10:45 | Lima, Apr. 28 (ANDINA).
Peru along with Brazil have voiced strong opposition to online retailer Amazon’s plan to register the .amazon global top-level domain name (gTLD), arguing that it can be use only for purposes of public interest related to the Amazon biome.
The two countries have lodged objections with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), which is managing the expansion of the domain name system, over the website's claim.
Both countries argued they want to use the domain for environmental protection, the promotion of indigenous rights and other matters of public interest, and have called for Amazon's application to be withdrawn.
"Allowing private companies to register geographic names as gTLDs to reinforce their brand strategy or to profit from the meaning of these names does not serve, in our view, the public interest," the Brazilian ministry of science and technology said, wired.co.uk reported.
Similarly, Argentina has protested over outdoor clothing brand Patagonia's attempt to register .patagonia. Neither Amazon nor Patagonia have commented on the dispute.
Disputed domain names are expected to be put on hold for the time being, and discussed again at a meeting in July 2013. Those which haven't been disputed are likely to be active on the web before the end of 2013.
(END) INT/LOG
Published: 4/28/2013