Amazon, the online retail giant and the governments of eight South American nations have been given a final deadline to reach an agreement over the use of the “.amazon” web address extension after seven years of disputing the case.
This is the battle of the Amazon and it started way back in 2012.
ICANN, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, decided to expand the list of the bit that comes right after the dot in a web address – generic top-level domains (gTLD).
While offering internet users and businesses the flexibility of personalizing their website name and addresses, new rules have been created to allow businesses or companies to apply for brand extensions.
But the governments of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela – the eight countries containing the Amazon and members of the Amazon Cooperation Organization (ACTO) has objected Amazon – the retail giant’s plans as regards the new .amazon domain name. Saying that matters of their sovereignty could be affected as a result of relinquishing the domain exclusively to Amazon.
Although they aren’t seeking to deny Amazon the use of the domain, Diplomats have told the BBC that they are requesting shared governance of it. And according to their requests, domains which are relevant to Amazon’s commercial interests like “books.amazon” would be allowed.
A committee wants to be established by the countries to debate the use of new top-domain names in the future in order to “keep things in check.”