--- title: "Association Challenges Google’s Bid for .App Domains" id: "18358" type: "post" slug: "association-challenges-googles-bid-for-app-domains" published_at: "2013-07-09T17:21:20+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T20:36:29+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/07/09/association-challenges-googles-bid-for-app-domains/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/07/09/association-challenges-googles-bid-for-app-domains.md" excerpt: "As part of its application to operate .app domains, Google would set restrictive criteria defining the industry and potentially limiting competition, according to the Association for Competitive Technology." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Digital Policy" - "Governance" - "names" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Association Challenges Google’s Bid for .App Domains The Association for Competitive Technology is objecting to Google’s amended application to operate the top-level domain .app. [In a letter (opens in a new tab)](http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/zuck-to-crocker-chehade-13jun13-en) to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) made public last week, ACT President Jonathan Zuck stated that Google’s application would allow it to set criteria defining who an app developer is, which app developers would be allowed to register domain names, what apps they could sell, and what services they could use to support their apps. The proposed eligibility criteria would “stifle innovation, consumer choice, and competition,” Zuck wrote. ACT represents more than 5,000 app developers and information technology firms. Last year Google applied for 101 of 1,900 available gTLDs, or generic top-level domains, including .search, .blog, .cloud, and .app, [according to CNET (opens in a new tab)](http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57573552-93/google-might-open-up-certain-top-level-domains-to-the-public/) . In its original aplication, Google stated it would restrict these terms to use with Google products, but in April, the company [submitted amendments (opens in a new tab)](https://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/falvey-to-willett-06apr13-en) to ICANN stating it would open the domains form more wide-spread use. “We intend for .app to be a TLD dedicated to application developers,” the letter stated. “The term ‘app’ is used in a variety of contexts, including mobile applications, browser-based applications, and even desktop applications. We intend for the .app TLD to be restricted for use by relevant developer communities, but to be inclusive of the full range of application development communities and not to restrict registration to developers on a particular platform.” But Zuck claimed that Google intends to use eligibility criteria to promote its own goods and services. “Google is poised to use its position of authority to gain an advantage over the services provided to developers and consumers,” he wrote. “This is not just a speculative worry; in the past, Google has used its supposedly open platform, Android, to gain competitive advantage at the expense of app developers.” Zuck pushed for wider eligibility requirements. “An .app gTLD should provide consumers with apps or content relevant to apps and allow developers a reliable space to promote their products,” Zuck wrote. “Innovation in the industry means apps appear in new places every day. … Any eligibility criteria must therefore be broad enough to allow for further innovation within the industry.” Associations in other industries are mounting similar challenges to bids by big players like Google and Amazon to gain exclusive ownership of potentially popular gTLDs. Earlier this year, [several publishing industry associations and corporations filed comments](http://associationsnow.com/2013/03/amazons-domain-control-bids-draw-publisher-criticism/) with ICANN objecting to Amazon’s application to purchase the domains .book and .author. (iStockphoto/Thinkstock) [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Digital Policy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/digital-policy/) [#Governance](https://associationsnow.com/tag/governance/) [#names](https://associationsnow.com/tag/names/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Leading Together-Strengthening the Board-CSO PartnershipDecember 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/18/associations-now-presents-leading-together-strengthening-the-board-cso-partnership/) - [VideoAssociation Governance Institute: Your Governance HeadquartersMarch 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/18/association-governance-institute-your-governance-headquarters/) - [VideoStrengthening the CEO & Board Partnership with Governance TechnologyMarch 17, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/17/strengthening-the-ceo-board-partnership-with-governance-technology/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F07%2F09%2Fassociation-challenges-googles-bid-for-app-domains%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !