ICANN Publishes Second-Level Reference Label Generation Rules (LGRs) for Multiple Scripts and Languages

ICANN has recently released Second-Level Reference Label Generation Rules (LGRs) for several scripts, including Armenian, Cyrillic, Greek, and Latin. Additionally, ICANN has made updates to existing LGRs.

These Second-Level Reference LGRs establish guidelines for forming valid domain name labels in various languages and scripts. Their publication aims to enhance the transparency and consistency of the Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) table review process and to streamline registry operations. Generic top-level domain (gTLD) registries may utilize or reference these LGRs while crafting IDN tables to suit their operational requirements. ICANN also evaluates LGRs and IDN tables submitted by gTLD registries via the IDN Service.

The development of Second-Level Reference LGRs involved collaboration with respective script communities, incorporating comprehensive analysis of Root Zone Label Generation Rules (RZ-LGR) and a Public Comment proceeding. Newly introduced script-specific Reference LGRs encompass Armenian, Cyrillic, Greek, and Latin.

Among the 11 Reference LGRs with normative adjustments, the following languages and scripts are covered: Languages: Belarusian, Bosnian (Cyrillic), Bulgarian, English, French, German, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian Scripts other Reference LGRs have undergone updates in their Unicode version without normative changes.