The
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the
international organization chartered to oversee the administration of
the domain name system (DNS), granted seven new domain names in
November, including dot-biz (.biz), dot-museum and dot-info.
But that wasn't good enough for Idealab, which Monday began
offering new domains including dot-shop, dot-law, dot-mp3, dot-tech,
dot-video, dot-game, dot-sport, dot-kids, dot-chat, dot-inc, dot-med
and dot-family.
But making the proposed TLDs available to people browsing the Web
would normally require reconfiguring the thousands of DNS servers that
turn the words into the numbers (IP addresses) that the Internet is
built around. Idealab plans on trying to convince the world's ISPs to
make that change, but the company has also devised an interim plan.
According to internal Idealab documentation obtained by Wired News,
New.net would distribute a small browser plug-in to be installed on
millions of personal computers.
Idealab reportedly has a
number of Internet Service Providers signed up for the deal, and also
plans to partner with computer makers to pre-install the plug-in on
future systems.
New.net also wants to control the
handing out of domain names under the proposed TLDs.
"I think the trademark interests are going to pounce on (the
proposed system), but won't have a legal basis to shut it down like
they did with Napster," said Andy Oram, an editor with technology
book publisher O'Reilly & Associates and a member of Computer
Professionals for Social Responsibility.
Idealab is not alone in being dissatisfied with ICANN's recent TLD
decision. More than 40 applications for new TLDs were submitted to
ICANN at $50,000 a pop, but only seven were approved, leaving a lot of
people very upset.
The reluctance of ICANN to issue an abundance of new TLDs has been
influenced by trademark holders wanting to protect their intellectual
property. The companies have been demanding top-level domain
applicants include policies that protect trademarks and other rights.
For example, Sony would want to prevent "Sony.shop" from
being sold to any other organization.
But Oram thinks the new domains could make headway, if Idealab
executes it properly. "I would prefer it was done in a more
orderly way, but (the approval of the seven TLDs) was done in a way to
make it more friendly to trademarks and unfriendly to small business
and individuals." So perhaps ICANN needs some competition, he
said. "If people don't find what they want in one (domain
registrar), they'll look at another."
"It's a pie in the sky concept unlikely to get traction long
term," said Sloan Gaon, interim CEO of RegistryPro,
a joint venture between Register.com
and Virtual Internet. "I think anything that undermines the
existing Internet is bad for consumers and the Internet as a whole. If
it's able to extract value and doesn't hurt the overall Net, then
that's fine, but anything that causes confusion for consumers we would
(be unlikely to support)."
According to sources within the motion picture industry, Hollywood
movie studios were informed of Idealab's plans late on Thursday, and
the studios immediately came up with objections.
Idealab has no WHOIS directory in place to find out who has
registered a domain, and no arbitration system in place in the event
of cybersquatters grabbing dot-movie addresses. So if someone
registers HarryPotter.movie, for example, Warner Brothers would have
to somehow track down who bought it, and then figure out who to sue,
New.net or the squatter.
According to the source, Warner has balked at the plan and is
reportedly undertaking legal research to see if Idealab can even
launch this effort.
"Our primary objectives are to sell domain names that
individuals and companies genuinely want, and to make the Internet an
easier place for users to find what they are looking for," said a
statement on the New.net site
ICANN declined to comment on the alternative domain system.
VeriSign (VRSN),
which owns domain registrar Network Solutions, was neutral on
Idealab's plan to circumvent ICANN's authority.
"It's not our place to mind or not mind their willingness to
invest in (New.net)," said Brian O'Shaughnessy, a spokesman for
Verisign. "Our commitment is to the betterment of the system that
99.99 percent of Internet users use on a daily basis."
Well-funded Idealab has not had a stellar track record in turning
out profitable ventures. Idealab hatchling Goto.com is trading at a
fraction of its opening price, while fellow spinoffs eMachines (EEEE)
and Tickets.com (TIXX)
are both trading for less than a buck. Recent ventures to go belly up
include eToys, Eve.com and Refer.com. In October, Idealab reversed its
plan to go public.
Idealab first entered the domain-selling business when it acquired
the rights to the dot-TV domain from the country of Tuvalo.
Idealab founder Bill Gross has developed a reputation among
financial analysts for not being able to follow through with his many
business ideas. He instead prefers to let others develop them while he
dreams up new ventures.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include new
information from Idealab.
