LOS ANGELES - Following the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Board's approval in September 2022, ICANN is announcing the implementation timeline for the Internationalized Domain Name Implementation Guidelines version 4.1 (IDN Guidelines 4.1). The IDN Implementation Guidelines relate to IDN registration policies and practices designed to minimize the risk of cybersquatting and consumer confusion. For example, phishing attacks using mixed-script strings or non-Internationalized Domain Names in Application 2008 characters can be prevented by implementing the IDN Guidelines 4.1, according to the official website of ICANN. 

The guidelines document was developed by the IDN Guidelines Working Group (IDNGWG), formed in 2015, after a Call for Community Experts. IDNGWG members included representatives with expertise in IDNs from the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, the Generic Names Supporting Organization Council, and the At-Large Advisory Committee, supported by ICANN staff.

Since Board approval, the ICANN organization has been preparing and coordinating with the contracted parties on the IDN Guidelines implementation plan that has been presented at ICANN Public Meetings and Contracted Parties Summits.

To provide a reasonable time for registry operators (ROs) to comply with the IDN Guidelines 4.1, the following implementation timeline is established:

Implementation Preparation: October 31, 2024 - January 31, 2025:

• ROs must continue to implement the IDN Guidelines 3.0 and should prepare for implementation of the IDN Guidelines 4.1.
• Implementation Transition: 1 February 2025–30 April 2025:
• ROs may continue to implement the IDN Guidelines 3.0, the IDN Guidelines 4.1, or elements of both.
• IDN Guideline 4.1 Implementation in effect: 30 April 2025 and onward:
• The IDN Guideline 4.1 is in effect and ROs must comply fully with the IDN Guidelines 4.1 no later than 30 April 2025.

As of this announcement, ROs and registrars offering IDN registrations should begin transitioning to version 4.1 of the IDN Guidelines.