A new round of gTLDs: End User’s Perspectives
European Regional At-Large Organization (EURALO) - March 31, 2026
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK
Speakers:
Frédéric Taes - Chair, EURALO; Olivier Crépin-Leblond - Co-chair, At-Large Consolidated Policy Working Group; Jan Janssen - Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Lawyer, PETILLION; Martin Kuechenthal - CEO, LEMARIT GmbH; Maxim Alzoba - Special Projects Manager, International Relations Department, FAITID
Moderator:
Natalia Filina - Secretary, EURALO
Frédéric Taes – Introduction and Program Context
Frédéric Taes opened by framing the upcoming gTLD round as a major, complex expansion of the DNS, far beyond simply adding new domain extensions. He highlighted key structural and policy developments:
The Applicant Guidebook exceeds 400 pages, reflecting the scale and maturity of the process
Application cost is approximately $227,000, partially mitigated by an Applicant Support Program offering 75–85% reductions
Around 74 applicants have already sought support, exceeding expectations
He emphasized the diversity of potential applicants:
Brands (e.g., corporate TLDs)
Geographic names (with potential conflicts, e.g., “Waterloo”)
Community-based applications
Key process elements include:
Application window of ~12–15 weeks
Evaluation and “reveal day” of proposed strings
Objection and review phases involving governments and the ICANN community
Taes stressed that the rollout will span years, potentially to 2030, and will include mechanisms like auctions to resolve contention, with proceeds funding support programs.
Olivier Crépin-Leblond – End User Perspective and Lessons from 2012
Olivier Crépin-Leblond analyzed the previous 2012 round through an end-user lens, distinguishing two user groups:
Registrants (those who own domains)
General users (those who interact with domains passively)
Key outcomes from 2012:
Increased choice in domain names
Reduced pricing pressure due to expanded supply
Limited but growing adoption of new TLDs
Shortcomings:
Limited uptake of non-Latin IDNs
Persistent DNS abuse concerns
Ongoing tension between privacy (GDPR) and transparency (WHOIS/RDAP)
Unclear levels of user confusion
He noted improvements in the new round:
Expanded support for 27 scripts and alphabets
Stronger safeguards and compliance frameworks
Greater opportunity for community applicants
However, he raised a central concern: whether end users are truly the primary beneficiaries, or whether speculative actors will again dominate.
Natalia Filina – Moderation and Framing
Natalia Filina guided the discussion, acknowledging both skepticism and optimism within the community. She encouraged interactive participation and emphasized that the new round represents both:
A technical and policy evolution
A chance to better align outcomes with user needs
Jan Janssen – Trademark Protection and Dispute Mechanisms
Jan Janssen provided a legal overview of trademark protections within the DNS ecosystem, focusing on:
Core mechanisms:
UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy)
Established in 1999
Resolves disputes within ~75 days
Requires proof of trademark rights, lack of legitimate interest, and bad faith
URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension)
Faster (under a month)
Suspends domains rather than transferring them
Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
Enables Sunrise registration for trademark holders
Provides warnings to potential registrants
He emphasized that these systems:
Enhance trust in the DNS
Act as deterrents to abuse
Balance open access with rights protection
He also noted ongoing efforts to review and modernize UDRP, led by WIPO and industry groups.
Martin Kuechenthal – Market Dynamics and .brand Opportunities
Martin Kuechenthal provided a registrar and business perspective, focusing on market evolution and .brand TLDs.
Market expectations:
Moderate growth in new generic TLDs
Increased use of non-ASCII and regional TLDs
Continued price increases (contrary to earlier declines)
Potential entry of Web3 naming systems into ICANN space
.brand advantages:
Full control over namespace (only brand owner can register domains)
Strong trust signal for users
Reduced phishing and abuse risk
Enhanced security (DNSSEC, HSTS, controlled email systems)
Marketing flexibility and SEO potential
He emphasized that .brand TLDs shift organizations from domain users to infrastructure owners, improving both security and user trust.
Maxim Alzoba – DNS Abuse and Security Constraints
Maxim Alzoba addressed DNS abuse mitigation from an operational and policy standpoint.
Key points:
Registries and registrars can suspend or delete domains, but cannot eliminate abuse entirely
Abuse mitigation requires coordination with ISPs, hosting providers, and other actors
Automated or preemptive enforcement is legally constrained
He highlighted challenges:
Legal risks in acting before abuse is proven
Limitations of blocklists (RBLs) and unreliable threat intelligence
Increasing role of AI in enabling abuse
He stressed that policy improvements must balance:
User protection
Legal compliance
Operational feasibility
Discussion Highlights
Audience questions focused on:
Brand conflicts and user confusion across multiple TLDs
Lessons from high-profile disputes like .amazon
Handling of geographic names and disputed territories
Responses emphasized:
Use of backup string options in applications
Trademark Clearinghouse warnings
Role of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and objection processes
Closing Remarks – Frédéric Taes
Taes concluded that the new gTLD round represents:
A more structured, mature, and secure evolution of the DNS
Expanded linguistic and technical capabilities
A long-term, multi-year implementation effort
He underscored that success will depend not on the number of new TLDs, but on:
Practical utility
Trustworthiness
Real-world adoption by users and communities
The round is only beginning, with execution and real-world outcomes still to be determined.
