ICANN is currently seeking public comment on the subject of “closed generic” Top Level Domain (TLD) applications. A “Closed Generic” is a TLD that is a generic term, but domains within that TLD will not be sold to the public.

There are those who object to generic terms such as .book being operated as closed registries, which means that domain names within the .book Top Level Domain as proposed by Amazon would not be sold to the public, but instead, Amazon.com would own and operate all domain names within the .Book Top Level Domain. (e.g. You might soon be able to navigate to Amazon.book.) For example, Google, Inc., has applied to create the .Search TLD to allow it to improve its search functionality, and Amazon.com has applied for the .book TLD to allow it to segregate its book product offerings onto a separate TLD. Many oppose these projects because, it is said, that these TLDs offer companies like Google, Inc. and Amazon.com an “unfair competitive advantage”.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that Closed Generics should be permitted because they do not represent an unfair competitive advantage. By way of comparison, the leading bookseller online is Amazon.com, not Book.com. Those who support Closed Generics are in favor of innovation and competitive freedom, with no restrictions on the types of services that can be provided through a Top Level Domain.

To date, there have been 42 comments submited to ICANN’s public comments section:

2 Commenters Support Allowing Closed Generic Top Level Domains
39 Commenters are Opposed to Closed Generic Top Level Domains
1 Commenter is Opposed to the current gTLD Application Process all together

View a comment summaries at:
http://www.getnewtlds.com/news/UpdateOnClosedGenericsDebate.aspx