3 ms·

Maybe I'm just a hippy at heart, but that $185k really rubs me the wrong way. It's a step back to the bad old days of broadcasting licenses that only big compan

Maybe I'm just a hippy at heart, but that $185k really rubs me the wrong way. It's a step back to the bad old days of broadcasting licenses that only big companies can afford to buy — and given the stagnation of old media that makes me a bit glum.

tankenmate 15y ago
The main reason it is $185k is because the process has dragged out so long; ICANN _must_ make back any money it spends on the process. The last round was $45k and in the future when next round comes around it will probably be less than $185k, but most likely more than $45k. All the background checks and due diligence costs money.
- gnosis 15y ago
  What background checks and due diligence? What background are you supposed to have to own a TLD, anyway?
  - wmf 15y ago
    If you start a new TLD, ICANN wants you to at least stay in business for the foreseeable future so that your customers don't get screwed. You also need to be able to survive the inevitable natural and artificial disasters that befall infrastructure.
shawnee_ 15y ago
So $185k buys what essentially amounts to the right to "broker" a gTLD suffix. This is building into the system a prohibitively high barrier to entry, which almost guarantees that the interests of the conglomerates will once again trump the small, innovative and more efficient. More details on why the $185K -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13835997 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13835997
- michaelpinto 15y ago
  My fear is that brokers won't be the ones to buy it: For example a big media company could get ".movies" to control a domain space and use it as an anti-competitive tool against indie film makers who don't even get in the front door. Look if Disney wants ".disney" I'm cool with that, but I don't like the idea of Disney owning ".animation".

3 ms·

Maybe I'm just a hippy at heart, but that $185k really rubs me the wrong way. It's a step back to the bad old days of broadcasting licenses that only big compan

by michaelpinto 15y ago

tankenmate 15y ago
The main reason it is $185k is because the process has dragged out so long; ICANN _must_ make back any money it spends on the process. The last round was $45k and in the future when next round comes around it will probably be less than $185k, but most likely more than $45k. All the background checks and due diligence costs money.
- gnosis 15y ago
  What background checks and due diligence? What background are you supposed to have to own a TLD, anyway?
  - wmf 15y ago
    If you start a new TLD, ICANN wants you to at least stay in business for the foreseeable future so that your customers don't get screwed. You also need to be able to survive the inevitable natural and artificial disasters that befall infrastructure.
shawnee_ 15y ago
So $185k buys what essentially amounts to the right to "broker" a gTLD suffix. This is building into the system a prohibitively high barrier to entry, which almost guarantees that the interests of the conglomerates will once again trump the small, innovative and more efficient. More details on why the $185K -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13835997 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13835997
- michaelpinto 15y ago
  My fear is that brokers won't be the ones to buy it: For example a big media company could get ".movies" to control a domain space and use it as an anti-competitive tool against indie film makers who don't even get in the front door. Look if Disney wants ".disney" I'm cool with that, but I don't like the idea of Disney owning ".animation".