New gTLDs 'to be delayed'

The launch of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will be delayed, it has emerged.

According to the Associated Press, a number of issues look set to postpone the rollout of the new domain names, which let interested parties come up with their own suffix rather than rely on existing ones such as .com.

Paul Twomey, chief executive of ICANN, said that there were "overarching issues" that need to be dealt with before it could launch the new gTLDs, which were expected to start bidding early this year but will instead take open bids in December.

These issues include the potential problem of some companies having to register thousands of new domain names in order to protect their trademarks, as well as whether the gTLDs could prompt a rise on phishing as more legitimate-looking domains become available.

ICANN set out its latest three-year plan earlier this month and identified the implementation of gTLDs and new internationalised domain names as a top priority for the period between 2009 and 2012.