ICANN Acronyms and Terms

In the New Generic Top-Level Domain Program (New gTLD Program), a letter of credit or an escrow agreement that registry operators (ROs) of gTLDs must maintain to ensure the availability of funds to provide continuity of service should an issue with a registry arise. According to Specification 8 of the new gTLD Registry Agreement, ROs shall have a COI that provides sufficient financial resources to cover the five critical registry functions in Section 6 of Specification 10, for a determined time period.

A body within the Generic Names Supporting Organization Council that represents the interests of generic top-level domain (gTLD) registries and gTLD registrars. The Contracted Parties House consists of representatives from the Registry Stakeholder Group, the Registrar Stakeholder Group, and one member appointed by the ICANN Nominating Committee.

Registry or registrar that has entered into a contract with ICANN.

The ICANN organization function working to ensure that contracted parties fulfill the requirements in their agreements with ICANN. This function addresses complaints, monitors industry trends impacting contract terms, and oversees the ICANN Contractual Compliance Audit Program.

A program to ensure that registrars, registry operators, and other contracted parties comply with their agreements and consensus policies. Through the audit program, ICANN enhances community transparency with fact-based and measurable reporting, while proactively addressing potential deficiencies.

A nonprofit association of country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registries in the European region. CENTR provides a forum where its members can discuss policy issues affecting ccTLD registries in their region. The association also serves as a channel of communication between its membership and Internet governance bodies such as ICANN.

One of three Supporting Organizations in the ICANN community. The ccNSO develops a limited set of policies relating to country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Its membership consists of ccTLD managers. The ccNSO works together with the various ICANN constituencies and stakeholders on matters of common interest.

The council that administers the affairs of the Country Code Names Supporting Organization and manages the development of policy recommendations for country code top-level domains.

The class of top-level domains reserved for use by countries, territories, and geographical locations identified in the ISO 3166-1 Country Codes list.

ccTLDs can base their names on the two-letter country codes defined by the ISO 3166-1 standard (e.g., .jp for Japan, .fr for France, .ke for Kenya), or they can represent a country or territory name in a script other than US-ASCII characters.

Because ccTLDs are managed locally, the rules and policies for registering domain names vary across ccTLDs.

A mechanism that allows any number of Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) to work together to address an issue of common interest that does not fall within the scope of a single SO or AC.

The Cross-Community Working Group to Develop an IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal on Naming Related Functions is an example of a CCWG.

A body that provides oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) naming services provided by Public Technical Identifiers (PTI). The CSC and PTI meet monthly to review performance data and address any areas of concern.

The CSC includes members from the country code top-level domain and generic top-level domain registry operators and liaisons from various Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and stakeholder groups in ICANN (the liaisons).

A form of misuse in which a party intentionally registers a domain name that coincides with a commercial trademark or the name of a well-known person. After acquiring the domain name, the cybersquatter usually offers to sell the name to the legitimate owner at an inflated price.

When cybersquatting occurs in a generic top-level domain that operates under ICANN, legitimate owners may be able to initiate a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)proceeding.