Communications of the ACM
Senators, Critics Question Icann's Generic Tld Plan
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN's) plan to introduce hundreds of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) next year may be moving too fast, said senators at a recent U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing.
Among those who testified against ICANN's plan was YMCA's Angela Williams, who said the introduction of the new gTLDs will be extremely costly for businesses and nonprofit organizations that want to protect their trademarks. ICANN's Kurt Pritz countered that processes have been put in place to protect trademarks.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said that ICANN should implement 12 anti-fraud recommendations that were developed by law enforcement organizations before moving forward with its plans, and Pritz said that ICANN is working with existing registrars to do so.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said that ICANN should address lingering concerns before proceeding with its plans, although he acknowledged that the new gTLDs might spur competition and innovation on the Internet. "If ICANN is determined to move forward, it should do so slowly and cautiously," Rockefeller said. "The potential for fraud, consumer confusion, and cybersquatting is massive and argues for a phased-in implementation."
From IDG News Service
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