ICANN is becoming concerned that companies may feel they have to submit an application for a generic Top Level Domain for defensive reasons when, in reality, the organisation sees little benefit for it.

While there are very good reasons for a business to have a gTLD, there has to be a plan by the company to use it, and to get some benefits. To spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just to protect against someone else registering a gTLD is nigh on a waste of money.

The gTLD process also has procedures built into the programme, outlined in its 300+ page applicant guidebook that are designed to protect brand owner’s interests through independent objection and dispute resolution processes (and other processes).

However ICANN is now concerned that as the time of the opening of the new gTLD application window drew near, parties stated their perception that they will need to submit “defensive” gTLD applications as a means to protect their trademarks.

ICANN is now seeking public comment on the sources of this perception and how it can be addressed.

The public comment period is now open and the Public Comment Box Link is www.icann.org/en/public-comment/newgtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm.