Ten years after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers announced its intention to allow “generic top-level domains” in addition to standbys like .com or .org, the change is finally here. For a mere $185,000 (plus an additional estimated $100,000 to get things up and rolling), companies and organizations can purchase bespoke domains, like .nyc or .deloitte. The new regulations will also try to stop accidental misdirects. CNN explains: “If an apple farmers’ union grabs .apples, then iPad maker Apple (APPL) would be blocked permanently from registering .apple.” Yes, because that’s totally how that particular turf war would shake out in reality. [CNN]
