ICANNWiki:Moderation decisions

This page documents decisions made over time by the moderation team that pertain to content divergences or disputes. It explains the rationale used to reach conclusions and serves as a reference for conveying a single message to involved parties and the broader public. It also serves as a resource for future staff consultation to help decisions be reached. However, each case stands on its own, and past decisions are non-binding unless later formally incorporated into ICANNWiki:Content Guide.

Regarding whether "Usage" or similar sections are legitimate in the pages of TLDs

Main question: Dispute around the .now page from the 2012 gTLD round and whether a list of "Usage" composed of websites of any degree of notability, with or without brief explanations, adds value to the article. This question, however, affects any number of TLD pages and extends far beyond that one case. This decision will orient the moderation team's approach to all similar situations until a more definitive best practice is established.

Example: .now had a "Usage" section added to it with 18 entries composed of external links and brief descriptions, of which this one stands out as being placed first and having a longer description: "co.now - premium domain namespace for brands focused on real-time commerce and digital engagement, operated by Rocket, formerly Spacesuite.com."

Relevant ICANNWiki best practices:

• "In the case of organizations, companies, NGOs, initiatives, and programs, the writing of entries relating to their work must be neutral, without marketing products or services. It is valid and welcome to state what an entity does and how that is related to Internet Governance or how that entity participates in ICANN. Entities are allowed to list their services, but that should not be done as a sales pitch. Occurrences of blatant marketing posting will be moderated."
• "Long lists of names are unwelcome, unless they pertain to essential matters (ex.: members of Working Groups should be listed, winners of awards should not)."

Decision: Up to 3 examples can integrate a "Usage" (or equivalent) section as long as they do not advertise a service or promote via other means a service that should be promoted within its own article, respecting the boundaries of ICANNWiki's guidelines. The moderation team will exercise discretion in selecting these links in order not to favor disproportionately any party that might have vested interests in the case.

The "Usage" section is not an external links directory. Lists that exceed this limit, or that function primarily as collections of external links, are not considered content in the interest of readers and may be removed in full. Attempts to promote a specific entity by embedding it among similar external links will be treated as advertising and moderated accordingly, even if other links are included. The promoted domain name maintains its right to list its services within its own article, as normal, even if having its entry removed from a list.

If repeated disputes occur, moderators may enforce compliance by trimming the section to the allowed format, removing the section entirely, or applying page-level restrictions related to external links, on a per-case basis.

--MD (talk) 00:21, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

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