IDN Implementation Guidelines: Difference between revisions

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[[Registry|Registries]] seeking to deploy IDNs under their agreements with ICANN are authorized to do so on the basis of the Guidelines.<ref name="idn">[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/implementation-guidelines-2012-02-25-en] Retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>

As of 2025, [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-22sep22-en.pdf Version 4.1] is the most recent.

== Versions ==

As of ~~August~~ 2025, there are the following versions:

As of September 2025, there are the following versions:

=== Version 1.0 ===

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=== Version 2.0 ===

[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en Version 2.0] was published on November 7, 2005.<ref name="idn"></ref> The second version of the Guidelines came to be after experience was gathered in actual registry practice. Also, during the course of the review preceding this first revision, and as indicated in the comments received on the resulting draft, the initial version required extensive modification. The requisite changes could not readily be made by simple incremental changes to the initial text. However, given the urgent nature of some IDN concerns and the corresponding need for rapid response, the Working Grouo assigned to the task, the [[IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group]], decided to produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format as rapidly as possible, and then proceed with an alternate instrument with which to replace them altogether.

[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en Version 2.0] was published on November 7, 2005.<ref name="idn"></ref>

On November 8, 2005 the ICANN Board approved Version 2.0 for nine months only, asking the Working Group while further improvements were drafted. The Working Group was asked to return by the June 2006 meeting in Marrakesh with a "BCP-style" successor.

The IDN workshop during the [[ICANN 23|Luxembourg meeting]] provided a basis for the first review of the IDN Guidelines. Following this workshop a Working Group of gTLD and ccTLD registries with IDN experience was formed to work on a revision of the guidelines, to be put forth for public comment.

This second version of the Guidelines was necessary after experience was gathered in actual registry practice. Also, during the course of the review preceding this first revision, and as indicated in the comments received on the resulting draft, the initial version required extensive modification. The requisite changes could not readily be made by simple incremental changes to the initial text. However, given the urgent nature of some IDN concerns and the corresponding need for rapid response, the Working Grouo assigned to the task, the [[IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group]], decided to produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format as rapidly as possible, and then proceed with an alternate instrument with which to replace them altogether.

A draft Version 2 of the IDN Guidelines was published on September 20, 2005. A wide range of remarks and suggestions on the initial draft of Version 2 were submitted to a forum for public commentary that was open through October 23, 2005. On the basis of that material, a final draft Version 2 of the Guidelines was prepared and submitted to the ICANN Board for endorsement.

On November 8, 2005 the ICANN Board approved Version 2.0 for nine months only, asking the Working Group while further improvements were drafted. The Working Group was asked to return by the June 2006 meeting in Marrakesh with a "BCP-style" successor.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en ICANN: Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names Version 2.0] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>

=== Version 2.1 ===

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=== Version 2.2 ===

Version 2.2 was published on April 26, 2007.<ref name="idn"></ref>

[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-26apr07-en.pdf Version 2.2] was published on April 26, 2007.<ref name="idn"></ref> This revision had the purpose to make specific reference to IDN in top-level labels, and would be amended and supplemented in subsequent drafts in preparation for the release of top-level IDN labels in the production environment.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-26apr07-en.pdf ICANN: GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONALIZED

DOMAIN NAMES Version 2.2] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>

== Version 3.0 ===

Version 3.0 was published on September 2, 2011.<ref name="idn"></ref>. This new Version superseded version 2.2 to reflect the IDNABIS revision ("IDNA2008") of the initial IDNA protocol ("IDNA2003"). It was also prepared by the prepared by members of the IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group.<ref>https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-guidelines-2011-09-02-en ICANN: Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names | Version 3.0] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>

== Version 4.0 ==

Since publication of Version 3,0, there were changes in the terminology around IDNs and language tables, along with new technical considerations. Considering that, ICANN made a Call for Community Experts on July 20, 2015 to form a Working Group with the goal to review the IDN Implementation Guidelines.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-community-experts-to-review-the-idn-implementation-guidelines-20-7-2015-en ICANN: Call for Community Experts to Review the IDN Implementation Guidelines] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref> The IDN Guidelines Working Group (IDNGWG) was then formed in October 2015. The final proposed draft for [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-10may18-en.pdf Version 4.0] was announced on May 10, 2018 for consideration by the ICANN Board after several public community feedbacks.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/final-proposed-draft-v-40-of-the-idn-guidelines-10-5-2018-en ICANN: Final Proposed Draft v. 4.0 of the IDN Guidelines] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>

== Version 4.1 ==

After the publication of the final draft of Version 4.0, subsequent discussions happened between the GNSO Council and the ICANN Board, resulting in the ICANN Board deferring implementation of guidelines 6a, 11, 12, 13, 18 in version 4.0 as they overlapped with ongoing work in the [[IDN Expedited Policy Development Process]]. The ICANN Board then directed ICANN to publish the non-deferred guidelines in 4.0 as Version 4.1,<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-publishes-idn-implementation-guidelines-version-41-17-11-2022-en ICANN: ICANN Publishes IDN Implementation Guidelines Version 4.1] Retrieved September 2, 2025 </ref> which was published in September 22, 2022.<ref name="idn"></ref>

