Announcement of Receipt of Comments on New Top Level Domain Names by Category by ICANN

1.Background

  Currently, there are 22 types of gTLDs by category such as “.com” and “.net.” ICANN has deliberated on the introduction of new gTLDs including geographical names, company names, etc. in response to requests for use of new gTLDs. In June 2011, ICANN has compiled a “guidebook for applicants for new gTLDs*3” stipulating the examination process of new gTLDs and solicited applications for new gTLDs from January 12 to May 30, 2012.
 

2.Examination of new gTLDs by ICANN

  On June 13, 2012, ICANN officially announced the application results such as the domain names applied and their applicants on its website*4 as part of the examination process. At the same time, ICANN has started to receive comments (60 days from the official announcement) and claims (7 months from the official announcement). Comments will be considered in examinations and in the case where any claim is submitted, it will proceed to the procedures for resolution of dispute by external examiners. As the domain names applied include various names such as geographical names and company names, if you wish to submit any comment or claim, please do so through the ICANN website*5.

  *1 Domain names are strings of characters which refer to addresses (www.soumu.go.jp, etc.) when communications are made through the Internet.
  *2 Top-level domains refer to, for example, “.jp” in www.soumu.go.jp and they are roughly divided into two types; country-by-country top-level domains such as “.jp” and category-by-category top-level domains such as “.com.”
  *3 http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
  *4 http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/application-results
  *5 http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/application-comments