The Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) recently approved a proposal that would allow companies to purchase new top-level domain names ending in whatever they like. The news is likely to spark a scramble for desirable addresses, called top-level domains (TLDs).

Currently, there are 21 TLDs available for users to register their Website with, such as .ca (Canada) or .uk, as well as specific to commerce, .com, and to other types of organizations, such as .net, .biz, .info or .org. The new naming process will begin in 2009. The first suffixes will likely be given to businesses and other major organizations.

In an effort to deter cybersquatters, the organization is likely to charge a hefty price for the new names. Some experts estimate the new domain names could come at a steep cost: somewhere between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000.

"It represents a whole new way for people to express themselves on the Net. It's a massive increase in the 'real estate' of the Internet," said Dr. Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN. Details of this approval are still in the works, but ICANN says that registrants applying for a top-level domain must prove that they have the ability to manage the sizable technical task of running it, or have hired someone who does.

Not all words qualify as TLDs. An application can be thrown out if it conflicts with a trademark (".pepsi"), is too similar to an existing domain (".kom"), is a geopolitical term claimed by a government or other group (".china"), or is a threat to morality or public order. "Offensive names will be subject to an objection-based process based on public morality and order. This process will be conducted by an international arbitration body utilizing criteria drawing on provisions in a number of international treaties. ICANN will not be the decision maker on these objections," said Twomey.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was created in 1998 in order to oversee a number of Internet-related tasks previously performed directly on behalf of the U.S. Government by other organizations such as Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

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