RESOURCES
EURALO – European Regional At-Large Organization — the host organization, representing European Internet end-user voices within ICANN
ICANN New gTLD Program: 2026 Round — the central hub for the new round discussed throughout, with application window opening 30 April 2026
2026 Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB) — the 400-page rulebook for gTLD applicants referenced repeatedly by Frédéric Taes and Martin Kuechenthal
ICANN Applicant Support Program (ASP) — the program offering 75–85% fee reductions for qualifying applicants, discussed by Frédéric Taes
UDRP – Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (WIPO) — the trademark dispute mechanism covered in depth by Jan Janssen
Brand Registry Group (BRG) — the ICANN association for dotBrand TLD operators recommended by Martin Kuechenthal for prospective .brand applicants
LEMARIT GmbH – Registry & dotBrand Services — Martin Kuechenthal’s firm, an ICANN-accredited registrar and registry service provider specializing in dotBrand applications
Jan Janssen – PETILLION Law Firm — speaker profile for the dispute resolution and IP lawyer who presented on UDRP, URS, and the Trademark Clearinghouse
FAITID – Foundation for Assistance for Internet Technologies and Infrastructure Development — Maxim Alzoba’s organization, operator of .MOSCOW/.МОСКВА and active participant in ICANN’s Registry Stakeholder Group
UDRP Policy Text – ICANN — the full text of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy discussed by Jan Janssen
GLOSSARY
gTLD — Generic Top-Level Domain
The part of a web address to the right of the final dot (e.g., .com, .org, .city). The 2026 round opens a new application window for organizations to apply to operate their own gTLD.
ccTLD — Country Code Top-Level Domain
A two-letter domain extension assigned to a specific country or territory (e.g., .fr, .de, .ru). Governed separately from gTLDs and not part of the 2026 round.
IDN — Internationalized Domain Name
A domain name that includes characters from non-Latin scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, or Devanagari. The 2026 round supports 27 different alphabets.
dotBrand / .brand
A type of gTLD where a company uses its own trademark as the domain extension (e.g., .google, .sky, .bmw). Only the brand owner can register names under it, making it a built-in anti-fraud and trust tool.
RSP — Registry Service Provider
A company that provides the back-end technical infrastructure to operate a TLD on behalf of a registry operator. The 2026 round separates RSP evaluation from the applicant evaluation process.
UDRP — Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
The ICANN-mandated framework for resolving trademark-based domain name disputes. Created by WIPO in 1999, it allows trademark holders to challenge abusive domain registrations through an expedited administrative process (typically 75 days) without going to court.
URS — Uniform Rapid Suspension
A faster dispute resolution mechanism introduced in the 2012 gTLD round for clear-cut cases of trademark abuse. Rather than transferring a domain name, it suspends it. Concludes in under a month.
Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
An ICANN-mandated database of validated trademarks. It powers two protections: the Sunrise phase (allowing trademark holders to register domains before a new gTLD opens to the public) and the Trademark Claims service (which warns potential registrants of existing trademark rights).
Sunrise Phase
A pre-launch window, typically 60 days, during which only verified trademark holders may register domain names in a newly launching gTLD.
AGB — Applicant Guidebook
The official rulebook for the ICANN new gTLD program, published December 2025. Over 400 pages, it covers all requirements, evaluation criteria, and processes for applying to operate a new gTLD.
ASP — Applicant Support Program
ICANN’s financial assistance program offering qualifying applicants from underserved regions a 75–85% reduction in the $227,000 application fee. 74 organizations received support for the 2026 round.
String Confirmation Day
A milestone in the gTLD process, approximately 9 weeks after the application window closes, when ICANN publicly reveals all applied-for strings. Applicants then have 14 days to confirm or change their string.
WHOIS / RDAP — Registration Data Access Protocol
The system for accessing domain registration data (registrant name, contact info, etc.). The older WHOIS protocol has been substantially replaced by RDAP, with access heavily restricted under GDPR and equivalent privacy laws.
RDRS — Registration Data Request Service
An ICANN system allowing legitimate parties (law enforcement, IP rights holders) to formally request non-public domain registration data from registrars.
DNS — Domain Name System
The Internet’s address book, translating human-readable domain names (e.g., example.com) into the IP addresses computers use to communicate.
DNS Abuse
Malicious use of the domain name system, including malware distribution, phishing, pharming, botnets, and spam used as a delivery mechanism for other abuse types. A central concern for registries and registrars.
RBL — Real-Time Blackhole List
A block list maintained by cybersecurity organizations flagging domain names or IP addresses associated with abuse. Maxim Alzoba cautioned that RBL data can be unreliable and carries no legal accountability.
NTAG — New Top-Level Domain Applicant Group
An interest group within ICANN’s Registry Stakeholder Group (RySG) that will represent new gTLD applicants in the 2026 round, giving them a voice in ICANN policy discussions.
CPH — Contracted Parties House
The collective body within ICANN representing registries (RySG) and registrars (RrSG). Its DNS Abuse working group coordinates industry efforts to combat DNS abuse.
GAC — Governmental Advisory Committee
ICANN’s advisory body representing national governments. GAC advice on a gTLD application — particularly for geographic or disputed strings — must be taken seriously by the ICANN Board and can affect whether an application proceeds.
GNSO — Generic Names Supporting Organization
ICANN’s policy-development body for gTLDs, comprising registries, registrars, and various non-commercial and commercial user constituencies. Develops consensus policy recommendations.
DNSSEC — Domain Name System Security Extensions
A suite of security extensions that digitally sign DNS records, allowing resolvers to verify that responses have not been tampered with. Can be mandated across an entire .brand namespace by the registry operator.
DMARC — Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance
An email authentication protocol that helps prevent spoofing and phishing by verifying that emails claiming to come from a domain actually originate from that domain’s authorized servers.
HSTS — HTTP Strict Transport Security
A web security policy that forces browsers to only connect to a site over HTTPS. A dotBrand registry can enforce HSTS at the root TLD level, requiring SSL certificates for all domain registrations under it.
WIPO — World Intellectual Property Organization
The United Nations agency that created the UDRP and remains the leading provider of domain name dispute resolution services globally.