Over 1,600 applications received for the next round of ‘Generic Top Level Domains’
21 September 2026
This is the first significant expansion of domains since 2012, and the numbers already suggest a high level of complexity as we will potentially see hundreds of new digital spaces launched over the next few years.
‘Reveal Day’, estimated to be no later than November, is the day when ICANN announces the next wave of new domains. It’s the day when brand owners learn which of the new domains might intersect with their existing rights. Interestingly, almost 1,100 of the new applicants also included replacement strings, incorporating a ‘plan b’ to mitigate the risk if their preferred choice is denied, or vetoed.
For trademark owners, Reveal Day will be an important date to review the application list against your existing portfolios, identify potentially conflicting or relevant strings, and assess whether any proactive action should be considered.
An expanded domain name space means more possibilities for cybersquatting, phishing and impersonation. At Zacco, the earlier we can assess which strings are most important and most relevant to our client’s business, the easier it is to take action on where monitoring and protection should be prioritised. Here is also where Trademark Clearinghouse can play a key role. Ensuring that your trademarks are registered provides an additional layer of protection as it opens up access to Sunrise and Trademark claims.
It’s worth noting that this is about more than just mitigating risk though. The application list will likely also highlight new opportunities, helping brand owners identify strings that could be relevant to their business activities, future digital strategy and broader online presence.
Following Reveal Day, third parties may file one of the following:
Legal Rights Objection (LRO)
- For trademark and rights holders, when a string may infringe existing rights
- Designed to protect against likelihood of brand confusion or brand impairment
- Administered by WIPO
String Confusion Objection (SCO)
- For TLD Registry Operators and Applicants, when two strings are too similar
- Similar to an applied for gTLD could mean visually, phonetically or conceptually.
- Administered by ICDR
Once the application list becomes public, Zacco’s unique cross-practice expertise within trademarks, domains and digital brand protection means we can help clients to identify the strings most relevant to their IP portfolios.
We will help you assess emerging trends, potential conflicts, and what the new domains and strings mean for your operations and digital strategy. Tobias Harhoff or Niclas Jonsson can answer any questions you have.
