Can ICANN Reverse the Law of Supply and Demand? - Cyberspace vs. Metaspace
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Here is where we see the big difference between digital estate and real estate--between meatspace and cyberspace. The real world has limits, but human creativity doesn't; so if you can't get the .com of your dreams, you can come up with something fairly close and register that (so if you can't have Verizonsucks.com, you can always go for VerizonReallyReallySucks.com or even VerzionSucksBigFatOstrichEggs.com). Each new domain name expands the frontiers of cyberspace without truly taking space away from anyone else, for that very reason. Just try doing that with a bricks-and-mortar establishment! Even skyscrapers have their limits.
Now understand, I'm not saying anything against the groups sponsoring the 10 new top-level domains. Heck, a number of them even have arguably worthy goals. Take ".mobi," for example; if the domain goes live, any Web site wearing that suffix will have been streamlined for usage with the smaller screens featured on mobile computing devices (like cell phones and PDAs). That ought to simplify surfing. Or take ".xxx," sponsored by The International Foundation for Online Responsibility. That organization "serves the needs of the global responsible online adult-entertainment community," and presumably hopes to encourage all those adult Web sites to use .xxx so innocent Web surfers will know what places to avoid (or visit, depending on one's inclinations). The other proposed top-level domains also serve special interests--and I don't mean that in a bad sense. After all, spam-haters can be considered a "special interest," and the sponsors of ".mail" are hoping to create a spam-free world in our lifetimes. I'd sign on to that!
Still, you have to wonder: if that second set of top-level domains hasn't seen that much use in four years, why is ICANN accepting applications for 10 more new ones? Do they really think they can reverse the laws of supply and demand? Granted, the current supply of top-level domain names isn't infinite--but neither is the demand (it only seems that way). And, given human creativity, supply and demand are probably close enough to matching in this case. So...why more domains? Could ICANN be looking to increase its own supply of something else...something green and papery, perhaps?
If you've already got your .com domain name, I wouldn't worry too much about the possible new name influx; the last one didn't seem to have much effect on things. But by all means, feel free to tell ICANN exactly what you think of its latest move. Remember, that comment period is April 1st to April 30th. Be firm, but polite; they won't hear your comments if you melt the lines.
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