Editing Generic top-level domain (section)

== Expansion of gTLDs ==
The new generic top-level domain (gTLD) application system opened on January 12, 2012. The application window was initially to close on April 12, 2012. However, ICANN's Chief Operating Officer, Akram Atallah, stated there was a glitch in the TLD application system leaving applicants' information visible to others. The system was shut down to protect applicants' information, and measures were taken to resolve the situation.<ref>{{cite web|title=ICANN knew about TAS security bug last week|date=April 13, 2012|url=http://domainincite.com/8548-icann-knew-about-tas-security-bug-last-week|publisher=Domain Incite|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

ICANN re-opened the TLD Application System on May 21, allowing applicants to submit and review their applications until May 30, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=TA Interruption – Update (21 May 2012)|url=https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-21may12-en|publisher=New Generic Top Level Domains {{!}} ICANN|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

On "Reveal Day" June 13, 2012, it was announced that ICANN received about 1,930 applications for new gTLDs, 751 of which were contested.<ref>{{cite web|title=It's Reveal Day and there are 1,930 new gTLD bids|date=June 13, 2012|url=http://domainincite.com/9382-its-reveal-day-and-there-are-1930-new-gtld-bids|publisher=Domain Incite|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

It was expected for the new gTLDs to go live in June 2013. However, as of March 2013 only non-Latin domains have gone through Initial Evaluation. The updated timeline suggested the new TLDs will go live in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=ICANN approves non-Latin 'dot word' domains|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/457176/icann_approves_non-latin_dot_word_domains/|publisher=Computer World|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=May 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529192340/http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/457176/icann_approves_non-latin_dot_word_domains/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New gTLD Program Timeline|url=https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program/timeline|publisher=New Generic Top Level Domains {{!}} ICANN|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>{{update after|2013|11|30}} On November 26, first seven new generic top-level domains, .bike, .clothing, .guru, .holdings, .plumbing, .singles, and .ventures, have entered the [[Sunrise period]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New Domain Name Launch Schedule|url=https://www.webnames.ca/domain-registration/new-domain-name-launch-schedule.aspx|website=Webnames.ca|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>

A lottery was held in December 2012 to determine the order in which ICANN would evaluate the 1,930 applications.<ref>{{cite web|title=New gTLD winners will be decided by lottery after all|date=October 11, 2012|url=http://domainincite.com/10729-new-gtld-winners-will-be-decided-by-lottery-after-all|publisher=Domain Incite|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

After the Application Window there was a public comment period from June 13, 2012, to September 26, 2012, in which the public could express their views on the individual new gTLD applications submitted.<ref>{{cite web|title=New gTLD Application Comment Period Extended|url=http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-10aug12-en|publisher=New Generic Top Level Domains {{!}} ICANN|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

Concerns were raised over Closed Generic applications in which the applicant would be the sole registrant for the TLD. In particular objections were raised by publishers over Amazon's .book application.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amazon's .book domain bid sparks dominance row|date=March 11, 2013|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a464774/amazons-book-domain-bid-sparks-dominance-row.html|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

Of the technology giants, [[Google]] has filed for 101 new gTLDs, [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] comes 2nd with 76, and [[Microsoft]] has filed for 11.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google Applies For 101 New gTLD's; Amazon 77; Microsoft 11; Apple 1|date=June 13, 2012|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/13/google-applies-for-101-new-gtlds-amazon-77-microsoft-11-apple-1/|publisher=The Domains|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref> The more specialized domain name companies include [[Donuts (corporation)|Donuts]] submitting the most (307) applications and [[Uniregistry]] pursuing 54 gTLDs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donuts raises $100 million, applies for 307 new TLDs|date=June 5, 2012|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/donuts-raises-100-million-applies-for-307-new-tlds/|publisher=Domain Name Wire|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Here Are The 54 New gTLD's That Frank Schilling's Uniregistry Applied For|date=June 13, 2012|url=http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/13/here-are-the-54-new-gtlds-that-frank-schillings-uniregistry-applied-for/|publisher=The Domains|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

=== New gTLD launches ===

On July 15, 2013, the first four new gTLD agreements were signed in Durban, South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-15jul13-en|title=Milestone: First Registry Agreements Executed – Internet Users Will Soon Be Able To Navigate The Web In Their Native Language – ICANN New gTLDs|website=newgtlds.icann.org}}</ref> They all consisted of Top Level Domains in non-Latin characters:
* International Domain Registry Pty. Ltd.'s شبكة, Arabic for "web" or "network"
* Core Association's онлайн, Russian for "online"
* Core Association's сайт, Russian for "site"
* Spring Fields, LLC's 游戏, Chinese for "game"

On July 10, 2014 the 330th gTLD was delegated.<ref name="newgtlds.icann.org" />
On November 9, 2014, the 400th gTLD was delegated in the root.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dotstories.com/many-milestones-for-the-new-gtld/ |title=Many milestones for the new gTLD |publisher=Dot stories |access-date=2016-09-16 |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415182318/http://dotstories.com/many-milestones-for-the-new-gtld/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As of 3 May 2015, the number of new gTLDs available is 605.<ref name="newgtlds.icann.org" />

The most popular gTLD has been .guru, launched in February 2014 and reached 50,000 domains in April 2014, briefly surpassed by .club between June 2 and June 9, 2014, with around 55,000 domains; .club was then surpassed by .xyz, which had more than 300,000 domains after one and a half months of existence. The growth of .xyz has been concentrated on one registrar due to a promotion they ran.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Allemann |url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/06/19/free-xyz-domain-name/ |title=I got my first free .XYZ domain name offer today – Domain Name Wire &#124; Domain Name News & Views |date=June 19, 2014 |publisher=Domain Name Wire |access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref> Recently, SBI bank has started using gTLD as "Bank.SBI" on February 20, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=SBI, One of India's Largest Banks, Switching Its Domain to Branded TLD, bank.sbi |url=http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170222_one_of_indias_largest_banks_switching_domain_to_dot_sbi/ |website=CircleID |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SBI launches its own generic Top Level Domain with its website "bank.sbi" |url=https://sbi.co.in/documents/39129/52199/gTLD.pdf |website=SBI |publisher=State Bank of India |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Criticism ===
Following the vote to expand gTLDs, many trade associations and large companies, led by the [[Association of National Advertisers]], formed the [[Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight]]. The coalition opposes the expansion of gTLDs, citing "its deeply flawed justification, excessive cost and harm to brand owners."<ref>{{cite news | title = Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight information page | url = http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/crido | work = Association of National Advertisers | access-date = 2011-12-14}}</ref> In a statement to the US Congress on December 9, 2011, [[National Restaurant Association]] vice president Scott DeFife stated, "Even beyond the financial toll the gTLD program will exact on millions of U.S. businesses, the Association believes that ICANN's program will confuse consumers by spreading Internet searches across hundreds or even thousands of new top-level domains."<ref>{{cite web |title=Restaurant industry registers opposition to new Internet domain name plan|url=http://www.wrahome.com/news/restaurant-industry-registers-opposition-to-new-internet-domain-name-plan/|website=Washington Restaurant Association|date=9 December 2011|access-date=14 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525163811/http://www.wrahome.com/news/restaurant-industry-registers-opposition-to-new-internet-domain-name-plan/}}</ref>

Another opponent is [[Esther Dyson]], the founding chairwoman of ICANN, who wrote that the expansion "will create jobs [for lawyers, marketers and others] but little extra value."<ref>{{cite web|last=Dyson|first=Esther|title=What's in a Domain Name?|date=August 25, 2011 |url=http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/dyson35/English|publisher=Project Syndicate|access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>