== References ==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Registry|Registries]] seeking to deploy IDNs under their agreements with ICANN are authorized to do so on the basis of the Guidelines.<ref name="idn">[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/implementation-guidelines-2012-02-25-en] Retrieved September 1, 2025</ref>
+As of 2025, [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-22sep22-en.pdf Version 4.1] is the most recent.
 == Versions ==
-As of August 2025, there are the following versions:
+As of September 2025, there are the following versions:
 === Version 1.0 ===
@@ Line 13: / Line 15: @@
 === Version 2.0 ===
-[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en Version 2.0] was published on November 7, 2005.<ref name="idn"></ref> The second version of the Guidelines came to be after experience was gathered in actual registry practice. Also, during the course of the review preceding this first revision, and as indicated in the comments received on the resulting draft, the initial version required extensive modification. The requisite changes could not readily be made by simple incremental changes to the initial text. However, given the urgent nature of some IDN concerns and the corresponding need for rapid response, the Working Grouo assigned to the task, the [[IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group]], decided to produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format as rapidly as possible, and then proceed with an alternate instrument with which to replace them altogether.
+[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en Version 2.0] was published on November 7, 2005.<ref name="idn"></ref>
-On November 8, 2005 the ICANN Board approved Version 2.0 for nine months only, asking the Working Group while further improvements were drafted. The Working Group was asked to return by the June 2006 meeting in Marrakesh with a "BCP-style" successor.
+The IDN workshop during the [[ICANN 23|Luxembourg meeting]] provided a basis for the first review of the IDN Guidelines. Following this workshop a Working Group of gTLD and ccTLD registries with IDN experience was formed to work on a revision of the guidelines, to be put forth for public comment.
+This second version of the Guidelines was necessary after experience was gathered in actual registry practice. Also, during the course of the review preceding this first revision, and as indicated in the comments received on the resulting draft, the initial version required extensive modification. The requisite changes could not readily be made by simple incremental changes to the initial text. However, given the urgent nature of some IDN concerns and the corresponding need for rapid response, the Working Grouo assigned to the task, the [[IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group]], decided to produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format as rapidly as possible, and then proceed with an alternate instrument with which to replace them altogether.
+A draft Version 2 of the IDN Guidelines was published on September 20, 2005. A wide range of remarks and suggestions on the initial draft of Version 2 were submitted to a forum for public commentary that was open through October 23, 2005. On the basis of that material, a final draft Version 2 of the Guidelines was prepared and submitted to the ICANN Board for endorsement.
+On November 8, 2005 the ICANN Board approved Version 2.0 for nine months only, asking the Working Group while further improvements were drafted. The Working Group was asked to return by the June 2006 meeting in Marrakesh with a "BCP-style" successor.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/idn-guidelines-2005-11-14-en ICANN: Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names Version 2.0] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>
 === Version 2.1 ===
@@ Line 26: / Line 34: @@
 === Version 2.2 ===
-Version 2.2 was published on April 26, 2007.<ref name="idn"></ref>
+[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-26apr07-en.pdf Version 2.2] was published on April 26, 2007.<ref name="idn"></ref> This revision had the purpose to make specific reference to IDN in top-level labels, and would be amended and supplemented in subsequent drafts in preparation for the release of top-level IDN labels in the production environment.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-26apr07-en.pdf ICANN: GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONALIZED
+DOMAIN NAMES Version 2.2] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>
+== Version 3.0 ===
+Version 3.0 was published on September 2, 2011.<ref name="idn"></ref>. This new Version superseded version 2.2 to reflect the IDNABIS revision ("IDNA2008") of the initial IDNA protocol ("IDNA2003"). It was also prepared by the prepared by members of the IDN Guidelines Revision Working Group.<ref>https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/idn-guidelines-2011-09-02-en ICANN: Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names | Version 3.0] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>
+== Version 4.0 ==
+Since publication of Version 3,0, there were changes in the terminology around IDNs and language tables, along with new technical considerations. Considering that, ICANN made a Call for Community Experts on July 20, 2015 to form a Working Group with the goal to review the IDN Implementation Guidelines.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-community-experts-to-review-the-idn-implementation-guidelines-20-7-2015-en ICANN: Call for Community Experts to Review the IDN Implementation Guidelines] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref> The IDN Guidelines Working Group (IDNGWG) was then formed in October 2015. The final proposed draft for [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/idn-guidelines-10may18-en.pdf Version 4.0] was announced on May 10, 2018 for consideration by the ICANN Board after several public community feedbacks.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/final-proposed-draft-v-40-of-the-idn-guidelines-10-5-2018-en ICANN: Final Proposed Draft v. 4.0 of the IDN Guidelines] Retrieved September 2, 2025</ref>
+== Version 4.1 ==
+After the publication of the final draft of Version 4.0, subsequent discussions happened between the GNSO Council and the ICANN Board, resulting in the ICANN Board deferring implementation of guidelines 6a, 11, 12, 13, 18 in version 4.0 as they overlapped with ongoing work in the [[IDN Expedited Policy Development Process]]. The ICANN Board then directed ICANN to publish the non-deferred guidelines in 4.0 as Version 4.1,<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-publishes-idn-implementation-guidelines-version-41-17-11-2022-en ICANN: ICANN Publishes IDN Implementation Guidelines Version 4.1] Retrieved September 2, 2025 </ref> which was published in September 22, 2022.<ref name="idn"></ref>
 == References ==
 {{reflist}}