ICANN have published an updated version of the Applicant Guidebook and unveiled a new micro-site dedicated to the new gTLD programme. The micro-site contains all of ICANN’s resources on new gTLDs and will function as the forum to submit comments on applications and view new gTLD applicants after the close of the application window in April next year.

The latest version of the Applicant Guidebook does not have any significant changes in policy; the main changes are that a list of terms reserved for the IOC and Red Cross has been included (although these terms will not be considered when evaluating applied-for terms for string contention), and that GAC advice no longer needs to be in a specific form or contain particular information, such as the process by which consensus was reached and which countries objected to an application. It is intended that a standard format for providing GAC Advice will be developed over the coming months.

A full summary of all changes in the latest version of the Applicant Guidebook can be found here.