Three new top-level domains may emerge, following the publication of a draft request for proposals by Internet managing body Icann. But the move may create an additional administrative burden for some firms if they have to register under the new domains to guard trademarks and brands.

The proposal was first mooted last November by Stuart Lynn, former president of Icann, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The new domains would be "sponsored domains" restricted to specific types of individual or organisation, in the same way as .museum, .aero and .coop.

Icann expects to launch a proposal request in May. The selection process will be carried out by independent non-Icann staff.

But some experts questioned the value of further sponsored domains. "New names are a good idea, as you need competition and there are not enough names left in .com," said Jennie-Marie Idler, European general manager of domain registry NeuStar. "But it has proved difficult to get eligible organisations to sign up to sponsored names such as .museum."

The introduction of new domains also increases the potential for trademark infringement and domain name scams, as unscrupulous outfits snap up new domains related to company brands to sell on at inflated prices.

Overall responsibility for the new sponsored domains, and the existing Internet addressing system, will fall to Paul Twomey, Icann's new president and chief executive, who took over from Lynn last week. The appointment of Twomey, an Australian who is the first non-US president of Icann, could reduce concerns that the organisation focuses too much on US issues.

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