ICANN Goes Back to Professor to Clarify Fresh gTLD Demand

Original note author to address feedback.

In March 2009 ICANN released two notes from professor Dennis Carlton of The University of Chicago regarding demand for fresh global top level domain names and competition. At the time, Reglike described them as “whitewash” notes. They were essentially propaganda pieces supporting ICANN’s view that there is demand for fresh TLDs, and showed that Carlton lacked general understanding of the top level domain name space and competition therein.

A number of other organizations, counting Visa and Time Warner, also questioned the notes. European‐American Business Council wrote “ICANN ought to pay for a truly independent economic study of the market instead of commissioning an economic advocacy paper designed to support its wish to rollout fresh TLDs).”

ICANN has agreed to address these concerns…by going back to Carlton. In its analysis of public comments, ICANN writes:

ICANN has asked Professor Carlton to supplement his work by addressing the comments that ICANN has received on these topics. ICANN intends to post the results of Professor Carlton’s work prior to the Board Meeting in Sydney.

Now seriously, do you expect him to come back with different conclusions than last time?