ICANN’s 2026 new gTLD round: What does it mean for your online trademark protection?

Introduction

On August 12, 2026, ICANN closed the application window for its new Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program, the “2026 Round”. More than 1,600 applications were filed, confirming strong appetite for new internet naming spaces fourteen years after the previous 2012 round. For businesses and intellectual property rights holders, this new wave of extensions represents both a strategic opportunity and a potential source of new online infringement and cybersquatting risks.

A landmark round: more than 1,600 applications filed

A fifteen-week filing window

Opened on April 30, 2026, the application window closed on August 12, 2026 after fifteen weeks, with a significant surge of filings in the final days. More than 1,100 primary applications also included requests for replacement strings, an option available under the program in certain circumstances. These figures remain provisional: they will only be finalized once ICANN receives the required evaluation fees, due by August 19, 2026 (or seven days after an invoice is issued, whichever is later).

Concrete example: the previous 2012 round resulted in more than 1,200 new gTLDs being delegated, including brand extensions (.microsoft, .sky), geographic extensions (.africa, .berlin) and generic extensions (.bank, .eco). The 2026 Round is expected to be of comparable scale, with an unprecedented linguistic dimension.

For a detailed analysis of how the new gTLD program has evolved since the 2012 round, please see our previously published article: " The new gTLD program: What has changed since 2012? ".

An unprecedented opening to non-latin scripts

A notable feature of this round is that ICANN is, for the first time at this scale, accepting applications in 27 non-Latin scripts, including Arabic, Chinese, Devanagari and Thai. This linguistic expansion aims to make the domain name system more accessible to the billions of internet users who do not rely on Latin-based scripts. The base application fee stands at US$227,000, an amount that can rise significantly depending on the specialized evaluation requirements applicable to each type of string.

Key milestones: from reveal day to delegation

Once applications closed, several stages structure the evaluation process, up to the effective delegation of the new extensions.

Reveal Day, the publication of applications received, is a pivotal moment for rights holders, as it will disclose both the strings applied for and any conflicts between identical or similar applications.

Contention and objection procedures

Where several applicants seek an identical or overly similar string, ICANN provides contention-resolution mechanisms, including auctions, while prohibiting any private settlement between applicants. In addition, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center has been appointed as the exclusive provider for two pre-delegation, rights-based objection procedures: the Legal Rights Objection (LRO) and the String Confusion Objection (SCO). WIPO already administered 69 LRO cases during the 2012 round, making it the reference forum for trademark owners seeking to challenge an application that infringes their rights.

For further insight into the objection mechanisms and dispute resolution providers for the new round, please see our previously published article: " ICANN appoints dispute resolution service providers for the next round of new gTLDs: what businesses need to know ".

What risks and opportunities for trademark owners?

Increased risks of cybersquatting and trademark infringement

The opening of new extensions, particularly in non-Latin scripts, multiplies the possible combinations built around a given trademark. A rights holder may therefore face applications reproducing or evoking its mark in a language or script it had not previously monitored. Typical client scenario: a globally known luxury or cosmetics brand could discover, on Reveal Day, that a string closely resembling its name has been applied for by an unaffiliated third party, in a script it had not anticipated.

Strategic opportunities not to be overlooked

Conversely, this round is an opportunity for some companies to apply for their own brand extension (“.brand”), following the example of .airbus or .bnpparibas, in order to gain full control over the naming space associated with their identity. A .brand extension notably allows a company to be exempted from certain Sunrise obligations while retaining control of the registry.

For a more detailed analysis of the strategic issues surrounding “.brand” extensions, please see our article: " .brand extension: A complete guide for companies ahead of the ICANN 2026 wave ".

Practical roadmap

• Monitor the Reveal Day publication to identify any string conflicting with your rights
• Check that your trademarks are recorded with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) to benefit from protection mechanisms (Sunrise, Claims)
• Assess, with your counsel, whether to file a Legal Rights Objection (LRO) with WIPO within the applicable deadlines
• Anticipate a possible contention procedure if several applications target a string identical to your rights
• Update your domain name monitoring strategy (including UDRP practice) to cover the forthcoming new extensions

For further information on domain name monitoring and the prevention of cybersquatting, please see our article: " Domain name monitoring: protecting your trademark against cybersquatting ".

Conclusion

The 2026 gTLD Round marks a major milestone in the evolution of the domain name system, with more than 1,600 applications filed and an unprecedented opening to non-Latin scripts. For trademark owners, the challenge is twofold: anticipating the risks of conflicts and cybersquatting linked to these new extensions, while exploring the strategic opportunities they offer. Do not wait for Reveal Day to act: our teams are available to assess the impact of this 2026 gTLD round on your rights and to build a tailored protection strategy with you.

Key takeaways: more than 1,600 applications filed; Reveal Day expected within 9 weeks; WIPO is the exclusive provider for LRO and SCO objections; the Trademark Clearinghouse remains the key tool for preventive trademark protection.

Dreyfus Law Firm assists its clients in managing complex intellectual property cases, offering personalized advice and comprehensive operational support for the complete protection of intellectual property.

Dreyfus Law Firm works in partnership with a global network of attorneys specializing in Intellectual Property.

Nathalie Dreyfus, with the support of the entire Dreyfus team

Q&A

Is a “.brand” extension reserved for large multinationals?

Not by rule, but its cost (application fees starting at US$227,000, plus annual registry operating costs) puts it out of reach for most companies in practice; smaller businesses can sometimes access similar benefits through a shared technical registry partner.

Can a company that did not apply in 2026 still get its own extension later?

There is no guarantee in the short term: ICANN let fourteen years pass between the 2012 and 2026 rounds, with no commitment on when the next cycle will open. Interested companies should monitor ICANN's announcements and plan well in advance.

What happens if a trademark is not recorded with the Trademark Clearinghouse when a new extension launches?

The rights holder loses the benefit of the Sunrise period, which allows registering a matching domain name before the extension opens to the public, and must instead monitor for potentially infringing registrations after the fact, with a higher risk of having to litigate.

Can a small business file a Legal Rights Objection on its own, or is legal representation required?

WIPO's procedure does not require representation by a lawyer, but the technical nature of the arguments involved (proving prior rights, likelihood of confusion, absence of the applicant's legitimate interest) makes specialized counsel strongly advisable.

Can a contention (auction) outcome be appealed?

Legal Rights Objection determinations can be challenged under WIPO's appellate rules applicable to the 2026 Round, in effect since January 1, 2026; by contrast, the outcome of a contention auction between competing applicants is generally not subject to such an appeal.

What is the difference between a String Confusion Objection and an ordinary trademark opposition before the USPTO or EUIPO?

A String Confusion Objection only addresses confusion between two candidate strings before delegation, whereas a trademark opposition concerns the registration of a mark itself and can be filed at any point in that mark's life.

In practice, how long does it take from filing an application to a new extension actually going live?

Experience from the 2012 round shows this varies widely: uncontested extensions were delegated in a little over a year, while those subject to objections or contention procedures sometimes took several additional years.