IDN Implementation Guidelines

The IDN Implementation Guidelines are a list of general standards for IDN registration policies and practices that are designed to minimize the risk of cybersquatting and consumer confusion, and respect the interests of local languages and character sets.

Registries seeking to deploy IDNs under their agreements with ICANN are authorized to do so on the basis of the Guidelines.^[1]

Versions[edit | edit source]

As of August 2025, there are the following versions:

Version 1.0[edit | edit source]

Version 1.0 was published on June 20, 2003,^[1] coinciding with the launch of deployment of IDNs under the IETF's Proposed Standard reflected in RFCs 3490, 3491, and 3492. These Guidelines were developed collaboratively by ICANN and leading IDN registries.^[2]

Version 2.0[edit | edit source]

Version 2.0 was published on November 7, 2005.^[1] The second version of the Guidelines came to be after experience was gathered in actual registry practice. Also, during the course of the review preceding this first revision, and as indicated in the comments received on the resulting draft, the initial version required extensive modification. The requisite changes could not readily be made by simple incremental changes to the initial text. However, given the urgent nature of some IDN concerns and the corresponding need for rapid response, the Working Grouo assigned to the task, the IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group, decided to produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format as rapidly as possible, and then proceed with an alternate instrument with which to replace them altogether.

On November 8, 2005 the ICANN Board approved Version 2.0 for nine months only, asking the Working Group while further improvements were drafted. The Working Group was asked to return by the June 2006 meeting in Marrakesh with a "BCP-style" successor.

Version 2.1[edit | edit source]

Version 2.1 was published on February 22, 2006.^[1] After Version 2.0 had been in force for three months, the IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group issued a point-update to close a few gaps that implementers and security reviewers had flagged.

A revised Version 2.1 was published on February 27, 2006^[3] with an ICANN announcement that reminded the community the Board had only granted Version 2.0 a nine-month lifespan and expected a more comprehensive successor by the June 2006 Marrakesh meeting.^[4] Because the rewrite took longer than expected, the Board later acknowledged Version 2.1 and extended its validity (Resolution 06.55 of June 30, 2006), accepting Working Group's request for additional time so that they would be able to continue its reframing of the guidelines in a manner appropriate for further development as a Best Current Practices (BCP) document, and to return to the board in time for the São Paulo meeting currently scheduled December 2-8, 2006.^[5]