ICANN chairman saw little value in delaying a ICANN release of the new gTLD program, when critics have not found a specific problem that they needed to change in order to not delay the release. With the release of the the application, the cost to buy a new domain has a  huge application fee attached to it   of 185,000. The applicants will be able to push away from the traditional .dot com’s and will be able to have a new ending, opening all sorts of marketing strategies. The Federal Trade Commission claims that the new system will be able to create fraudulent websites and confuse users. However, ICANN says they have set up significant amount of time and financial interests aside to assure the success of the program. The concern is for users to become victims of internet cyber-hackers who pray on misspellings of websites. To read further on this topic click here.

ICANN was ready for the New gTLD Launch. Michael Salazar, the new programs director for the gTLD program was confident that the new launch would bring success.Every group and sect of ICANN was prepared for the launch according to the Director. The package for applicants is available at http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/ and all applicants should have their paper work resolve by April 12th, 2012.  To read further on this subject please click here.

The Internet made a new stride yesterday and is emerging  with possibilities for anyone to register web address suffixes for 185,000 dollars. This launch is the  so-called dot brand names and has endless opportunities for marketers to make brand new images for companies online. These new changes have not gone well with the federal trade commission and warned businesses that this new gTLD system could be a nightmare. Forty of the world’s largest companies have already complained to ICANN and to FTC that this will increase costs and they don’t see the benefit.  Applicants have until April 12th to sign up. The first domains will be seen in 2013.  To read further on this story click here.

The University of Illinois won’t be buying their .XXX domain names. They say that they can’t possibly purchase every domain related to the University. They would rather use legal action against cyber-squatters who are violating their trademark. But are they doing the right thing? Many universities are not following the same path as the University of Illinois and purchasing all the major domains ending with .XXX in hopes their university won’t be part of pornography. To read further please click here.

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An article over at domainnamewire.com today says that the fast food restaurant chain Wendy’s has filed for arbitration to retrieve their domain name with the .com.mx extension. The domain in dispute, wendys.com.mx, is parked with a logo and a simple message telling those interested in purchasing the domain name to email them.

This is yet another example of how defensive registrations can help companies, and in particular brand managers, save time and money avoiding UDRPs and arbitrations over domains like this. It currently costs $57 to register a .com.mx domain, but the UDRP, even if undisputed, will run the company upwards of $1500-3000 – perhaps a small amount to a company with “more than 6,600 locations in 22 countries,” but still more money and hassle than its worth when they likely could have easily secured the domain long ago. Even if a company can’t afford to protect their domain/brand/trademark in every country around the world, surely they can do it in a country right next door to their own, and for only $57 per year.

Presumably Wendy’s is (finally) going after the domain because of the reopening of the .mx extension, which we wrote about here and in our newsletter. With some luck they will get the domain in time to grab the .mx, but this is certainly a cautionary tale to all those companies out there still sitting on the side lines and hoping that they will get away with ignoring defensive domain registration.

After a long wait for many, the .MX Sunrise period officially begins tomorrow, May 1st.  If you didn’t take advantage of 101domain’s pre-registration period, and want to get the .mx version of your existing .com.mx domain name, then now is the time to do it.

As a review for those who didn’t catch our newsletter or various announcements about the reopening of the .MX TLD, the sunrise period allows current holders of .com.mx domains ONLY to register the equivalent .MX domains before the TLD is made publically available.  This restriction will be lifted when the landrush period begins on September 1, 2009.

101domain received hundreds of pre-registrations that are ready to be pushed the minute the sunrise period begins, but if you didn’t take advantage of that special offer, you can still try and get your .mx domain name during this sunrise period.  Whatever you do, don’t wait for the public launch to try and upgrade your .MX SLDs, because you will miss out and they will be scooped up quickly.

We are continuing our pre-registration pricing special of $35 to those looking to upgrade, so take advantage and contact us today to get it taken care of – register your .mx domain now!