As the generic top-level domains (gTLD) continue to be snatched up by companies and individuals, there was one request that was quite unlike the others. When Google put in their request for the .search gTLD, they wanted it to operate as a ‘dotless’ domain. This means, you wouldn’t have to use it after another address. If Google would have gotten their request, people could have simply typed http://search/ into their address bar, and it would have directed them to wherever Google desired.
ICANN ruled that these dotless domains are prohibited, explaining that there are security and stability risks that they are concerned with. This has long been the standing of ICANN, and after this ruling, it seems that it won’t be changing anytime soon.
Google will likely still be approved to own the .search domain, but they will have to use it just like any other gTLD for the foreseeable future. Google claims that they were going to use this dotless domain to provide users with easy access to the search firm of their choice. In their request they said the following:
Our goal for .search is to provide an easily-identifiable namespace for firms that provide search functionality and to allow Internet users a unique and simple mechanism to access the search functionality of their choice. Google intends to operate a redirect service on the “dotless” .search domain (http://search/) that, combined with a simple technical standard will allow a consistent query interface across firms that provide search functionality, and will enable users to easily conduct searches with firms that provide the search functionality that they designate as their preference.
As expected, Microsoft and Yahoo had filed an objection to Google’s request. Being two of Google’s largest competitors, they are undoubtedly happy with the decision from ICANN.
You can read the decision from ICANN HERE, and the request from Google to ICANN HERE.
