As I understand it, many web-enabled businesses are concerned that the
introduction of new global top level domains will cause confusion for consumers trying
to locate business web sites and will lead to problems with illegal use of registered
trademarks. I think I have a possible solution. Why not offer a global
Top Level Domain (gTLD) that is exclusively reserved for trademark holders - such
as ".REG", ".TM", or just plain "." ?
Then open up dozens of new gTLDs
and allow people to register any domain name they want in any gTLD except the registered
trademarks gTLD domain. The public would be certain which domains were the real trademarked
businesses. If there was a special gTLD reserved just for trademark holders, the
trademark holders could be required to use it and smaller businesses and the public
would be free to register names without the risk of breaking laws.
This would clear up confusion, it would protect trademark holders rights, it would
protect the public's rights, it would allow small businesses with similar names to
operate on the internet using their own names, it would limit the power of a big
business to trample on the rights of a small business with the same name, it would
lessen the need for dispute policies, and it would make cybersquatting unprofitable.