Internet users can soon use new names to self-select their domain names. The board of Internet Corporation for assigned names and numbers (ICANN) has approved a proposal to implement new names to the Internet's addressing system.

The final version of the implementation plan is awaiting approval by the ICANN Board. It is likely to be launched in early 2009. Dr Paul Twomey, president and CEO of ICANN, said that the new initiative has a huge potential and represented a whole new way for people to express themselves on the Net.

Currently, users have to choose from a limited range of 21 top level domains such as .com, .org, .info. Twomey said that ICANN also has plans to expand the system to support extensions in the different languages. The existing system is capable of supporting only 37 Roman characters.

Twomey feels that this move would be crucial for the future of the Internet in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia. Applications for new names will be available in the second quarter of 2009 upon approval of the implementation plan.

ICANN will not sell new top level domain names. Any established entity can submit applications, which will go through an evaluation process. Presently, domain names are to a great extent indicative of their reliability, with domains such as .gov and .edu being identified as reliable sources by users.

The new proposal may open up a Pandora’s Box as it could result in a slew of offensive names and the need for a high level of control. Trademarks will not be automatically reserved and trademark owners will have to voice their objections to prevent misuse of their trademark. To handle similar situations, an international arbitration body will develop criteria obtaining provisions in a number of international treaties.

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