IMHO, the biggest problem of gTLD is the inequality created on the Internet. Google.com's registry cost is less than $8/year, just like any random .com domain. Everyone has the fair chance to get a domain and start a business online.
But when the gTLDs are available for grabs, the big companies will definitely get their trademarks as TLDs, even when they have no intention to open that to the public. gTLD scheme is not new - .COM is managed by Verisign, the same way as the potential .google being managed by Google. What's new is the removal of the requirement of opening for public registration, and much less regulation and evaluation of eligibility.
When the big companies have their special branding schemes, small businesses lose out. Suppose that the new gTLD scheme is a huge success (which IMO not likely), .google, .apple and .amazon are official tags for big companies, and .COM will be the small business paradise. This divide is definitely harmful for internet development.
Comments
IMHO, the biggest problem of gTLD is the inequality created on the Internet. Google.com's registry cost is less than $8/year, just like any random .com domain. Everyone has the fair chance to get a domain and start a business online.
But when the gTLDs are available for grabs, the big companies will definitely get their trademarks as TLDs, even when they have no intention to open that to the public. gTLD scheme is not new - .COM is managed by Verisign, the same way as the potential .google being managed by Google. What's new is the removal of the requirement of opening for public registration, and much less regulation and evaluation of eligibility.
When the big companies have their special branding schemes, small businesses lose out. Suppose that the new gTLD scheme is a huge success (which IMO not likely), .google, .apple and .amazon are official tags for big companies, and .COM will be the small business paradise. This divide is definitely harmful for internet development.