The number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs), which are used in the internet address system without national or regional restrictions, will expand for the first time in 14 years, with new applications accepted from Apr. next year for corporations, institutions, and others. Application fees have increased, and brand protection measures have been strengthened, making it likely that corporations and local governments will have more diverse options to build their online identities.
According to Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) on the 8th, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will accept new gTLD applications for about 12 to 15 weeks starting in Apr. next year. Unlike country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as ".kr," gTLDs have no specific regional restrictions and are used to indicate the purpose or nature of a website.
There are 1,110 gTLDs currently in operation, with ".xyz," ".top," and ".shop" among the most popular. New applications are limited to corporations, institutions, governments, and international organizations with legal personhood, not individuals.
The application fee has increased from 2012, adjusted from $185,000 to $227,000. Applicants can now submit a string and an alternate string at the same time, and a system for requesting changes to brand TLDs has been introduced to resolve similarity conflicts with other domains. However, if identical strings compete, additional expense may occur through auctions.
KISA said that using new gTLDs can help promote corporate, institutional, and city brands. In fact, ".google," ".bmw," ".tokyo," and ".paris" are already in use, and it is possible to create Korean-language domains to enhance distinctiveness.