A domain name closely linked to a company name or its specific business activities is an efficient tool for online communication. Internet users looking for information about a company will often make a search or type in a domain name that matches the company’s name or the type of services or products they are seeking.
The ownership of a specific domain (.resto, .travel, .IA, .holidays, etc.) can be an even more powerful communication tool.
Relying on the success of the new domain creation process completed in 2012, the ICANN is launching a new round of new generic top-level domain (gTLD) creation in 2025–2026. Applications for the delegation of new domains may be submitted between 30 April 2026 and 12 August 2026 (source : New gTLD Program: 2026 Round | New gTLD Program).
Whilst new domains present commercial opportunities, certain applications could raise risks or be detrimental to third-parties whose rights might be infringed or to specific companies, organisations or communities which activities may be affected by the proposed new domain.
To protect the rights and interests of potentially affected third parties, specific comment mechanisms and objection procedures are provided for during a dedicated timeframe within this new domain creation process.
It is therefore important for companies and organisations to familiarise themselves with the process for creating new domains, so that they can identify potentially problematic applications in due time and take appropriate action during the objection period scheduled for that specific purpose.
Our advice:
Seek advice from Lexing’s lawyers to monitor on your behalf the process of creating new domains and to define a preventive strategy to defend your rights where necessary.
For more information, please visit our dedicated page and review our case law analysis on the subject : Domain names – Lexing
