Mostly, yes.

https://icannwiki.org/.google https://icannwiki.org/.microsoft https://icannwiki.org/.apple https://icannwiki.org/.fox https://icannwiki.org/.walmart https://icannwiki.org/.honda

All of these are examples of Brand TLDs (https://icannwiki.org/Brand_TLD), which can be registered as part of ICANNs New TLD program which started in 2012.

As many 'new' TLDs (such as the ones introduced in the 2000s such as .travel, .museum and .mobi), many of them are not used a lot, and many people are not familiar with them.

Hate to break it to you, but several of those already exist

https://icannwiki.org/.apple

https://icannwiki.org/.google

...

The whole point of those "anyone can buy anything tld" felt like a scheme to force companies to buy "their" name.

I would assume that you woudln't be forced to buy your name if you own the trademark because within-reason nobody else would be able to buy it.

True, but let's say I start an apple reseller and want store.apple. That would be just fine on all counts; should Apple Computer have every instance of the word "Apple" reserved for them just because they're bigger? It would frankly be irresponsible for some companies not to: as consumers get used to esoteric TLDs, it could become a phishing concern.

Doesn't that apply only if the other company is a competitor to you? E.g. a shoemaker named Microsoft could get the domain if it was clear they're using the name fairly.

Yeah, I could see a gTLD version of http://nissan.com/

The bar is very different though. A local business is unlikely to be approved, even if their name wouldn't confuse people.

Google already uses .google

http://blog.google http://about.google

Yes. But note that it'll cost you about $1M per year to do this. There is no refund when you realise a week later that you have no purpose for .friendster or whatever, and you wish you still had $1M instead.

Several huge corporations bought the TLD for their long-winded name, and then it sits unused, because it's stupid. For example the TLD kerryproperties exists and is owned by the corporation Kerry Properties in Asia, but kerryprops.com is a much better name and so unsurprisingly the company's actual web site remains https://www.kerryprops.com/ and they just burn the money on the TLD for no reason.

Yeah, but it’d be a shame if someone else started using that domain wouldn’t it...

For just $1m a year you can buy some “insurance” that will stop that happening.

We already do: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_dom...

Actually .etc would be neat.

At least the first three of those exist.

AOL Keyword NICK!