Snapshot of 8 October 2026 · ICANN APS, public fields

Applications / .gen / GEN2685T-T72482 · published by ICANN 7 October 2026 · snapshot 2026-10-08

.gen

Brand TLD · Spec 13Active

Gen Digital Inc. , US Q1·Q25

ICANN record ↗

§ 1 — Meaning of the string Q118·Q120

Gen is an arbitrary trademark of Gen Digital, Inc. While the word “Gen” has an independent dictionary meaning, there is no descriptive relationship to Gen Digital’s products or services and functions exclusively as a source identifier.

dʒɛn

§ 2 — Mission and purpose Q133

Mission and Purpose

Gen Digital Inc. is applying for the .gen top-level domain as a dotBrand TLD under Specification 13 of the Registry Agreement. The mission of .gen is to serve as a dedicated, trusted namespace for Gen Digital Inc. and its affiliates, a controlled digital environment that reflects the Gen brand and supports the full range of Gen Digital's business activities, from internal operations to customer-facing services.

The intended registrants of .gen are consistent with Specification 13's requirements. Gen Digital's internal policies will govern the use of .gen and will remain tightly controlled to protect the integrity and trust associated with the Gen brand.

Gen Digital intends to deploy .gen across a range of use cases, including internal corporate infrastructure as well as customer-facing sites and services supporting its cybersecurity and digital safety product portfolio and the broader Gen Digital ecosystem. The .gen namespace will enable Gen Digital to organize, authenticate, and present its digital presence under a single, recognizable, brand-controlled TLD, enhancing trust and reducing the risk of phishing, impersonation, and namespace confusion that can arise under generic TLDs.

Sustainability Over Time

The .gen TLD is designed to be a long-term strategic asset for Gen Digital. Gen Digital is a well-established company with a stable financial profile and long-standing operations in the cybersecurity and digital safety sector. The ongoing operational costs of maintaining a dotBrand TLD are well within Gen Digital's organizational capacity, and Gen Digital has the technical infrastructure and vendor relationships necessary to support registry operations in compliance with ICANN's requirements.

Because .gen will function as a closed, single-registrant TLD under Specification 13, it does not depend on third-party registration revenue for sustainability. The TLD's value is derived from its role within Gen Digital's broader business, not from commercial registration activity. Gen Digital views .gen as a living asset whose specific use cases will develop over time, while remaining anchored to the Gen brand and subject to Specification 13's requirements throughout the term of the Registry Agreement.

§ 3 — Commitments and safeguards Q164–Q188

More trustworthy, consumer risk, regulated sector, government reporting, harm, government function Q164–Q169No to each
Voluntary Safeguard PICs Q170·Q171None · 90 applications in the round offer some
Registry Voluntary Commitments Q172·Q173None · 5 do
Brand TLD criteria confirmed, trademark certificate attached Q180·Q181Yes · certificate not published
Confirms the string is not a “generic string” Q183Yes
Spec 11 §3(d) statement Q184

Gen Digital Inc. intends to operate .gen strictly as a single-registrant dotBrand TLD under Specification 13 of the Registry Agreement. "Gen" is not a term the public understands to generically refer to a category of cybersecurity, software, or digital safety products or services. Gen Digital Inc. holds a registered trademark for GEN, confirming the term's function as a source identifier for its products and services rather than a description of a general class of goods or services. In the context relevant to the applicant, "Gen" functions exclusively as a source identifier, distinguishing Gen Digital Inc. and its products and services from those of others, and therefore .gen does not meet the definition of a "Generic String" under Specification 11, Section 3(d).

Because .gen is not a Generic String, Section 3(d)'s restriction on limiting registrations to a single entity and its affiliates does not apply to this application. Gen Digital Inc. will register domain names in .gen only to itself and its Affiliates, consistent with the dotBrand TLD model under Specification 13. No eligibility criteria will be imposed that conflict with Section 3(d), since the TLD will operate exclusively in connection with the distinctive Gen brand rather than as a platform for registrations describing a generic category of goods or services.

