WIPO is preparing for the next procedural stage of ICANN's New gTLD Program: 2026 Round, following ICANN's announcement of key milestones leading into the objection phase.
On October 7, 2026, ICANN held Reveal Day, where it published the list of applications proceeding through the program, including the applied-for strings, applicants, relevant contention sets, and public portions of submitted applications.
WIPO was appointed by ICANN as the exclusive provider of dispute resolution services for Legal Rights Objections (LROs) and String Confusion Objections (SCOs) in the 2026 Round. Legal Rights Objections provide a mechanism for trademark owners to object to applied-for gTLD strings that may infringe existing trademark rights, while String Confusion Objections address circumstances in which applied-for strings may create a likelihood of confusion with existing or applied for TLD strings.
Following the String Replacement Period, ICANN confirmed that String Confirmation Day will take place on November 17, 2026. This milestone marks the beginning of the period for filing Objections, during which eligible parties may submit objections in accordance with the procedures set out in the Applicant Guidebook. The period is scheduled to continue through March 16, 2027.
To support parties participating in these proceedings, WIPO has published dedicated resources, including procedural rules, fee schedules, filing guidelines, model pleadings, and information regarding panel appointments and case administration.
Building on its experience administering Legal Rights Objections during ICANN's 2012 New gTLD round, WIPO continues its role in facilitating fair, efficient, and expert determination of objections arising in the expansion of the Domain Name System.
Additional information concerning Legal Rights Objections, String Confusion Objections, and related resources is available on the WIPO’s New gTLD Program webpages.
Related resources
https://www.wipo.int/en/web/amc/domain-name-disputes/lro/index