The University of Hawaii made a big mistake when they decided not to protect keep its brand porn-free and not to register .XXX domain names.Now they are threatening legal action against the operator of the UniversityofHawaii.XXX website .

Because it choose not to purchase .XXX domain name that could associate their institutoins with porn,the University has to fight with cybersquatters in order the domain name be transferred to them .

UniversityofHawaii.XXX domain name was acquired by someone who calls himself “Chrisasaur”,and is now trying to sell the domain on eBay .The starting bid for the domain is $100,000 .

The domain name resolves to a porn website .

Many other Universities around the world did the same thing in order to keep them out of the hands of pornographers .Illinois State University registered  IllinoisState.XXX , RedBirds.xxx and StateYourPassion.xxx .Penn State University also acquired four .XXX domain names : Penn State, PSU, Nittany Lions and The Pennsylvania State University,while East Carolina University registered a total of eight .XXX domains,such as  eastcarolina.xxx, ecu.xxx,eastcarolinauniversity.xxx,eastcarolinauniversitypirates.xxx and leojenkinscancercenter.xxx .

Another University who decided to protect the school’s trademark from being used pornographers is the University of Notre Dame,who decided to register four .XXX domains,notredame.xxx, universityofnotredame.xxx, fightinirish.xxx and domer.xxx,spending on them $1,319.96 .

Feeling left out of the new generic Top Level Domain application process? Well then ICANN wants your help in evaluating gTLD applications from developing countries. Well, providing you meet their criteria that is.

ICANN have announced they are seeking volunteers to assist in the evaluation of those organisations seeking financial support to apply for a gTLD.

“These volunteers will be key to ICANN’s effort to assure that the less-developed parts of the world are able to participate in the new Domain name program,” said Kurt Pritz, Senior Vice President. “The panel members will make a real impact in ensuring that the opportunities for innovation and economic development created by the Internet are open to everyone.”

The volunteers will be chosen for their background and experience in areas such as running a small business, operating in developing economies, analysing business plans, serving in the public interest, managing a domain name registry service, or awarding grants.

The financial assistance component of the Applicant Support Program offers a limited number of qualifying applicants the opportunity to pay a reduced evaluation fee of $47,000 instead of the full evaluation fee of $185,000.

The selected volunteers will assist in the evaluation of financial support applicants in the context of established public interest, financial capabilities and financial need criteria as outlined in the “Financial Assistance Handbook.”

For anyone interested in applying, review the criteria, work out if you can commit the time required and check out any other expectations at newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/candidate-support/sarp-eoi-request-03feb12-en.pdf.

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.