Top Level Domain Holdings

New gTLD Application Window Opens

The Directors of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited (AIM:TLDH), the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating new generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), are delighted to announce that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) has today formally opened the application window under which organisations can apply for the right to own and operate a new generic top level domain. The application window will remain open until 12 April 2012. Under ICANN’s rules, applicants for new gTLDs must first purchase an application slot, or placeholder, for each application for US$5,000 each, which will then be deducted from the US$185,000 gTLD application fee.

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ICANN Chair Says No Delay or Restriction on new gTLD Programme

In an interview, ICANN Chair Steve Crocker said that there would be no delay or restriction of the new gTLD programme.

According to the interview on Dot-Nxt [warning: payment required]:

Steve Crocker [said that the ICANN] Board will be holding a special meeting in the first week of January and that the meeting’s focus will be the launch of the new gTLD program the following week. But that meeting will not consider either a delay or a limited rollout, he stated.

Asked specifically about widespread calls for a “pilot program” that would feature only a limited number of Internet extensions, Crocker noted that the organization had already run pilot programs for expanding the top level of the Internet and argued that “we haven’t seen anything to suggest there would be value in delaying the launch.”

A highly organized campaign by lobbyists against new gTLDs, begun after the new gTLD programme was approved, has brought letters from U.S. politicians urging delay, or a limited roll-out of new gTLDs.

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New gTLD Programme Update

The Directors of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited (AIM:TLDH.L), the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating new generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), are pleased to announce that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) proposed timetable for applications for new generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”) remains as previously announced.

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TLDH Chair says opposition to new gTLDs could fracture the Internet

Tom Foremski, who interviewed TLDH Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush a few days ago, has written an article about the interview, entitled “Former ICANN Chairman Warns Opposition to New Domain Names Could Fracture the Internet.”

Red Hot Penny Shares Reports on TLDH

Tom Buford from Red Hot Penny Shares gave his view today on TLDH:

“TOP LEVEL DOMAIN HOLDINGS (TLDH): TLDH reports ‘strong international interest’ in the new top level domain programme which REMAINS ON TRACK despite grumbling from some quarters.

TLDH’s subsidiary Minds + Machines ‘has now signed, or is close to finalising, agreements with clients in the US, Canada, South America, Africa, Asia and Europe to represent them in the gTLD application process… in addition, the Company continues to make good progress on preparing applications for gTLDs on its own behalf’.

It says that ‘over 100 named-bids have already been identified by market commentators as intending to apply (of which over 40 are cities or regions) and it believes that the industry wide applications which will be made during the application window will be a significant multiple of this.’ Applications must be made by April 12th after which they will be evaluated before going live possibly in late 2012.

This is going to be a hot story in 2012 and TLDH is the ONLY way to invest in it. BUY UP TO 13p”

Peter Dengate Thrush interviewed by Silicon Valley Watcher

Silicon Valley Watcher, run by former Financial Times correspondent Tom Foremski, has published an interview with the Chairman of Top Level Domain Holdings, Peter Dengate Thrush.

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New gTLD Programme Update

Highlights

• Client agreements now signed, or close to being finalized, in the US, Canada, South America, Asia, Africa and Europe;
• Continued progress being made with the Company’s own application bids;
• TLDH seeing strong international interest in the gTLD programme; and
• ICANN’s timetable remains unchanged.

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TLDH Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush Interviewed by Wall Street Journal

Peter Dengate Thrush, Top Level Domain Holdings’ Executive Chairman, had a conversation with Ben Rooney of the Wall Street Journal, talking about choice, competition, opposition to the new gTLD program, the role of governments, and control of the Internet’s root zone.

The full article was published today on the Wall Street Journal’s web site.

Question and Answer with TLDH CEO Antony Van Couvering

Antony Van Couvering, TLDH’s CEO, recently did a question-and-answer session about new gTLDs that was featured on Aaron Kravitz’s site. With Mr. Kravitz’s permission, it is reprinted here in its entirety.

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