Of the over new gTLD 1,900 applications received by ICANN, Google’s application for .Search has gotten arguably the most attention of the mainstream media (neck and neck with Amazon’s .Amazon TLD)
Google originally filed its application for .Search to operate on a closed basis, meaning that the registry generally would not be open to registrations by third parties, but amended its application back in April of this year to operate it as a open string using Dotless Domains, just days after the Government Advisory Council (GAC) told ICANN to reject applications on closed generic strings unless the applicant can show issuing the close generic to one company is in the “public good”
Last week ICANN ruled that Dotless Domains will not be permitted .
The question becomes what happens to Google’s application for .Search?
At this point if Google does not amend its application for .search using Dotless Domains, one could only assume the application would be rejected by ICANN.
On the other hand if Google goes back to operating the string on a closed basis they are back in the holding pattern of all closed generics until ICANN decides whether to accept GAC advice.
Of course Google can just remove the Dotless Domain portion of the amended application and run .Search as an open registry allowing registrations by third parties.
That of course begs the question ultimately is if Google with an open registry, allowing domain registrations and wins the rights to operate the .Search registry, how would Google rank a .search URL for SEO purposes?
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