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ICANN Seeks Input on Supporting Additional Scripts for IDNs

5 January 2022

Today, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened a Public Comment proceeding to determine the additional scripts to support through the Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs).

Link to Public Comment Proceeding:

https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/proceeding/additional-unicode-scripts-for-support-in-internationalized-domain-names-05-01-2022

Open for Submissions Date:

Wednesday, 5 January 2022

Closed for Submissions Date:

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Category:

Technical

Requester:

ICANN organization (org)

What We Need your Input On:

Based on its mission to support IDNs, ICANN org has been developing resources for 28 widely used scripts shortlisted in the Maximal Starting Repertoire (MSR). As this work matures, ICANN org aims to work on any additional scripts for IDN implementation. The Unicode Standard encodes 159 scripts in its latest version, 14.0.0. In Annex # 31, this standard categorizes 159 scripts as "Recommended," "Limited Use," or "Excluded" for use in defining identifiers. As IDNs are also identifiers based on the Unicode Standard, this categorization of scripts is also relevant for the second-level and top-level IDN labels.

The community is being asked to provide feedback on the analysis and the recommendations presented in the report developed by experts on Evaluating Unicode Scripts for Use in IDNs to guide ICANN org's continuing work on the implementation of IDNs.

Background:

It is part of ICANN's mission "to adopt or implement policies or procedures that take into account the use of domain names as natural-language identifiers", while preserving the security and stability of the Domain Name System (DNS). In line with its mission, ICANN org has been working with the support and guidance of the community to implement IDNs to provide broader access to the DNS. Following the development of the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (RZ-LGR) procedure, RZ-LGR is being developed, which currently integrates 18 of the 28 scripts shortlisted in the MSR. Most of the remaining script proposals are in progress or are published and awaiting integration in the RZ-LGR. In addition, multiple language and script based second-level reference LGRs have also been published for the community, covering these 28 scripts. As the work on developing resources for these 28 scripts matures, ICANN org will work on any additional scripts as necessary.

Next Steps

Based on community feedback on the report on Evaluating Unicode Scripts for Use in IDNs, the recommendations for use of the various scripts will be finalized by ICANN org for both the second-level and top-level IDN labels. The script recommendations for top-level labels will be submitted to the Integration Panel to decide which scripts are supported by the RZ-LGR under the RZ-LGR Procedure. The script recommendations for second-level labels will be implemented for generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Future IDN table requests for gTLDs would only be considered for scripts supported at the second level. Based on the Public Comments, which ICANN org receives, it will work with the gTLD registry operators on how to address existing IDN tables for any scripts that should not be supported for use in second-level IDN labels. ICANN org will also develop second-level reference Label Generation Rules (LGRs) for additional scripts, which are to be supported at the second level to allow for secure, consistent, and transparent IDN table reviews for gTLDs.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.