Spread of generic top-level domains 'could cause problems'

According to MarkMonitor, a company which protects online brands, the use of generic top-level domains (TLDs) could potentially cause problems on the internet, reports vnunet.com.

The firm has appealed to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) to reconsider its decision to allow any number of TLDs to be created.

MarkMonitor has called for stiff regulations to be imposed in order to curb the possibility of abuse, while it has also proposed that the project be delayed in light of the current global economic crisis.

The website reports that Irfan Salim, president and chief executive at MarkMonitor, said in a letter to Icann: "There are many unanswered questions related to whether sufficient evidence of demand for new TLDs exists, and if so whether now is the time to be launching such a costly and expansive initiative."

Mr Salim added that Icann could consider only releasing TLDs that were in particular demand after domain name consultancy with the wider business world.

In other news, out-law.com reports that Meg Whitman, a former chief of online auction site eBay, has lost a claim to remove several sites, including megwhitman2010.com, from the web.