Coble questions Internet overseer

Plan to add top-level domains at issue

By: By Mark Binker | GREENSBORO NEWS AND RECORD<br>
Published: October 09, 2009

GREENSBORO --

At first blush, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble doesn't seem the most likely person to be involved in a dispute over Internet domain names.

Coble, 78, R-6th, is more likely to get on the phone with an angry constituent than answer an e-mail.

But a letter that Coble, a longtime member of the House Judiciary Committee co-wrote to ICANN -- the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers -- has gotten attention from folks who follow Internet issues.

ICANN is a nonprofit group that rides herd over Internet-domain names. Coble's interest extends in large part from his work on intellectual-property rights. At issue is a plan by ICANN to open a whole new world of generic top-level domains.

"It has come to our attention that the proposed limited expansion of gLTDs will likely result in serious negative consequences for U.S. businesses and consumers," Coble wrote with Rep. Lamar Smith, the ranking Republican on the judiciary committee. "As new gTLDs are created, many businesses fear being forced to defensively register trademarks and variations of their marks to block cybersquatters from illegitimately trading on their goodwill and to protect consumers from increased incidences of fraud."

Among the concerns, companies with a recognizable brand names worry they'll have to rush into a cyberspace land grab to avoid others from squatting on their trademarks.

According to his aides, Coble would like ICANN to send a more detailed plan for rolling out new domains before it begins the expansion.