ICANN & Governance

ICANN

Non-profit organization coordinating global DNS, IP addresses, and TLD delegation.

IANA

ICANN function managing the DNS root zone, IP allocation, and protocol parameters.

Registry Operator

Organization maintaining the authoritative database of domains for a TLD.

Registry Agreement

Contract between ICANN and a registry operator for TLD operation terms.

RAA (Registrar Accreditation Agreement)

Contract between ICANN and a registrar defining domain sales terms.

UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy)

ICANN policy for resolving trademark-related domain name disputes.

DNS Root Zone

Highest level of DNS containing records for all TLDs, served by 13 root servers.

Sunrise Period

Pre-launch registration phase where trademark holders can claim domains first.

GDPR & Domain Privacy

EU regulation that caused WHOIS data redaction for domain registrant privacy.

Domain Dispute

Legal conflict over domain name rights, resolvable via UDRP or courts.

GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization)

ICANN body that develops policy recommendations for generic top-level domains.

ccNSO (Country Code Names Supporting Organization)

ICANN supporting organization representing ccTLD managers and developing shared ccTLD policies.

At-Large (ICANN At-Large Community)

ICANN community representing individual internet users across five world regions.

GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee)

ICANN advisory body of national governments whose consensus advice carries special weight.

URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension)

Fast, low-cost trademark dispute mechanism that suspends domains without transferring ownership.

TMCH (Trademark Clearinghouse)

ICANN-mandated centralized database granting trademark holders priority and notification rights in new gTLDs.

PTI (Public Technical Identifiers)

ICANN affiliate that performs IANA functions including root zone management and IP allocation coordination.

Consensus Policy

GNSO-developed policy binding on all ICANN-accredited registrars and registries after Board adoption.

Registry-Registrar Separation

ICANN rule preventing a TLD registry operator from also being a registrar for the same TLD.

New gTLD Program

ICANN initiative that launched 1,200+ new gTLD extensions starting from the 2012 application round.