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The availability of a whole host of new words as part of changes to the internet's web address system could see organisations fighting over domain names, it has been suggested.
Writing for the Journal, Herb Kim, chief executive of north-east digital innovation centre Codeworks, said the reforms due to come into effect next April represent one of the most significant changes in the history of the internet.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) previously only allowed top-level domain names to end in only a handful of ways, such as .com and .biz.
However, the system will now be expanded to include many more words – some of which are likely to be in demand.
According to Mr Kim, the most popular "generic" names are expected to be snapped up by large brands, which will then be in a position to sell web addresses to others.
"It will be interesting to see, also, whether wars will break out over certain words, and how Icann will handle that scenario," he said.
"After all, can you imagine either Coke or Pepsi allowing the other to purchase .cola without a fight?"
Dr Paul Twomey, president and chief executive officer of Icann, recently said the changes would create new ways for people to "express themselves" on the web.