§ 4 — All other published answers

Every other answer ICANN published for this application, in the order of the form. Contact details (Q17–Q24) are left to the ICANN record.

Q206Q3.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If the applying entity’s financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE), the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the QPE must co-sign the certification document. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC3.2-1.1 - As of the submission date of the application, the applying entity is currently a listed member in one or more of the public stock exchanges identified on ICANN’s list from Market Statistics (https://focus.world-exchanges.org/issue/december-2025/market-statistics, as of December 2025), including information on both the relevant exchange and the current registration ticker symbol. SC3.2-1.2 - The applying entity is in good standing with the public stock exchange in which it is a listed member. SC3.2-1.3 - The applying entity commits to the long-term funding of all applied-for gTLD strings. SC3.2-1.4 - The applying entity and/or its officers are bound by law in its jurisdiction to represent financial statements accurately and the applying entity is in good standing in that jurisdiction.

Q3.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If the applying entity’s financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE), the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the QPE must co-sign the certification document. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC3.2-1.1 - As of the submission date of the application, the applying entity is currently a listed member in one or more of the public stock exchanges identified on ICANN’s list from Market Statistics (https://focus.world-exchanges.org/issue/december-2025/market-statistics, as of December 2025), including information on both the relevant exchange and the current registration ticker symbol. SC3.2-1.2 - The applying entity is in good standing with the public stock exchange in which it is a listed member. SC3.2-1.3 - The applying entity commits to the long-term funding of all applied-for gTLD strings. SC3.2-1.4 - The applying entity and/or its officers are bound by law in its jurisdiction to represent financial statements accurately and the applying entity is in good standing in that jurisdiction.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q220Q5.1-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.1-1.1 - The applying entity will appropriately protect confidentiality of data and prevent unauthorized access to data and services. SC5.1-1.2 - The applying entity will maintain a mature, appropriately funded and staffed security program, following a recognized, modern security framework based on risk management (such as the ISO27000 series, COBIT, HITRUST CSF, legally required security frameworks, or equivalent). The security program must be in place prior to delegation, and exist through at least the period of the registry agreement. SC5.1-1.3 - The applying entity is aware of and has designed its systems and business to comply with the relevant privacy and security regulations for all countries in which it operates.

Q5.1-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.1-1.1 - The applying entity will appropriately protect confidentiality of data and prevent unauthorized access to data and services. SC5.1-1.2 - The applying entity will maintain a mature, appropriately funded and staffed security program, following a recognized, modern security framework based on risk management (such as the ISO27000 series, COBIT, HITRUST CSF, legally required security frameworks, or equivalent). The security program must be in place prior to delegation, and exist through at least the period of the registry agreement. SC5.1-1.3 - The applying entity is aware of and has designed its systems and business to comply with the relevant privacy and security regulations for all countries in which it operates.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q221Q5.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.2-1.1 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the Top Level Domain (TLD), establish a dedicated abuse point of contact responsible for addressing matters requiring expedited attention and providing a timely response to abuse complaints concerning any name registered in the TLD. SC5.2-1.2 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the TLD, establish, publish, and provide to ICANN the location of a mechanism for members of the public to submit reports of abuse in accordance with the current obligations of the Base RA and any Consensus Policies. SC5.2-1.3 - The applying entity has developed proposed measures for removal of orphan glue records for names removed from the zone when provided with evidence in written form that the glue is present in connection with malicious conduct (see Specification 6). SC5.2-1.4 - The applying entity has or will have at time of delegation, established policies for handling complaints regarding abuse. Such policies are to be maintained and posted publicly so that anyone can review the policies via the Internet and any other means deemed appropriate by the applying entity. The applying entity’s policies at a minimum should contain appropriate confirmation of the receipt of the abuse report, the process of review of the report, and actions that will be taken if the applying entity confirms the report is legitimate. SC5.2-1.5 - The applying entity understands that DNS Abuse is Phishing, Malware, Botnets, Pharming and Spam (when used to deliver other forms of DNS Abuse). The applying entity understands and is prepared to contribute to the mitigation or disruption of DNS Abuse in domains in the TLD zone. SC5.2-1.6 - The applying entity’s abuse response capabilities are resourced appropriately to ensure a timely and adequate investigation and response to reports of DNS Abuse. This includes capabilities to receive and evaluate evidence of DNS Abuse in reports, and to take action to stop or disrupt the DNS Abuse. SC5.2-1.7 - The applying entity is prepared to conduct periodic scans of its zone to identify if domains are being used to perpetrate DNS Abuse, and to maintain statistical reports of the scans, the findings, and actions taken.

