The introduction of a ".biz" or ".ebiz" TLD would create substantial confusion among
Internet users and also interfere with the ".bz" ccTLD and the existing rights of
the country of Belize due to similar sound and the likely meanings under which each
TLD would be marketed. As has been seen with verbal references to domain names
using ".com," ".org," and ".gov" TLDs, the TLD portions of Internet addresses are
pronounced as the first syllable of "commercial," "organization," and "government"
respectively, rather than stating each letter separately. It is therefore expected
that verbal references to ".bz," ".biz," or ".ebiz" domain names would pronounce
the TLD portion as "BIZ" or "E-BIZ." Due to the identical or similar pronunciations,
Internet users hearing of a ".bz," ".biz," or ".ebiz" website would be confused as
to which TLD must be used to locate a resource. Thus, an Internet user would
have to first ensure he or she has the correct TLD spelling before accessing a domain
name with a TLD that was orally communicated which contains a "BIZ" sound.
If each registry contains domain names that are also registered in the other registries,
an Internet user may be further confused by inadvertently going to an active website
in the wrong registry.
The country of Belize has recently licensed its
ccTLD for marketing domain names to businesses. The present application for
".biz" and ".ebiz" also specifies an intent to target and license domain names to
businesses. Due to the similar pronunciations and business connotations associated
with ".biz," ".ebiz," and ".bz," Internet users would be confused as to which TLD
must be used to locate a business related resource. The granting of either
a ".biz" or ".ebiz" TLD would therefore not enhance the diversity and services available
under the DNS but rather threaten them by allowing confusion to be created.
Since
a ".biz" or ".ebiz" registrar would market domain names to business customers, its
co-existence with the ".bz" registrar would also diminish the value of domain names
registered with either the ".biz," ".ebiz," or ".bz" registrars. This diminished
value would make it difficult for either ".biz," ".ebiz," or ".bz" registrars to
successfully compete against other TLD registrars, thereby frustrating ICANN's overall
objective for expanding the list of generic TLDs in a manner which preserves the
stability of the Internet.
A ".biz" or ".ebiz" TLD also would not
benefit the Internet community or sensibly enhance the domain name system (DNS) as
identified in the Criteria for Assessing TLD Proposals. A ".biz" or ".ebiz"
registrar would likely target the same businesses and provide similar services as
a ".bz" registrar, thereby only duplicating what is already available rather than
create distinctive services for the diversity of needs of Internet users and enhance
the DNS. Thus, a ".biz" or ".ebiz" TLD would not meet any needs which are not
already met by the existing ".bz" registry.
iDomain's application for ".biz" and
".ebiz" should therefore be rejected.