BBC News reports that two rival groups with two different business models, but similar environmental agendas and sustainability philosophies have come to the table to do battle over control of the dot eco space. 

Who is going to control the lucrative green business space on the Internet?
One group, backed by Al Gore is bidding to operate the dot eco space.  The other bidders, a Canadian environmental consortium known a Big Room has also applied to Icann – the regulatory body with oversight for domain names.

Both groups follow the “give back to the planet” model, which is terrific. Given Al Gore’s claim to backing the Internet from the get go, naturally he’s advocating a percentage of profits from sales of dot eco domain names is given away.  The sale of domain names would raise funds for organizations to affect change. Meanwhile, the Big Room folks plan to generate money from the sale of dot eco domain names to fund sustainability projects that empower, globally.

What’s the difference? 
This is a productive conflict that would help define the dot eco space, commercially, ethically and socially – the triple bottom line - the three crucial aspects of sustainability.  So exactly what is the difference? The Al Gore backed group proposes a labeling system to endorse companies with green credentials.  This would provide and promote a niche marketing space for green business.   Big Room would also request green companies meet certain criteria when applying for a dot eco web address. 

Along the sustainability journey

The journey towards growing and marketing green business is proving promising.  There is ample opportunity for companies and individuals applying for a dot eco address, but they would have to understand the ground rules in order to play in that space. 

These are interesting times to be witnessing the shaping of social responsibility frameworks and the forging of valued business partnerships.  This is truly an unprecedented opportunity to align business agendas with sustainability’s triple bottom line.

The Internet’s democratic legacy is playing on.  It can only get better.  Dot eco domains will go on sale in 2009.