From March 8 to 13, the ICANN82 Community Forum of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) took place in Seattle, Washington, USA. At the first public ICANN meeting of the year, more than 1,800 participants came together in 174 sessions to discuss and advance key topics for the global internet community in various working groups.
To help shape these processes, LEMARIT attended as usual with a three-person team and was represented on site by Martin Kuechenthal (CEO and Founder), and virtually by Zornitsa Kuechenthal (Senior Project Lead, dotBRAND) and Dan Trampedach (COO).
During ICANN82, important debates took place on the next round of generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The “SubPro IRT Working Group” addressed several topics, including updates to the Registry Agreement (RA), security and stability measures, internationalized domain names (IDNs), and much more.
The term new gTLDs (generic top-level domains) refers to the expansion of the Domain Name System (DNS) with new domain extensions beyond the traditional gTLDs such as .com, .org and .net. These new gTLDs were introduced by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) starting in 2012 as part of a program designed to promote diversity in the domain extensions available on the internet. Following the successful completion of the first round of new gTLDs in 2012, ICANN is actively preparing for the next round of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The application window for this round is expected to open in April 2026.
String similarity and developments in IDNs
ICANN reaffirmed that visual, phonetic, and meaning-based similarities are taken into account when reviewing “string similarity.” Whether singular and plural versions of the same word in the same language are considered similar is at the discretion of the evaluation panel. In addition, blocked names (which are not available for registration) and reserved names (which are reserved for specific entities) are not reviewed for similarity.
With regard to internationalized domain names (IDNs), the discussion on single-character domains in Han script was referred back to the “GNSO Council” for further decision. There are concerns that multiple Han characters could be combined to mimic a single-character script, which could lead to confusion. A proposal to place such cases on a block list is currently being discussed. In the meantime, ICANN has confirmed that single-character domains in Han script will not be permitted for registration until a final decision is made.
Application and review status
The “Applicant Support Program” (ASP) has made progress: 18 applications were drafted, 15 were initiated, and two were submitted.
Similarly, under the “Registry Service Provider (RSP) Program,” 21 applications were drafted, seven were submitted, and six were fully approved. ICANN expects that the approval of RSPs will further raise public awareness of the program.
Public comments and next steps
In April, the “SubPro IRT Working Group” began reviewing the fourth round of public comments. One key point of discussion was updating the wording for name-collision concerns, with ICANN now set to develop recommendations based on reports and provide them to registry operators, who will have to justify any decision not to act. In addition, previous clauses on “severe harm” could be reintroduced into the agreement.
Another point of discussion was fraudulent practices, with concerns raised that ICANN should not act as the adjudicating authority in such cases. Instead, responsibility for determining fraudulent behavior should lie with courts or third parties.
Outreach and future engagement
ICANN continues to expand its outreach efforts, particularly in underserved regions, through monthly updates and targeted engagement strategies. By February, 39 outreach events had been held, with additional events planned through May. In addition, a global awareness campaign is being developed, focusing on clarifying the purpose of gTLDs, regional engagement, and improving public understanding of the program.
ICANN is focusing on technological innovation and plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) and crowdsourcing to translate new gTLD program materials. This approach aims to make official documents efficiently available in languages that have not previously been supported, thereby reaching a broader audience.
To overcome language barriers, ICANN is enhancing its capabilities for translating informational materials. A new platform is in development to provide translated content in 12 additional languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Polish, and Korean.
To ensure global participation, ICANN has created a new website for the “New gTLD Program.” This platform serves as a comprehensive source for current, past, and future program details, including information on the evaluation program for “Registry Service Providers” (RSP) and the “Applicant Support Program” (ASP). Most content is available in six UN languages, making access easier for a broader audience.
Outlook
As ICANN’s next steps focus on evaluating public comments and revising policy wording, the second round of gTLDs is moving within reach. Future updates will address revisions to contracting processes, the review of singular/plural names, and the development of dedicated tools to manage potential conflicts.