By BART JARMAN
Got a great idea for an Internet site? How about one named 'Goodmood.com'?
If you want the name you are going to have to pay for it -- current bidding for Goodmood.com tops $8,000.
And the frenzy to register Internet domain names added new territory Wednesday, when the Internet Society announced seven new domain extensions.
The society, which helps administer and regulate Internet addresses, announced seven new top-level domains. Domains are the last three letters of an Internet address, such as .com or .edu.
The new extensions are: .firm, for businesses; .store, for businesses offering goods to purchase; .web, for entities related to the World Wide Web; .arts, for cultural and entertainment activities; .rec, for recreation activities; .info, for information services and .nom for personal or individual nomenclature.
'The structure we have established for the operation and oversight of the domain name administration ensures that we will have stability and continuing input from a broad spectrum of organizations and individuals,' said Donald M. Heath, president of the Internet Society.
The society is made up of various organizations that administer Internet growth. The group includes MCI Communications, Worldcom Inc. and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
'Responsible self-governance is the key factor in assuring that the Internet will reach its fullest potential,' Heath said.
In the past year, there has been a rush to register trademark names for the Internet, and almost all of the catchy ones have been snapped up by either businesses or domain brokers who will transfer a slogan-style name to you -- for a price.
One group, Domainrush, has listed more than 80 site names for sale and rent. The bidding for these sites is conducted online and prices range from $500 for 'Helvetica.com' to more than $20,000 for 'Bywire.com'. The original registrar must pay just $100 to register an unused name for two years.
Several disputes have arisen over the use of domain names that include trademarked labels. According to a Reuters report, the toymaker Hasbro Inc. won a lawsuit last year to regain control of the address 'candyland.com,' which was being used for a pornographic site.
Other disputes have involved animal rights groups like 'People for Ethical Treatment of Animals,' which has been trying to wrest the domain 'peta.com' from a user who has posted a website dedicated to 'People Eating Tasty Animals.'