ICANN has finally decided what to do with so-called “closed generics”. These are domain names that are dictionary words but that nonetheless registries wanted to use for their corporate interests only. ICANN Board of Directors passed a resolution that bans usage of closed gTLDs. Applicants for such domains can either withdraw their applications and receive partial compensation of costs or revise their initial rules and agree to an open registration. The third option is to wait for the next round of the program when the situation might change.
Symantec, a leading security software manufacturer, was one of the first to react to this decision. Earlier on Symantec was to be administering new gTLDs .SECURITY and .PROTECTION. However, the company planned to use both domains as closed generics for advertisement and marketing of its products and services. Now it is impossible to use it this way and as it became known recently Symantec sold both domains to XYZ.com, which now owns .COLLEGE, .RENT, .THEATRE and of course .XYZ. Financial details of the deal haven’t been disclosed.
