Interview: Four Views of the New Top Level Domains

I recently interviewed various domain name brokers by email on the subject of the proposed new top level domains. I would like to thank them all for their contributions. The replies I received are compiled below.

KEY

DW = David Ward (The Domain Name Company)
TD = Tony DeGidio (LawOffices.Net)
AT = Alex Tajirian (DomainMart)
DM = David Milligan (BestDomains)

1) How do you think the impending creation of the new top domains will affect the existing market for domain names?

[DW]
There is no doubt that this will create a stampede for new Domain Names. The original '.com' Domain Names should still retain their value however, especially given the familiarity people now have with them - there may be a temporary 'dip' but we do not expect that to last long.

[TD]
Anytime you add more products to a market, the prices of existing products will drop. The question then becomes, given a general drop in prices for domain names, will the .com's or .net's always command a premium? I think they will except in those cases where the new names form a better name, like fine.arts.

[AT]
I am a firm believer that markets, on average, provide the best prediction. As such, I think the poll results that I have been running since September on my site at http://www.domainmart.com/interact/tellusi.html are the best measure of the impact.

[DM]
Given the choice of 7 new gTLD's like .nom or .rec, and the fact that acceptance and distribution of these will take 24 months or longer, "Quality Domains" under .Com, .Net & .Org, will continue to be valuable Internet assets.


2) Is this going to solve the domain name problem, or simply prolong the agony?

[DW]
We believe that this will create confusion - at least initially. What Domain Name do you try when looking for a particular good, service or company !??

Once the general public are familiar with the finalised versions, it should serve to relieve some pressure - although there is no doubt that a number of current holders will pursue the same Domain Name under the new Top Level extension.

[TD]
Well that depends on which problem you are talking about. I think this will immensely multiply the number of legal disputes over domain names. Some of the problems were between registrants. Some were directly caused by NSI. If the problem is perceived as "all the good names are gone", then this should help to solve the problem a little. It really depends on who gets the new domain names. Do you think IBM is going to immediately try and register ibm.nom, ibm.firm, ibm.web etc? They sure will.

[AT]
I am not sure which specific problem you are talking about.

[DM]
We are seeing from the number of Domains not paid for and due for deletion, the large number of quality gTLD's available in the secondary market for use in 2nd level, and the untapped 3rd level naming that still provides considerable name space that is currently available.

The Final Report if followed will create more "Name Space", but at the cost of a bureaucratically frustrating process, to say the least. With the decision on "Shared gTLD's" there seems little incentive to attract the necessary private capital needed for the development of registration systems and methods superior to those now available.

So yes, we will have prolonged agony.

3) What pitfalls do you think lie in store for users of the new names?

[DW]
The same that lay in store for users of '.com'. Registration of poorly chosen Domain Names is the biggest; a well chosen name should have value regardless of its Top Level extension

[TD]
Pretty much the same concerns that currently exist with respect to trademark violations, and trademark dilution. However now there will be more disputes between people who hold like second level domain names. My immediate concern is whether or not we are now creating 28 more NSI's, each with their own set of changing rules

[AT]
More confusion for the businesses registering/owning a domain name, as well as for their potential customers who now also need to remember the gTLDs of a domain name.

[DM]
Confusion and a very slow Global acceptance or understanding of the new gTLD's and their meaning or use.

4) Any other comments on this landmark decision?

[DW]
Not at this time.

[TD]
My immediate questions:
How do I get in line to reserve names under these TLDs?
How do I get my name in the lottery to be a registrar for these TLD's?

[AT]
No.

[DM]
Well with the emerging tactics of "Deep Pocket Litigants" and growing attempts by overzealous Trademark attorneys to claim rights to all Name Space on behalf of their clients, a situation is developing that if they are successful, having an address or Domain Name under one gTLD that represents their Trademark or products will NOT be sufficient. They will lay claim to all Name Space, whether or not they have actually registered the Domains, and will threaten and attempt intimidation against all who register any word, any where, under any gTLD, that they construe to infringe, whether of not it actually does