ICANN Lays Out Community-Led Timeline for New gTLDs

[Domaining News]

ICANN has finalized the date for the next round of new gTLD applications, but the timeline is causing controversy among some stakeholders who believe it lacks urgency.



The organization's draft Implementation Plan proposes a launch date of May 2026, three years from now, which is said to be reflective of ICANN leadership's preference. The plan outlines a process by which community members will work with staff to create rules and procedures for accepting and processing gTLD applications based on 98 policy recommendations that have already been approved by the ICANN board of directors.

The implementation review team (IRT) would be responsible for writing the next Applicant Guidebook and dividing the work into eight modules that would tackle each section of the AGB sequentially. The first module would take seven months to complete, with each subsequent module taking three to four months after the completion of the preceding one. However, stakeholders are critical of this approach, with some questioning why the modules cannot be tackled simultaneously.

Additionally, there are concerns that the IRT could lose participants due to the lengthy two-year period, particularly among lawyers and consultants who stand to profit from advising large enterprises on their dot-brand applications. Despite these criticisms, the draft plan notes that the IRT has external dependencies to consider, such as closed generics issues being worked out with governments.

After the AGB is published, ICANN would need to carry out other work, such as public comment and program marketing, before the application window opens.

[dWhiles95p]

**ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers):**

1. **Overview:** ICANN is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating and managing the global Internet's Domain Name System (DNS). Its primary role is to ensure the stable and secure operation of the internet's unique identifier systems, including domain names and IP addresses.

2. **Functions:** ICANN's core functions include managing the allocation of IP address space, coordinating the operation and evolution of the DNS, accrediting domain registrars, and overseeing the introduction of new gTLDs.

3. **Governance:** ICANN operates under a multistakeholder model, which means it engages with various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, civil society, and technical experts, to make decisions and set policies related to the internet's infrastructure.

**New gTLDs (generic top-level domains):**

1. **What Are gTLDs:** Generic top-level domains are the part of a domain name that comes after the dot (e.g., .com, .org, .net). They are used to classify websites based on their purpose or nature.

2. **Introduction of New gTLDs:** In 2012, ICANN initiated a program to expand the number of gTLDs available on the internet. This program allowed organizations and individuals to apply for and operate their own gTLDs. This expansion aimed to increase choice and competition in the domain name space.

3. **Application Process:** To apply for a new gTLD, interested parties had to go through a rigorous application process, which included demonstrating their technical and financial capability to manage a gTLD. This process involved evaluation, objections, and community input.

4. **Impact:** The introduction of new gTLDs resulted in a significant increase in the number of domain extensions available. It allowed for more specific and creative domain names, such as .app, .blog, .guru, and many more, to be introduced alongside traditional gTLDs like .com and .org.

5. **Challenges:** The expansion of gTLDs also raised concerns about trademark protection, brand identity, and potential confusion among internet users. ICANN implemented various mechanisms to address these issues, such as the Trademark Clearinghouse and the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) system.

6. **Ongoing Management:** ICANN continues to manage the introduction and operation of new gTLDs, including policy development, oversight, and compliance enforcement to ensure a stable and secure internet namespace.

**ICANN's Role and Functions:**

ICANN plays a crucial role in overseeing the domain name system (DNS) and ensuring its proper functioning:

1. **DNS Root Zone Management:** ICANN manages the root zone of the DNS, which involves maintaining the authoritative database of top-level domain (TLD) names and their associated DNS server information. This is essential for the global resolution of domain names.

2. **TLD Administration:** ICANN accredits and oversees domain name registrars that sell domain names under various TLDs. This includes both generic TLDs (gTLDs) like .com and country code TLDs (ccTLDs) like .uk.

3. **Policy Development:** ICANN facilitates the development of policies related to domain names and gTLDs through a bottom-up, multistakeholder process. This means that stakeholders from different groups, including governments, businesses, and civil society, participate in policy discussions and decision-making.

**New gTLD Program:**

ICANN's New gTLD Program, initiated in 2012, allowed for the expansion of gTLDs on the internet. Here are more details about the program:

1. **Application and Evaluation:** Organizations and individuals interested in operating new gTLDs could apply by submitting detailed applications. These applications were subject to evaluation, including financial, technical, and operational assessments.

2. **Objections and Disputes:** During the application process, third parties could file objections or disputes against certain applications. This process aimed to address concerns related to trademarks, geographical names, and community objections.

3. **Auction and Resolution:** In cases where multiple applicants sought the same gTLD, auctions or other resolution mechanisms were used to determine the winning applicant.

4. **Launch and Operation:** Successful applicants were allowed to launch and operate their new gTLDs. This led to the introduction of hundreds of new domain extensions beyond the traditional gTLDs like .com and .org.

5. **Trademark Protections:** ICANN implemented several mechanisms to protect trademark owners in the new gTLD space, including the Trademark Clearinghouse, which helps trademark holders protect their rights.

**Impact of New gTLDs:**

The introduction of new gTLDs had several effects on the domain name industry and the internet as a whole:

1. **Increased Choice:** It expanded the range of available domain extensions, allowing for more specific and relevant domain names.

2. **Innovation:** New gTLDs allowed for creative and industry-specific domain extensions, which encouraged innovation and branding opportunities.

3. **Challenges:** However, the expansion also raised challenges related to trademark disputes, brand protection, and user confusion, which ICANN continues to address through policy adjustments.


**Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH):**

1. As part of the New gTLD Program, ICANN established the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) to assist trademark owners in protecting their rights in the expanded gTLD space.

2. The TMCH serves as a centralized repository of validated trademark information. Trademark holders can submit their trademarks to the TMCH, and this information is used in various ways during the launch of new gTLDs.

3. Benefits of TMCH include the ability to participate in Sunrise Periods (a phase where trademark holders have priority registration rights) and receive notifications of potentially infringing domain registrations.

**Sunrise Periods and Landrush Periods:**

1. Sunrise Periods: During the introduction of a new gTLD, there is often a "Sunrise Period" during which trademark holders can register domain names that match their trademarks before the general public. This helps protect established brands.

2. Landrush Periods: After the Sunrise Period, some new gTLDs have a "Landrush Period" during which individuals and organizations can register domain names on a first-come, first-served basis, typically at a premium price.

**Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS):**

1. The Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) system is a rights protection mechanism for trademark owners in the context of new gTLDs.

2. URS is designed to provide a quicker and less expensive way for trademark owners to address clear-cut cases of trademark infringement in domain registrations.

3. Unlike the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP), which applies to a broader range of domain disputes, URS specifically targets cases of trademark infringement in new gTLDs.

**Ongoing Policy Development:**

ICANN's policy development processes are ongoing and involve input from various stakeholders. Policies related to new gTLDs, trademark protection, and other domain name issues are subject to review and adjustment to address evolving challenges and concerns.

**Community Engagement:**

ICANN encourages community engagement through public comment periods, meetings, and working groups where stakeholders can voice their opinions and contribute to policy discussions and decisions.

**Future Expansion:**

ICANN has periodically considered additional rounds of new gTLD expansion, allowing for more applications and the introduction of new domain extensions. The decision to proceed with future rounds depends on various factors, including community input and evaluations of the program's effectiveness.