Ben Gamblin Online - Blog: Shake up of internet domain names

Shake up of internet domain names

28 Jun '08, 16:46

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has agreed to allow a vast increase in the number of Top Level Domain (TLD) names that could be used alongside the current common names such as .com, .org, .net etc.

The idea is that anyone who has a sound business plan (and the financial backing to do so) will be able to setup a TLD, meaning there is the potential for hundreds of new TLDs.

This is a bad idea, and will leave internet addressing in a right mess. I can't imagine that corporations are very happy with the idea, considering that they will have to buy up a vast number of domain names in order to protect their intellectual property and trade marks. It also appears that the idea of a logical structure will break down.

This screams of a money making scheme, which is fine in it's own way but some structure could have been setup. Consider my idea:

1. Have a small number of international addresses, strictly restricted to, and only registerable by the following:
• .com - International companies
• .net - International networks
• .org - International organisations/charities
• .ind - Personal websites for those who want an international web presence
2. Define two or three letter TLDs for all connected countries (as we have now).
• .uk - United Kingdom
• .us - United States
• .es - Spain
• etc
3. Each country is responsible for it's own TLD. The international TLDs are replicated as second level domains. Individual nations decide whether they want a strictly organised naming system, or whether they will allow anyone within that nation to apply to run any other second level domain.
• .com.uk - UK Companies
• .net.uk - UK Networks
• .org.uk - UK Organisations/charities
• .ind.uk - UK Individuals
• .smith.uk - UK Alternative second level domain
• .jones.uk - UK Alternative second level domain
• .whatever.uk - UK Alternative second level domain
4. A multi-national not-for-profit organisation maintains the international TLDs and country TLDs.
5. Within each country, a not-for-profit organisation accountable to government maintains the second level domains. This organisation makes final decisions on whether an alternative second level domain is applicable, and enforces restrictions on who can apply for a website under it. Applications should be transparant so a company can easily monitor what second level domains are being registered and object if necessary.

Although naming will get a lot more complicated than it is now, at least it will be clear which nation a site applies to, and individual nations can decide on how limited their second level domains are.

Strict enforcement of who can apply for a domain should be mandatory. For example, I have the websites www.bengamblin.com and www.bengamblin.co.uk but I'm not a company. Under my proposal, I would loose the right to these addresses but would have the right to www.bengamblin.ind and www.bengamblin.ind.uk.

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