Internet Corporation for Assigned Name and Numbers (ICANN), which manages internet domain addresses, Friday lifted the restrictions on suffixes and invited applications for the first round of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) between Jan 12-April 12, 2012.
http://ummid.com/news/2011/October/14.10.2011/brands_to_hv_internet_address.htm
http://ummid.com/news/2011/October/14.10.2011/brands_to_hv_internet_address.htm