String Confusion Objections under ICANN’s New gTLD Program

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center was appointed by ICANN as the exclusive provider of dispute resolution services for "pre-delegation" String Confusion Objections (SCOs) under ICANN’s New gTLD Program. SCOs concern confusion with existing TLDs and/or another applied-for gTLD strings and/or any of its allocatable or blocked variant strings.

As part of the continued evolution of the Internet’s domain name system, ICANN has launched the next round of New generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). The 2026 Round application period closed on August 12, 2026, and on October 7, 2026, ICANN published the applications proceeding in the program, including applied-for strings, applicants, contention sets, and public portions of applications on Reveal Day. String Confirmation Day is scheduled for November 17, 2026, marking the opening of the Community Input and Objections Period.

In this regard, ICANN published the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook, providing a detailed roadmap from application to evaluation, objection, and approval.

Next Steps for Applicants and Rightsholders

The Community Input and Objections Period will open on November 17, 2026, and continue through March 16, 2027. During this period, eligible parties may submit Legal Rights Objections and String Confusion Objections to WIPO in accordance with the applicable ICANN and WIPO procedures.

WIPO will host a webinar on November 12, 2026, focusing on key aspects of objection filing, including procedural requirements, electronic filing, fees, and available resources.

Resources available below include WIPO Rules, fee schedules, model pleadings, e-filing guidance, and panelist information.

Interested parties can monitor updates here and on ICANN’s New gTLD Program site.

String Confusion Objection Cases

Find String Confusion Objection Cases 2026 Round.

String Confusion Objection Appeal Cases

Find String Confusion Objection Appeal Cases 2026 Round.