Google signs its first Registry Agreement with ICANN

The time has come – another historic moment in the new gTLD program. Internet search giant, Google has signed its first Registry Agreement with ICANN for the new gTLD .みんな (“everyone” in Japanese). Google proposes that the TLD will adopt an open registration policy; therefore if a domain name under .みんな is available, anyone will be able to register it.

As yet, none of the executed new gTLD contracts have substantially changed from the approved base agreement, and with 44 Registry Agreements already signed (29 signed by Donuts, which is seven more than the same number of existing TLDs!), the first new gTLD Sunrise periods are likely to start later this year. We are therefore left wondering whether we will see the first registry go live before the next ICANN meeting in Buenos Aires; what an exciting prospect that would be!

Valideus, Com Laude’s sister company, offers strategic new gTLD consulting and registry management services for applicants engaged in ICANN’s New gTLD Program. It is currently managing 5% of all new gTLD applications for clients from a diverse range of industry sectors, including global leaders in e-commerce, banking, consultancy, food, insurance, media, software and telecoms.