In January, with some good friends, I formed Minds + Machines, which combines new TLD consulting (Minds) with the most versatile, widely-deployed registry software on the planet (Machines). So far, a resounding success. Most of my blog posts will now be found on the Minds + Machines blog.

More than 8 years after we first proposed to New York City to start .NYC, the top-level domain for New York City, I got some satisfaction today when months of work with various NYC governmental agencies and affiliates paid off as New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced her strong support for .NYC

Bart Lieben is the world’s expert in trademark verification for the Sunrise Periods of new top-level domains. I conduct an extensive interview about his services, and he reveals a plan to make trademark verification cheap and easy.

A letter to ICANN from the NTIA, the part of the Department of Commerce that watches ICANN, has caused a lot of speculation about whether the new TLD process would be stopped, or significantly slowed. I don’t see that happening.

I’ve put together a timeline for getting a new TLD from ICANN, along with associated costs, both likely and contingent. Downloadable PDF.

I’ve put together a permanent page of materials related to ICANN new TLD applications, both from ICANN and from other sources. These are hard to find on the ICANN site, and I’m hosting them so they should be quick to download.

I’ve read through all the ICANN materials twice. If you’re having trouble sleeping….
Overall, the process is understandable, is fairly straightforward, and best of all, it looks as if new TLDs will actually happen. It’s about time.
BUT I find four big problems, any one of which could be a show-stopper for [...]

ICANN’s Explanatory Memo on Morality and Public Order is a brave, expensive, and failed attempt to provide some justification for a concept that has little meaning in an international context.

Questions I would like to see ICANN answer in their new-TLD FAQ

A resource page for all the materials you need for your new ICANN TLD application.