Opportunities and Threats of new Top Level Domain Launches Bart Lieben Domainer Meeting, Paris 19 June 2008

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 2 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches 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

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 3 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches 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 ICANN’s New gTLD Program

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 4 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches 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

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 5 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches 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

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 6 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches New TLD Launches: threats Will interests be repositioned or change following introduction of ICANN’s 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?

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 7 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches New TLD Launches: what to expect At the Registry level –rise of new “Communities” claiming their own TLD –regions/languages/cultures: –.GAL (Galicia - –.SCO (Scotland - –.CYM (Wales - –.BZH (Brittany - –.VLX (Flanders - –.EUS (Bask - –continents: –.LAT (Latin America)

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 8 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches New TLD Launches: what to expect At the Registry level –cities: –.BERLIN ( –.PARIS ( –.NYC ( –… –“trademark” TLDs –come-back of prior initiatives? –.WEB ( –.XXX

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 9 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches 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 –ICANN’s New gTLD Round Reach out

© 2008 Bart Lieben (Laga) 10 Opportunities and Threats of New Domain Name Launches Contact Information Bart Lieben Laga Berkenlaan 8a 1831 Diegem Belgium +32 (0)