Reglikedomain industry desk

2 character domains get green light under fresh TLDs

ICANN Board approves resolution paving way for two character second level domains.

The prior week’s ICANN meeting started with good news for fresh top level domain name applicants: governments stated they weren’t concerned regarding two letter second level domain names under fresh top level domain names.

It got better as the week went on, with the Governmental Advisory Committee formalizing its position on two character domain names and then ICANN’s board approving a resolution stating:

Resolved (2014.10.16.14), the proposed registry service for the release of two-character domains in the gTLD namespace does not create a reasonable risk of a meaningful adverse effect on security and stability, and the Board authorizes the President and CEO, or his designee(s), to develop and implement an efficient procedure for the release of two-character domains right now required to be reserved in the Fresh gTLD Registry Agreement, taking into account the GAC’s advice in the Los Angeles Communiqué.

Fresh top level domain name contracts right now have a blanket restriction on two character second level domain names. A number of registries have requested that this provision be removed.

This is good news for domain name registries from a usage standpoint. The change will allow .wiki, for example, to go forward with a planned arrangement with Wikimedia Foundation.

It probably won’t mean much from a revenue standpoint, though. Due to the massive supply of fresh top level domain names, even “rare” one character second level domain names don’t seem to be fetching much in the market.

Two character domains will also help brands set up regional second level domains. Still, there is still a restriction on using country and territory names at the second level.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

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