The delegation of .MERCK highlights a key shift in the new gTLD landscape. While co-management once emerged as a pragmatic solution to contention, the 2026 Applicant Guidebook now prohibits any communication between competing applicants. In closing a loophole, ICANN may also have removed the possibility of constructive cooperation.
Today, ICANN officially opens the application window for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), marking a major milestone for the domain name industry and brand owners… Read More »ICANN Opens the Application Window for New gTLDs
The 2026 cycle is approaching, and the application window is already set. In this context, companies are not lacking interest in dotBRANDs, but often in… Read More »DotBRAND 2026: The Time for Reflection Is Running Out
From May 2 to 6, 2026, the International Trademark Association (INTA) will hold its Annual Meeting in London. This major event will bring together several thousand intellectual property professionals from around the world to discuss developments in trademark law and the growing challenges of brand protection in the digital environment. The IP Twins team will be present.
The ICANN 2026 cycle marks the return of a rare milestone in Internet governance. Between April and August 2026, companies, institutions, and project leaders will be able to apply for the creation of new top-level domains. Procedure, timeline, costs, and strategic implications, this concise reminder outlines what needs to be known, and above all, what must be anticipated.
In 2012, the launch of the New gTLD Program quietly introduced a distinct category of extensions: the .BRANDs, top-level domains reserved for a single company.… Read More ».BRAND: When a TLD Becomes Your Own Digital Architecture
On May 30, ICANN published a full draft version of the New gTLD Program: Next Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB). In our previous rundown of considerations… Read More »New gTLD program: analyzing new rules and their relevance for prospective dotBrand applicants
ICANN has officially kicked off the Next Round of the New gTLD Program, opening two formal processes for applicants and service providers. With program details… Read More »Interested in applying for a Dot Brand domain? Here’s what you need to know today
