Applicants are permitted to apply for a city name where the applicant declares that it intends to use the gTLD for purposes associated with the city name. An application for a city name will be subject to the same requirements as Geographic Names (i.e., they will require documentation of support or non-objection from the relevant governments or public authorities) if:
- It is clear from statements within the application that the applicant will use the gTLD primarily for purposes associated with the city name; and
- The applied-for string is a city name as listed on official city documents.
City names present challenges because they may also be generic terms or brand names, and in many cases are not unique. Thus, city names are not universally protected.