Google is under fire from Microsoft and Nokia for 'unfair' gTLD requests

INTERNET SEARCH FIRM Google is under fire from Fairsearch, an anti-Google organisation whose members include Microsoft and Nokia, for what it calls Google's "anticompetitive" generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) requests.

Fairsearch announced today that it has filed objections against Google's "unfair" and "anticompetitive" gLTD requests, in particular the company's request for '.search'.

The group said in a blog post on Tuesday, "Google has already established a dominant position in the search market. It doesn't need more help in warding off potential competitors by giving it control over who gets access to new domain names.

"So, if Google really believes that competition is always one click away, why did it apply to operate a new '.search' gTLD as a closed registry? This means that only those web properties owned by Google could have a .search web address."

Fairsearch goes on to ask the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, better known as ICANN, to step up.

It said, "ICANN should reject Google's attempt to control an even greater share of the Internet through acquiring the new generic top-level domains for '.search', '.fly', and '.map'."

Google isn't the only firm under fire for its gTLD requests, as online bookseller Amazon was recently slammed by authors and publishers for its request for the .book, .read and .author domains.

Barnes & Nobile is among the companies going after Amazon. It said, "Amazon would use the control of these TLDs to stifle competition in the bookselling and publishing industries, which are critical to the future of copyrighted expression in the United States."

We have contacted Google for comment, but have not yet received a response. µ