Applications / .brand / IDOL2621T-T20061 · published by ICANN 7 October 2026 · snapshot 2026-10-08
.brand
StandardActiveInternet DotTrademark Organisation Limited, CN Q1·Q25
Ultimately controlled by Xiongwei Huang Q108 · ICANN record ↗
The applying entity is an existing registry operator for the TLDs .xn--czr694b and .xn--imr513n.
The applying entity (Internet DotTrademark Organisation Limited, Hong-Kong SAR) and ShangYu Global Technology Co., Ltd. are entities subject to the same ultimate controlling party. Both entities are ultimately controlled by the same natural-person controller through an intermediate Cayman Islands holding company.
ShangYu Global Technology Co., Ltd. (IANA ID 3813) is an ICANN-accredited registrar. Jiang Yu Liang Cai Technology Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ShangYu Global Technology Co., Ltd., acts as the registry operator for the delegated gTLD .xn--otu796d.
There is no direct shareholding between the Hong Kong-based applicant entity and either the accredited registrar or its registry operator subsidiary. Ultimate control is exercised via the top-level Cayman Islands holding platform.
§ 1 — Meaning of the string Q118·Q120
"Brand" is an IP asset embodying reputation, goodwill and identity to distinguish goods and services. In our opinion, the string serves as a verified, secure namespace for legitimate rights holders to permanently anchor this digital trust.
/brænd/
§ 2 — Mission and purpose Q133
Mission and Purpose
The gTLD "Brand" is a purpose-driven generic top-level domain designed as a globally verified, trusted namespace accessible exclusively to legitimate brand owners. Building on the proven success of the Chinese-script "商标" TLD—which has established a secure, authenticated environment for trademark holders in Chinese-speaking markets—the Brand TLD extends this verification-based model worldwide. Its core mission is to provide every verified brand owner with trusted web links leading to genuine goods and services. A Brand domain acts as a seal of approval, assuring consumers they are engaging with a genuine, validated brand, while empowering owners to combat impersonation, counterfeiting, and cybersquatting in the global digital ecosystem.
Target Registrants
Registration under the Brand TLD is strictly restricted to entities that can demonstrate valid, current brand rights. Acceptable evidence includes nationally or regionally registered trademarks, unregistered brand identities backed by formal judicial rulings or administrative determinations, marks protected under the Madrid System and marks successfully validated by the TMCH. All applicants—multinational corporations, small businesses, non-profits, or individual entrepreneurs—must complete a brand-rights verification process administered by the registry before a domain is activated. This strict gatekeeping ensures every active domain within the Brand TLD is backed by a genuine brand asset, creating a trustworthy global directory.
Target Users
Users are global consumers who need a simple, reliable way to identify authentic brand websites. Visiting a domain like brandname.brand confirms that the operator’s brand claim has been independently validated, drastically reducing the risks of phishing, counterfeits, and fraud.
Activities to Fulfill the Mission
1. Rigorous Brand-Rights Verification: Establish and enforce comprehensive registry verification policies requiring detailed examination of official trademark certificates, records from trademark databases across all jurisdictions worldwide, and supporting legal evidence, executed by a specialized validation team and augmented by automated cross checks with global IP databases.
2. Rights Protection Mechanisms: Implement robust Sunrise and Trademark Claims periods in complete alignment with ICANN consensus policies, complemented by ongoing registry-level verification.
Long-Term Sustainability
The gTLD "Brand" possesses a highly resilient framework for long-term sustainability, directly rooted in the permanent, borderless market demand for robust brand protection. As global digital commerce continuous to expand rapidly, the escalating threats of brand impersonation and digital deception present an increasingly severe challenge to multinational enterprises. A rigorously validated, exclusive namespace delivers a sustainable, cost-effective, and definitive trust solution for brand owners worldwide. This permanent, non-cyclical enterprise value drives stable, predictable registration volumes and consistently high annual renewal rates.
The registry will seamlessly replicate its proven operational and policy-validation model from the Chinese-script "商标" TLD—a successful precedent where enhanced consumer trust and significantly mitigated infringement risks heavily incentivize brand owners to retain their domain portfolios over the long term—and transition these best practices entirely to the Brand gTLD. Future registration and renewal revenues will robustly and continuously fund core long-term operations, including expert-led brand verification, global marketing outreach, infrastructure security upgrades, and dynamic policy evolution. Armed with a robust governance framework and specialized expertise in brand-DNS convergence, the Brand TLD will stabilize its position as a highly credible, sustainable, and indispensable global domain foundation for the global brand economy for decades to come.
§ 3 — Commitments and safeguards Q164–Q188
| More trustworthy, consumer risk, regulated sector, government reporting, harm, government function Q164–Q169 | Yes to: more trustworthy (Q164), consumer risk if abused (Q165) |
|---|---|
| Voluntary Safeguard PICs Q170·Q171 | None · 90 applications in the round offer some |
| Registry Voluntary Commitments Q172·Q173 | None · 5 do |
| Code of Conduct exemption requested Q185·Q188 | No |
§ 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.
Q199Q2.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE) of the applying entity, 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: SC2.2-1.1 - As of the submission date of the application, the applying entity is a current registry operator or an affiliated entity of a current registry operator with one or more active Registry Agreements (RA). SC2.2-1.2 - The applying entity and/or a QPE will fund the startup and long-term operation of all of the applying entity’s current gTLDs and applied-for gTLD strings. SC2.2-1.3 - 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.
Q2.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE) of the applying entity, 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: SC2.2-1.1 - As of the submission date of the application, the applying entity is a current registry operator or an affiliated entity of a current registry operator with one or more active Registry Agreements (RA). SC2.2-1.2 - The applying entity and/or a QPE will fund the startup and long-term operation of all of the applying entity’s current gTLDs and applied-for gTLD strings. SC2.2-1.3 - 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.
Q200Q2.3-1 - Provide a document with a list of all of the applying entity’s current gTLDs and a list of all gTLDs for entities affiliated with the applying entity (if applicable).
Q2.3-1 - Provide a document with a list of all of the applying entity’s current gTLDs and a list of all gTLDs for entities affiliated with the applying entity (if applicable).
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