizations, cities, regions, communities, as well as words in general use.

What is more, any company can fill in for its .BRAND web address to use it later for registration of domain names corresponding to names of products and services (e.g., TOVAR.BRAND, USLUGA.BRAND).

Such world-known brands as Canon, Hitachi, Motorola and Deloitte have announced they will join the New gTLD Program. More than 20 cities of the world including Moscow, Paris, Berlin, New York, London and Tokyo are going to get domains following the new procedure. Domains like .SHOP, .MOVIE and others are on the horizon.