Q5.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.2-1.1 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the Top Level Domain (TLD), establish a dedicated abuse point of contact responsible for addressing matters requiring expedited attention and providing a timely response to abuse complaints concerning any name registered in the TLD. SC5.2-1.2 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the TLD, establish, publish, and provide to ICANN the location of a mechanism for members of the public to submit reports of abuse in accordance with the current obligations of the Base RA and any Consensus Policies. SC5.2-1.3 - The applying entity has developed proposed measures for removal of orphan glue records for names removed from the zone when provided with evidence in written form that the glue is present in connection with malicious conduct (see Specification 6). SC5.2-1.4 - The applying entity has or will have at time of delegation, established policies for handling complaints regarding abuse. Such policies are to be maintained and posted publicly so that anyone can review the policies via the Internet and any other means deemed appropriate by the applying entity. The applying entity’s policies at a minimum should contain appropriate confirmation of the receipt of the abuse report, the process of review of the report, and actions that will be taken if the applying entity confirms the report is legitimate. SC5.2-1.5 - The applying entity understands that DNS Abuse is Phishing, Malware, Botnets, Pharming and Spam (when used to deliver other forms of DNS Abuse). The applying entity understands and is prepared to contribute to the mitigation or disruption of DNS Abuse in domains in the TLD zone. SC5.2-1.6 - The applying entity’s abuse response capabilities are resourced appropriately to ensure a timely and adequate investigation and response to reports of DNS Abuse. This includes capabilities to receive and evaluate evidence of DNS Abuse in reports, and to take action to stop or disrupt the DNS Abuse. SC5.2-1.7 - The applying entity is prepared to conduct periodic scans of its zone to identify if domains are being used to perpetrate DNS Abuse, and to maintain statistical reports of the scans, the findings, and actions taken.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q121As per Section 3(d) of Specification 11 of the Base Registry Agreement, a registry operator of a “generic string” may not impose eligibility criteria for registering names in the TLD that limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity and/or that person’s or entity’s “Affiliates” (as defined in Section 2.9(c) of the Registry Agreement). “Generic String” means a string consisting of a word or term that denominates or describes a general class of goods, services, groups, organizations or things, as opposed to distinguishing a specific brand of goods, services, groups, organizations or things from those of others. Confirm that the applied-for string is not a “generic string” in which the applying entity intends to limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity.

As per Section 3(d) of Specification 11 of the Base Registry Agreement, a registry operator of a “generic string” may not impose eligibility criteria for registering names in the TLD that limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity and/or that person’s or entity’s “Affiliates” (as defined in Section 2.9(c) of the Registry Agreement). “Generic String” means a string consisting of a word or term that denominates or describes a general class of goods, services, groups, organizations or things, as opposed to distinguishing a specific brand of goods, services, groups, organizations or things from those of others. Confirm that the applied-for string is not a “generic string” in which the applying entity intends to limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity.

true

Q223By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it is submitting this Application with a good faith (“bona fide”) intent to operate the gTLD for which it has applied, and that the applying entity has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it is submitting this Application with a good faith (“bona fide”) intent to operate the gTLD for which it has applied, and that the applying entity has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

true

Q224By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

true