Introduction

ICANN84 was held in Dublin from October 25 to 30, 2025, bringing together more than 1,500 participants from 129 countries in a hybrid format that combined in-depth policy work with operational capacity building. The goal of this annual meeting was to translate the policies developed into concrete practices within the domain name ecosystem.

ICANN84 took place within the broader context of the upcoming review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), the ongoing reform of Internet governance, and ICANN’s own internal review process.

Context and challenges of ICANN84

The 2025 edition of the annual meeting of the ICANN was characterized by a strong commitment to transforming policy work into operational mechanisms in support of a stable and inclusive DNS.

Three key challenges defined this edition:

  • Policy/Technical Alignment : The aim was to ensure that recommendations from the working groups (Policy) were effectively translated into technical and contractual operations.
  • DNS Abuse : As DNS abuse through phishing, malware, and malicious domains continues to grow, the community reunited focused on developing mechanisms for prevention, detection, and rights protection.
  • Regional Balance/Inclusiveness : The goal was to ensure that new gTLD cycles remain accessible, especially to underrepresented regions, and to encourage global participation.

Multi-stakeholder governance at the heart of the ICANN model

One of the defining features of the ICANN governance model lies in its bottom-up approach, based on the participation and coordination of multiple stakeholders, rather than on a centralized, top-down form of regulation.

This balanced model, which combines technical, political, and user perspectives, is what makes ICANN unique as a distributed governance model.

DNS Abuse: From Debate to Implementation

Throughout the week, DNS abuse remained at the forefront of discussions. Key themes included:

  • Measurement and Reporting: How can abuse be reliably quantified by  registrars, and third parties?
  • Roles of “Trusted Notifiers”: Defining the actors authorized to report abuse, and outlining their relationship with registries and registrars.
  • Enforcement/Fundamental Rights Balance: Ensuring that mechanisms to address abuse do not undermine fundamental rights like freedom of speech.
  • International Harmonization: Given the differences in jurisdictions, policies must be coordinated without imposing a single framework on states.

Although no binding policy was adopted during the meeting, ICANN84 helped solidify a roadmap. The Final Issue Report on DNS abuse is expected in November 2025, and the GNSO will need to decide whether to launch one or more Policy Development Processes (PDPs), particularly on API control and verification of associated domains.

Next cycle of new extensions: preparation and challenges

One of the key moments at ICANN84 was the preparation for the new gTLD cycle, scheduled to open in April 2026, the first expansion since the 2012 wave. The sessions in Dublin covered the following topics:

On this topic, the various working sessions in Dublin addressed the following:

  • Program Design : Rules, evaluation criteria, and support for applicants.
  • Security and Anti-Abuse Safeguards: Integrating prevention mechanisms from the outset.
  • Geographic and Financial Inclusivity: Reducing bias in favor of large entities or developed countries.
  • Dispute Resolution, Technical Evaluation, and Compliance Procedures
  • Integrating Public Interest Principles : Ensuring that public interest is at the heart of the process.

A major milestone was reached in Dublin with the approval of the final version of the  Applicant Guidebook (AGB) by the ICANN Board of Directors. The result of lengthy community negotiations, this document now establishes the official rules for the 2026 application cycle, consolidating, in particular, the obligations related to the prevention of DNS abuse and the protection of rights.

ICANN bodies and their missions

ICANN operates through an ecosystem of bodies with complementary missions. In Dublin, each of them played a specific role in implementing the 2025-2026 priorities:

  • The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC): represents public interests and government authorities. In Dublin, it reinforced its recommendations on consumer protection, strengthened its dialogue with the ICANN Board, and was actively involved in discussions on the Applicant Guidebook.
  • The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO): The driving force behind gTLD policies. At ICANN84, it led the Policy Development Process, particularly on DNS abuse and the RDRS, while prioritizing and planning resources for the implementation of recommendations. Its role is to sequence work in a way that avoids scheduling conflicts and ensures that decisions are actionable.
  • The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC): Defends the interests of end users. At the meeting, it emphasized accessibility and universal acceptance, ensuring that measures to combat abuse do not restrict users’ rights or hinder innovation.
  • The Country-Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO): shared its expertise on country code domains, providing feedback on registry governance and compatibility with local legislation. Its interventions helped harmonize procedures between gTLDs and ccTLDs, particularly with a view to promoting cross-border cooperation.
  • The Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) provided technical recommendations on DNS system resilience and risk management. Their work aims to translate technical recommendations into contractual obligations and operational routines in order to maintain the stability and security of the global infrastructure.
  • Finally, the Address Supporting Organization (ASO), representing regional IP address registries, emphasized the importance of ensuring consistency between address allocations and the development of DNS services, thereby guaranteeing the sustainability of routing and compatibility between domain name expansion and addressing capacity.

structure and missions

Implications for trademark holders and strategic directions

For trademark owners, these developments present both challenges and opportunities. It is increasingly essential to adapt trademark protection strategies to the evolving landscape of enhanced security, compliance, and governance standards. This proactive approach will help mitigate the risks associated with abuse and leverage the new opportunities offered by the next round of gTLDs.

Conclusion

ICANN84 marked a key milestone in global domain name governance, reaffirming the critical role of the multi-stakeholder model and the transition to the concrete implementation of developed policies.

For trademark holders, the next round of new gTLDs, scheduled for April 2026, presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The expansion of the domain name space will be governed by stricter policies on abuse prevention, data protection, and contractual liability. As a result, rigorous legal and strategic preparation will be essential to protect rights, anticipate potential conflicts, and capitalize on new opportunities.

ICANN84 illustrates how international coordination and engagement among various stakeholders are shaping a safer and more reliable environment for all DNS participants, while underscoring the need for brands to stay proactive in the face of upcoming changes.

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FAQ

1. What is the ICANN and what is its role?
The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the international organization that oversees the governance of the domain name system (DNS). It coordinates policies for assigning domain names and IP addresses worldwide, ensuring the stability, security, and accessibility of the Internet.

2. When will the next round of new gTLDs begin?
The next cycle of new gTLDs is scheduled for April 2026, marking the first expansion since 2012. This round aims to expand the available namespace while incorporating robust policies for security, inclusivity, and user protection.

3. What is the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) and why is it important?
The Applicant Guidebook is the official manual governing the application process for new gTLDs. It specifies requirements for DNS abuse prevention, data transparency, and rights protection, and defines procedures for applicant support and geographic name management.

4. How should trademark holders prepare?
Trademark holders should anticipate the risks and opportunities associated with the expansion of gTLDs: analyze the AGB, review their contracts with registries and registrars, strengthen compliance and rights protection procedures, and participate in public consultations to influence the applicable rules.