30 Jun 2010 08:15
For immediate release: 30 June 2010
Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
("TLDH" or the "Company")
ICANN Update
The Board of TLDH is pleased to notify shareholders that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") concluded its 38th international meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 25 June 2010.
The results of the meeting were seen as very positive for applicants for new generic top-level domains ("gTLDs") and provided stakeholders with a much clearer view of the timeline and milestones for the introduction of gTLDs.
The ICANN Board resolved to hold a special meeting in September 2010 to address all the outstanding issues related to the implementation of the new gTLD programme. The final Applicant Guidebook is expected to be published in November 2010, which will set the final rules for applicants. The applications start date is then expected to be announced at the December 2010 ICANN meeting in Cartagena, Colombia.
Developments at the Brussels meeting also served to help smooth the way for the introduction of gTLDs and in particular:
·; ICANN's Board of Directors announced it will meet in September for a two-day session devoted to addressing all the outstanding issues related to the new gTLD programme implementation;
·; ICANN staff affirmed the new gTLD Project Plan showing a final Applicant Guidebook being produced in November 2010.
·; trademark holders gathered for a panel session entitled "Brand Management in the Age of New gTLDs," where they discussed the opportunities of the new gTLD program for large brands rather than blocking its implementation.
·; the approval of the .XXX top-level domain by the ICANN Board at the Brussels meeting removed the possibility of ICM Registry, the sponsor of .XXX, seeking a court order to prevent ICANN from introducing new gTLDs.
·; ICANN's detailed budgets for the new gTLDs implementation were discussed at length, and indicate that ICANN is preparing in earnest for a large number of new gTLD applications.
The TLDH Board is therefore preparing for the likelihood of an early December announcement of the date of the gTLD application window, which will start after a four-month public awareness campaign by ICANN.
-Ends-
Enquiries:
Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
North America
Fred Krueger
Tel: +1 310 866 1935
Antony Van Couvering
Tel: +1 917 406 7126
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Roland Cornish/Michael Cornish
Tel +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
gth media relations
Toby Hall /Christian Pickel
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3103 3903/3902