🚨ICANN Approves .name TLD Change, Affecting 22,000 Registrants
22,000 .name users face domain loss
TL;DR
ICANN approved a change to the .name TLD, discontinuing third-level domain registrations. This impacts 22,000 users, potentially leading to security risks and domain loss.
ICANN has approved a change to the .name top-level domain, discontinuing third-level domain registrations. This move, effective after a 90-day notice period, impacts an estimated 22,000 registrants who adopted the structure when the TLD debuted in 2001. The change does not decommission the entire .name TLD but will invalidate paid, active third-level domains. Once these records are deleted, parent second-level domains may become open for public registration, posing severe security risks. The decision has sparked alarm in online technical communities, with critics arguing it sets a damaging precedent for registry stewardship and could lead to identity theft.
Key Points
ICANN approved a change to the .name TLD on July 31, 2026, after a registry operator's request on April 15, 2026.
The change discontinues third-level domain registrations, impacting 22,000 registrants who adopted the structure in 2001.
Verisign will continue to support standard second-level domain registrations, but existing second-level domains will remain unaffected.
Once third-level records are deleted, parent second-level domains may become open for public registration, posing severe security risks.
Affected domain owners are evaluating administrative appeals or legal challenges to compel ICANN and Verisign to offer defensive protections.
Why It Matters
The change directly impacts 22,000 .name registrants, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and domain loss. If you're using .name domains, especially with third-level structures, you need to act now to protect your assets. The decision sets a precedent for registry stewardship, and the security risks are real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
The change directly impacts 22,000 .name registrants, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and domain loss. If you're using .name domains, especially with third-level structures, you need to act now to protect your assets. The decision sets a precedent for registry stewardship, and the security risks are real.
What happened?
ICANN approved a change to the .name TLD, discontinuing third-level domain registrations. This impacts 22,000 users, potentially leading to security risks and domain loss.
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