Applications submitted for .porn, .sex and .sucks internet addresses

The suffixes to internet addresses, the best known of which is perhaps “.com”, could soon include the likes of: “.music”, “.google” and even “.porn”, as part of an expansion of the domain names which can be used by websites.

The list of submissions for new endings was released yesterday with some of the internet’s biggest names registering their interest.

The likes of Google, Microsoft and Amazon, which have requested various names, will see the changes as an ideal branding opportunity. British applicants to Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) include the BBC, which has applied for “.bbc”, high street chain Boots, which has applied for “.boots” and Land Rover, which as applied for “.landrover”.

The full list of applications for new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) names was published by Icann, which is co-ordinating the expansion. The changes will mean that internet addresses will no longer have to end only with the likes of “.com”, “.co.uk” or “.org”.

Others include “.scot” by Dot Scot Registry and “.wales” and “.cymru” by domain registry firm Nominet. The domain name “.sucks” has been requested by two companies: Top Level Spectrum Inc. and Vox Populi Registry Inc. The more risque “.sex” also has two requests: one from Internet Marketing Solutions Limited and ICM Registry, which also asked for “.porn”.

Other popular gTLDs attracting multiple requests include: “.group”; “.art” and “.shop”. Icann said that it had received 1,930 requests for its first round of new domain names from 60 countries. More than 900 of the applications

were from North America, with more than 650 from Europe and just 17 from Africa. It cost 185,000 dollars (£118,800) to submit an application but there was a support programme for needy applicants, Icann said.