At-Large Workspace: Latin Script Diacritics PDP Initial Report

At-Large Workspace: Latin Script Diacritics PDP Initial Report

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Feb 23, 2026

Latin Script Diacritics PDP Initial Report

RATIFIED

CPWG

Reviewers

@denise.hochbaum

@Bill Jouris

@Tinuade Oguntuyi

Maureen Owusu-Addae

Penholders

Maciek Piasecki

@satish.babu

Jan 12, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

Feb 19, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

john.emery@icann.org

saewon.lee@icann.org 

AL-ALAC-ST-0126-01-00-EN 


Where Community Input is Needed

The following text is from the public comment page and provides context around what is being commented on. 

The Latin Script Diacritics Policy Development Process Working Group (hereafter referred to as the “LD PDP WG” or “WG”) is seeking Public Comment on its Initial Report. Diacritics are accents, accent marks, or acute accents that are used to modify sounds, or signify stressed syllables in many languages globally that utilize the Latin alphabet. The Domain Name System (DNS) is limited to the use of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) characters. However, the DNS does support Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), including the usage of Latin alphabet-based characters with diacritics, with IDNs stored in the DNS as ASCII strings, relying upon Punycode transcription. As such, some users may elect to omit the diacritic marks instead of relying on an IDN. 

During 2021–2024, the GNSO Council developed policy recommendations to define variant domain names at the top and second-level and to establish rules for variant management. However, there remains a gap in principles for cases where a base ASCII generic top-level domain (gTLD) and its corresponding Latin diacritic gTLD(s) are not variants of each other. Accordingly, the LD PDP examines the circumstance where a base ASCII gTLD and the Latin script diacritic version of the gTLD are not variants of each other. It seeks to establish an appropriate mechanism, where currently none exists, that allows a single registry operator to simultaneously operate both gTLDs. 

The LD PDP WG is seeking input on its Initial Report based on its 54 preliminary recommendations and implementation guidance. In order to facilitate Public Comment feedback, the LD PDP WG has enabled a guided submission form. This allows comments to be clearly linked to specific sections of the Initial Report.

The Latin Script Diacritics Policy Development Process Working Group (hereafter referred to as the “LD PDP WG” or “WG”) is seeking Public Comment on its Initial Report. Diacritics are accents, accent marks, or acute accents that are used to modify sounds, or signify stressed syllables in many languages globally that utilize the Latin alphabet. The Domain Name System (DNS) is limited to the use of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) characters. However, the DNS does support Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), including the usage of Latin alphabet-based characters with diacritics, with IDNs stored in the DNS as ASCII strings, relying upon Punycode transcription. As such, some users may elect to omit the diacritic marks instead of relying on an IDN. 

During 2021–2024, the GNSO Council developed policy recommendations to define variant domain names at the top and second-level and to establish rules for variant management. However, there remains a gap in principles for cases where a base ASCII generic top-level domain (gTLD) and its corresponding Latin diacritic gTLD(s) are not variants of each other. Accordingly, the LD PDP examines the circumstance where a base ASCII gTLD and the Latin script diacritic version of the gTLD are not variants of each other. It seeks to establish an appropriate mechanism, where currently none exists, that allows a single registry operator to simultaneously operate both gTLDs. 

The LD PDP WG is seeking input on its Initial Report based on its 54 preliminary recommendations and implementation guidance. In order to facilitate Public Comment feedback, the LD PDP WG has enabled a guided submission form. This allows comments to be clearly linked to specific sections of the Initial Report.


Executive Summary

A short executive summary, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here after the finalized document has been submitted. 

 

 

 


FINAL VERSION SUBMITTED (IF RATIFIED)

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FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC

The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.

 

 

 

 


DRAFT SUBMITTED FOR DISCUSSION

The first draft submitted will be placed here before the call for comments begins.