The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is going to provide additional generic top-level domains (gTLDs) protection for certain non-governmental organizations.
As a result of the resolution, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the International Olympic Committee will get access to the second-level protection they have been after, World Trademark Review reports.
It comes after the Government Advisory Committee originally advised ICANN to ban 40 terms from the application process for the new gTLDs – including variants of Olympic, Olympiad and Red Cross.
As a result of the move, a framework has been provided that will allow names and acronyms of intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) to enter a Reserved Names List.
Charlotte Lindsay Curtet, director of communication and information management for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: “The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is pleased by this decision, which will put ICANN in conformity with universally-endorsed regulations about the protection of the … names.
“These names have a distinct humanitarian function, in particular in times of armed conflict. Protecting them at the first and second level of a domain name is important, as this protection upholds their purpose.”
The Generic Names Supporting Organization Council has been given until February of next year to register any concerns it has about the move – however any worries have to relate to either the global public interest, or the security and stability of the Domain Name System.
Restrictions on second-level registration can be lifted at a later date depending on the policy recommendations received by ICANN.
Janis Karklins, assistant director general of Communication and Information for the UNESCO, noted every organization has the right to have its name protected in the online world in general and specifically in terms of domains.
He added this policy will make sure these IGOs do not have to worry about relevant URLs being registered in bad faith, while they are now also going to be protected in the real world.