2013 Top Stories: Fresh TLD Objection problems

The fresh top level domain objection process became a sore spot on the road to fresh top level domain names.

ICANN and its various constituents had goals for which types of fresh top level domain names would find their way to the internet.

Limit controversial strings. Make sure they don’t violate trademarks at the top level. Prevent another .xxx “community” from getting a leg up. Limit confusion between strings.

This resulted in in objection procedures in the applicant guidebook that would hopefully make this happen in an orderly way.

But something went horribly, horribly wrong.

Blame part of it on how the guidelines to achieving these goals were actually written. Blame it on weak agreements with incapable arbitration groups that hired incapable panelists.

Blame it on what you want, but it was a fiasco.

While trying to achieve the general goals, a lot of innocent applicants have been ensnared in the trap. Panels made inconsistent determinations based on individual interpretation of the guidelines.

Firms have appealed to ICANN to fix the problem, although ICANN seems content to just sit on the sidelines and pretend the system is working.

It has made for a messy and controversial process. I suspect figuring it all out will extend into the second round of gTLD expansion…especially what to do if a different applicant wants to apply for one of these strings in the next round.