The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has suffered another blow as it prepares to launch its generic top level domain name (gTLD) regime.
From next month, businesses and organizations around the world will be able to snap up customized gTLDs, but a number of bodies – including the Association of National Advertisers and the National Retail Federation – have raised concerns.
And now, one of ICANN’s former leaders has raised concerns about the controversial new regime, reports AFP.
Former ICANN chairman Esther Dyson told a Senate Commerce Committee that the extension of gTLDs was an unnecessary move which will lead to a “profusion of domain names” – something that may confuse internet users.
“Creating a whole set of redundant names isn’t useful,” she said.
“This whole idea is fundamentally misguided. I hope ICANN will go back and reconsider.”
Should ICANN go ahead with the plan, commercial and non-commercial organizations will be able to apply for a gTLD from January 12, 2012.