Various countries and regions around the world have regulatory programs that restrict and/or prohibit economic and trade activities between certain countries, organizations, and individuals. ICANN must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and is required to do so throughout its operations, including its various application programs.
Sanctions imposed on particular countries or regions impact all individuals or entities that reside in those countries or regions. Other sanctions are imposed directly on particular specially designated individuals and entities.
Without an applicable authorization or exemption, ICANN is prohibited from providing services to: individuals, organizations, and governmental entities in sanctioned countries and also to specially designated individuals or entities.
In the past, when ICANN has been requested to provide services to individuals or entities that reside in sanctioned countries, but are not specially designated individuals or entities, ICANN has sought and been granted licenses as required. ICANN has not, however, sought licenses to provide services to specially designated individuals or entities regardless of where they reside.
In the 2012 Round of the New gTLD Program, no applicant or application from anywhere in the world was rejected due to ICANN's obligation to comply with applicable sanctions programs.
ICANN carefully considers each matter or application on a case-by-case basis with the goal of focusing on global participation.