ICANN receives 1,615 bids for new internet domain endings
ICANN has received 1,615 applications for new generic top-level domains, including proposals from major technology companies for names linked to their products and services. The applications mark only the second round of new domain suffixes since ICANN opened the system in 2012, and competing bids mean some popular names will be contested.
OpenAI has applied for 15 suffixes, including .chatgpt and .agi; Google has bid for more than 30, and is among eight applicants for .api. Other sought-after names include .agent, with 13 applicants, and .brand, with nine. ICANN will assess applications and try community priority evaluation where bids overlap; unresolved contests go to auction. Decisions are due by 17 November, with new domains potentially available to register next year.
- ICANN received 1,615 applications for new domain suffixes.
- OpenAI applied for 15 names; Google for more than 30.
- Decisions are due by 17 November, with registrations possible next year.
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The internet addresses you use every day, like www.bbc.co.uk or www.google.com, all end with a suffix known as a domain ending. For decades, these endings were limited to options like .com, .co.uk, .org and .net. In 2012, the internet's governing body ICANN began allowing companies and organisations to create new domain endings, and it has now opened a second round for applications.
Major technology firms are competing fiercely for domain endings that reflect their business. OpenAI wants .chatgpt and .agi, whilst Google has bid for more than 30 options, and both are among multiple companies seeking popular terms like .api and .agent. A distinctive domain ending can help with branding and make it easier for customers to find services online.
When multiple companies bid for the same domain ending, ICANN uses a process called community priority evaluation to decide the winner, though contested bids ultimately go to auction. The regulator plans to make its decisions by November 17th, with new domain endings potentially available for registration from next year.
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Originally published by The Register as “ICANN reveals bids for new top-level domains”.