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.
