Last Updated: August 2026
If multiple applicants apply for the same Geographic Name, and their respective supporting documentation comes from different authorities and needs verification, those applications will undergo Extended Evaluation. If the Geographic Name Panel determines that multiple applications for the same Geographic Name gTLD string all qualify as Geographic Names applications, those applications will proceed to contention resolution, using either auction or Community Priority Evaluation (CPE), as applicable, to resolve contention, depending on the circumstances.
The New gTLD Program processes leading up to and including, where applicable, an ICANN New gTLD Auction (including any CPE that may occur prior to, and which could eliminate the need for, an ICANN New gTLD Auction) provide the only permissible path to contention resolution. Any other resolution methods, such as private auctions or joint ventures, or any other arrangement designed to resolve contention privately, are strictly prohibited.