Regulation catches up
to widespread practice

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which regulates aspects of internet use, voted unanimously to relax restrictions on trusted domains like .com and .net, as well as country suffixes like .uk, .it (Italy), and .fr (France), the BBC writes.

The decision enables companies to create brand-specific web addresses, and individuals to purchase self-named domains — provided they have a "business plan and technical capacity."

"We are opening up a new world and I think this cannot be underestimated," said ICANN's Roberto Gaetano, echoing colleague Peter Dengate Thrush, who said the ruling was of "historic importance."

Another proposal, to debut domain names in scripts like Arabic, was also approved.

ICANN announced a formal review of domain name restrictions, and non-English domains, last year. According to the BBC, it has sought to change many outmoded rules for the last six years.