Icann published its Draft New gTLD Financial Assistance Handbook in December after the Joint Applicant Support (JAS) Working Group produced its final report. The public comment period closes today, leaving Icann two days to produce a final guide before the application period opens on January 12.
The draft handbook outlines the concessions for some applicants who, after scoring at least nine points across three criteria, will only pay $47,000 fees rather than the standard $185,000.
Applicants must demonstrate a service in the public interest, financial need and minimum financial capabilities. But trade mark owners, governments and geographic TLD applicants must not apply.
Anne Aikman-Scalese , a lawyer for Lewis and Roca, said the rules on trade marks were unfair for Native American tribes, some of who would...