Nine New gTLDs Rolled Out To Trademark Holders

[engine]

Nine new web address suffixes, including .bike, .clothing, .singles and .guru, have been made available as the net names system undergoes a radical shake-up.

The new names, formally known as generic top level domains (gTLDs) are currently open only to those with registered trademarks.

They will be open to the general public at the end of January 2014.Nine New gTLDs Rolled Out To Trademark Holders [bbc.co.uk]

The new domain names

.guru
.ventures
.camera
.clothing
.lighting
.singles
.voyage
.holdings
.equipment

Earlier story

Approximately 557 New gTLDs Either Approved, Soon to Be or Pending [webmasterworld.com]

3 Ways to Protect Your Trademark From Poaching in the New gTLDs [webmasterworld.com]

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

are currently open only to those with registered trademarks.

... and the internet becomes more commercial yet again, locking regular folks and enthusiasts out.

This can't be legal, they don't own the net and so can't decide who uses and doesn't use it... where's the petition against this?

OH, WAIT, I can simply block any and all websites with those tlds from my browser. Then I can make sure to buy from their competition.

Please tell me Google didn't snap up a domain under .guru

[swa66]

Don't worry, nobody gonna use that crap. How many will spell .guru properly anyway ?

It's mostly an exercise in extorting money from those that want/have/need to protect their trademark. The more TLDs they imagine the more money they make. Nobody else but some squatters will be better for it.

[henry0]

If you are a caterer and go for the #88, but optimize also for restaurant, will the new qTLD impact on searches thus results for potential on the look clients?

[loner]

How many will spell .guru properly anyway ?

And that's the short one.

[dailypress]

I lost interest in all the new extensions. Among the list I think
.singles may sell a few good ones.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

will the new qTLD impact on searches thus results for potential on the look clients?

That's the thing. Since a trademark is required, as well as a good amount of up front cash, it can be assumed that professional businesses will be the only clients. That being the case Google may immediately trust them more and, perhaps, allow them to outrank .com competitors more easily. Time will tell. As for the limitations on who can obtain these new TLDs...

Rewarding the special class and blocking the rest, sound familiar?

[edited by: Sgt_Kickaxe at 1:07 pm (utc) on Nov 27, 2013]

[bill]

That's the thing. Since a trademark is required, as well as a good amount of up front cash, it can be assumed that professional businesses will be the only clients.

This is the Sunrise period when trademark holders get the first shot at new extensions. After that the domains move to the General Release phase, where anyone can buy one.