Opportunities%20and%20Threats%20of%20new%20Top%20Level%20Domain%20Launches

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Opportunities and Threats of new Top Level Domain
Launches

• Bart Lieben
• Domainer Meeting, Paris
• 19 June 2008

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Agenda

• Our Experience in Top Level Domain Launches /
  Liberalisations
• Opportunities of new Top Level Domain Launches
• Threats of new Top Level Domain Launches
• Conclusions
• Recommendations

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Our Experience

• Assisting registries in the past, present and
  future
• Assisted in the drafting of various domain name
  registration, Sunrise, and DRP Policies
• Assisting clients in domain name registration
  strategies and dispute resolution proceedings
• Appointed by ICANN to draft the RFP for new gTLD
  applicants in the framework of ICANNs New gTLD
  Program

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TLD Launches past experiences

• Launching a new TLD is a complex exercise
• Issues and risks from an operational, technical,
  strategic, marketing, legal, point of view
• Complexity of the operation entails that there is
  no simple, one fits all solution
• Marrying different interests
• registry
• domain name registrars
• domainer community
• holders of IP rights
• cybersquatters
• the public / community at large

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New TLD Launches opportunities

• Implementation of IDNs within existing TLDs,
  liberalisations
• New generic TLDs
• open gTLDs
• community-based gTLDs
• internationalised TLDs (IDNs after the dot)
• Everybody is in support of stable registries
• GNSO Recommendation not to allow TLD strings that
  are confusingly similar to existing TLDs,
  reserved names and other applied for gTLD strings
  in the context of the New gTLD Program

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New TLD Launches threats

• Will interests be repositioned or change
  following introduction of ICANNs New gTLD
  Program?
• registries from quantity to quality?
• domain name registrars how to cope with
  internationalisation, possibly many new TLDs and
  the complexity they entail?
• domainer community how to cope with changes in
  TLD landscape, policies, and strategies?
• holders of IP rights shift from proactive to
  reactive approach?
• cybersquatters changed legal framework and
  attitude may impose risks?
• the public / community at large (increased)
  confusion when the TLD landscape will be
  broadened?

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New TLD Launches what to expect

• At the Registry level
• rise of new Communities claiming their own TLD
• regions/languages/cultures
• .GAL (Galicia - http//www.puntogal.org),
• .SCO (Scotland - http//www.dotsco.org)
• .CYM (Wales - http//www.dotcym.org)
• .BZH (Brittany - http//www.pointbzh.com)
• .VLX (Flanders - http//www.puntvl.net/)
• .EUS (Bask - http//www.blogak.com/martinhalty/lor
  tu-dezagun-eus)
• continents
• .LAT (Latin America)

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New TLD Launches what to expect

• At the Registry level
• cities
• .BERLIN (http//www.dotberlin.org)
• .PARIS (http//www.dotparis.net)
• .NYC (http//www.connectingnyc.org)
• trademark TLDs
• come-back of prior initiatives?
• .WEB (http//www.webtld.com)
• .XXX

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Recommendations

• Be informed of evolutions
• round 2003 gTLD launches (expected .TEL)
• new ccTLDs (recently .ME)
• liberalisations of existing TLDs (recently .NL)
• private initiatives (expected .CO.NL)
• introduction of IDNs in the advent of IDN TLDs
• ICANNs New gTLD Round
• Reach out

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Contact Information

• Bart Lieben
• Laga
• Berkenlaan 8a
• 1831 Diegem
• Belgium
• blieben_at_laga.be
• 32 (0)473 910 621

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www.laga.be