gTLD registries to protect identifiers of certain IGOs and INGOs

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced the entry into force of a policy requiring registries of all generic top-level domains (gTLDs) to protect the identifiers of certain intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs). gTLD registries will have to reserve from registration the second-level domain names corresponding to the DNS label(s) of all identifiers recorded on the Red Cross, IOC, and IGO Identifier List found on the Reserved Names for gTLDs. If names on the reserved list are already registered as domain names, the registry must permit their renewal, as well as a possible transfer. However, if such domain names are deleted, they should be reserved as soon as the deletion takes pace. IGOs, Red Cross, and the IOC may request the registration of domain names matching their identifiers and reserved by the registries. All gTLD registries and ICANN accredited registrars will have to implement this policy no later than 1 August 2018. In the case of INGOs, registry operators will be required to provide an INGO Claims Service – a process by which a domain name registrant and the relevant INGO are notified that the domain name being registered is an exact match of the INGO’s name on the INGO Identifier List. This INGO policy becomes effective for all gTLD registries and ICANN-accredited registrars 12 months after the release of the INGO Claims System Specification (which ICANN is currently working on, including with regard to the INGO Identifier list).