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2011/05/30
May 2011 New gTLD Applicant Guidebook

The Applicant Guidebook is a comprehensive guide for applicants that describes the New Generic Top-Level Domain program's requirements and evaluation processes. The Applicant Guidebook has been developed and improved through extensive public review by specialized working groups and ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees. Each draft has been accompanied by extensive public comment analyses, explanatory memoranda and independent reports.

This version contains updates based on community feedback and the recent consultations between ICANN's Board of Directors and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). Building on a three-day meeting in Brussels and many agreed-upon changes in the 15 April Draft of the Guidebook, the collaborative GAC-Board work has continued.

Most recently, designated representatives of the Board and the GAC held teleconferences to discuss trademark protections and objection procedures for governments. The full Board and GAC met in teleconference on 20 May, and the GAC provided written comments on 26 May. Several additional changes have been made based on this latest round of meetings and there were several additional areas of compromise. The Board and GAC agreed to hold another meeting in Singapore on 19 June.

The Applicant Guidebook is intended to be a comprehensive guide and will be regularly updated as aspects of the process are implemented. The Board will listen to community dialogue at the ICANN public meeting in Singapore, and will continue to solicit comments on specific areas.

Below you will find the Applicant Guidebook (in "clean" and "redline" versions), explanatory memoranda on various relevant issues, and the summary and analysis of public comments on the prior Discussion Draft of the Applicant Guidebook.

What's next?

The Board of Directors will consider approval of the New gTLD Program at an extraordinary meeting on Monday, 20 June 2011, during ICANN’s international meeting in Singapore.

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