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2014-10-14

ICANN, New gTLD Domain Names, Universal Acceptance Another #FAIL


How would you like to buy a domain name that a browser, network, or application doesn't recognize as a domain name--and as a result no one can find your website online? What if you paid $185,000+ for that unique "brand gTLD" that the "domain name consultant" told you to get and now you discover you have that problem. Surprised? Anyone who did any "due diligence" knew that many of these new gTLDs (new generic Top-Level Domains) were not going to be recognized by browsers, software, applications, or networks.

 Even ICANN knew--but hey, "it's all about the money," so who cares about the poor schmo who buys one of these mostly worthless new gTLD domain names?

"….The issue of the Universal Acceptance of TLDs (Top‐Level Domains) is not new. The introduction of new gTLDs, especially those that are longer than 3 characters exposed this Universal Acceptance issue in the 2000 experimental expansion round, and was continued to be felt through the 2004 sTLD extension round. The introduction of IDN ccTLDs through the IDN ccTLD fast track in 2010 further exposed the issue and also made this into an issue of common interest between ccTLDs and gTLDs. In August 2003, during the public comment forum for consideration of the opening of the sTLD extension round, the SSAC (Security and Stability Advisory Committee) submitted a report on "Support Of New Top‐Level Domains By Internet Infrastructure Operators And Application Providers" (http://forum.icann.org/mtg‐cmts/stld‐rfp‐comments/general/doc00004.doc), the report discussed compatibility problems found with the installed base of software used by Internet infrastructure operators about the introduction of new TLDs…" -- JIG Final Report, Nov 2013 pdf

So here we are in the middle of launching over 1300 new gTLDs and at ICANN 51 right now one of the hot issues is "what is ICANN going to do about the fact that these new gTLDs are not recognized in many browsers, etc.?" Well, unfortunately for the new gTLDs, there is not a lot that ICANN can do in that department--

 Resources - ICANN: "Universal Acceptance Initiative--An Abridged Roadmap--Introduction to the Roadmap: This is the Universal Acceptance Initiative Roadmap originally published on September 11, 2014. Setting the Scene--The Universal Acceptance initiative is an effort to address potential user issues and obstacles observed in the use of new Top Level Domains, issues and obstacles rooted primarily in assumptions based on the TLD. This abridged roadmap, an outcome of the JIG Final Report on Universal Acceptance of IDN TLDs [PDF, 185 KB] plus other work, presents a proposal, based on community input including public comment, as to how ICANN's energy, resources, and actions should be applied as part of the initiative. The abridged roadmap emphasizes ICANN's multi-stakeholder model by limiting its scope to ICANN's role and possible actions. Identifying and addressing the issues and obstacles require work and collaboration among many stakeholder groups who have documented their activity independently. ICANN views its primary role as one of active coordination and facilitation, acting as a catalyst in connecting relevant stakeholders with each other and with parties who are in a position to remove these obstacles. The vision includes implementing a 'corporate memory' as a central information depository of progress...." (emphasis added)

Uh, good luck with that "vision" part--don't you just love the ICANN bureaucratese? So, unfortunately, dear new gTLD registries, registrars, and registrants, many of the "parties who are in a position to remove these obstacles" are long gone (they designed the network, software, browser, or application years ago), or, being intelligent IT professionals, they scoff at the morons involved in ICANN's new gTLDs money-grab, or otherwise have no incentive "to remove these obstacles." 

So new gTLD domain name registrants, looks like you'll just have to suck it up.




see also: Why ICANN's New gTLD Domains Are A #FAIL, Reason #1
and Reason #2 Why New gTLD Domains Are a #FAIL