While I won’t go into a detailed explanation here, suffice it to say that ICANN are trying to push a poorly conceived, and costly, proposal in which an unlimited number of new tld’s could be released into the internet market. This is the equivalent of dumping a bucket of chum into a fishbowl.

ICANN solicited comments some weeks ago from the public, and there was an overwhelming response & consensus against flooding the market with new top level domains. First, there is no need for more domains, and introducing large numbers into the existing market would create massive consumer confusion. Secondly, there are far-reaching, potentially damaging costs to 1000′s of corporations around the world who are already struggling to fight back the never-ending tide of trademark infringement. ICANN don’t seem to care enough. Literally.

ICANN have no real, defensible rationale for pushing new tld’s except for the lure of massive, unprecedented self-compensation which would reward ICANN via charging new tld applicants $185,000 per application and an estimated $30,000 – $70,000 per year in annual renewal costs. ICANN want huge amounts of money, and are willing to roll the dice with other people’s livelihoods, internet stability, and corporate budgets in order to get what they want. This is not a joke, and not an exaggeration.

PremiumDomains.biz categorically reject this proposal by ICANN. In the final analysis, their proposal would introduce a myriad of serious problems into, and ripple effects across, the internet economy, as well as spilling over into the general economy! ICANN receive practically no oversight, and have historically acted often against the best interests of domain investors, web developers, and general internet businesses.

If ICANN continue to push this potentially harmful and unnecessary tld proposal, then there will be an aggressive response from many factions, and the larger internet business community will bypass low level channels in lieu of directing focused attention (and resources) to appropriate State & Federal representatives. ICANN have amassed a record of poor performance and questionable competency in a number of areas. Their continued administration of the DNS can be challenged, and stepped-up public scrutiny applied to the impartiality, dedication, and judgement of each and every individual voting board member. 

Advertising Age have an interesting and enlightening article regarding ICANN’s ridiculous, and dangerous, new tld proposal. The article is worth reading. Thought provoking. Do not forget that you fund ICANN with most every domain name purchase and renewal you make. You fund the registrars that provide domain name registration. And you fund the registries that manage each separate tld. 

ICANN are a non-profit (emphasis on ”non profit”) who are contracted to coordinate the internet DNS in a fair, impartial, and objective manner. You pay their salaries and have a voice. Like it or not, they will be held accountable for their decisions, and the effects of those decisions on innumerable companies and individuals. I invite you to join in making your voice heard, and your actions count.

ICANN