Web addresses and domains written in some very popular non-Latin scripts are going to be appearing in the coming weeks and months. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said that the domain system will be expanded from the current 22 generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .net and .org to as many as 1,400 new gTLD names or strings.
“It's happening – the biggest change to the Internet since its inception,” said Akram Atallah, president of ICANN's Generic Domains Division. “In the weeks and months ahead, we will see new domain names coming online from all corners of the world, bringing people, communities and businesses together in ways we never imagined. It's this type of innovation that will continue to drive our global society.”
ICANN says that the new range of domain names available will “enhance competition, innovation and choice in the Domain Name space, providing a wider variety of organizations, communities and brands new ways to communicate with their audiences”. The new domains utilise Arabic, Chinese and Cyrillic scripts and ICANN says these are the first of many that will be introduced under the new program to create “a globally-inclusive Internet, regardless of language or region”.
Some big name companies have already secured various new gTLDs
There is some concern by trademark owners over being able to protect their intellectual property now that there will be hundreds or even thousands of TLDs to keep an eye on - and possibly fork-out for. However the operations exec at ICANN says that there are processes built-into the new gTLD registration process to protect trademark rights holders. Big internet companies Google, Amazon and Microsoft have already applied to secure new non-latin gTLDs.
