The global body that oversees the Internet address system has approved an extension of website domain names, in what it said will be the greatest change in the Internet for years.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), at a meeting in Singapore today, voted to allow businesses, governments, and communities to create their own extensions.
Under the changes, those who apply to register a new website address will no longer be restricted to the generic top-level domains that include .com, .net, and .org but will create their own extensions, which can be in any language.
ICANN will begin taking applications for new domain names next year.
Critics have voiced concerns that the changes will allow counterfeiters to infringe on trademarks and also create confusion.
compiled from agency reports
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), at a meeting in Singapore today, voted to allow businesses, governments, and communities to create their own extensions.
Under the changes, those who apply to register a new website address will no longer be restricted to the generic top-level domains that include .com, .net, and .org but will create their own extensions, which can be in any language.
ICANN will begin taking applications for new domain names next year.
Critics have voiced concerns that the changes will allow counterfeiters to infringe on trademarks and also create confusion.
compiled from agency reports