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Registry changes, new extensions, events and brand protection: what Domgate sees in the world of country code domains.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: five domain settings to check

October 2026 is Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the US and European Cybersecurity Month in the EU. Before it ends, check five settings on every company domain: the transfer lock; the holder’s contacts, subject to NIS2 verification for .at since 1 October; who receives expiry notices; DNSSEC; and SPF and DMARC, even on domains that send no email.

Read more: Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: five domain settings to check

.lk: LK Domain Registry welcomes Domgate as its first EPP registrar

Sri Lanka’s LK Domain Registry has welcomed Domgate as the first registrar to connect to its EPP service, the standard protocol registrars use to register and manage names in a registry’s database. Brand owners, resellers and registrars can register .lk, .com.lk and the other open second levels through Domgate, under the registry’s own rules and its review of every new name.

Read more: .lk: LK Domain Registry welcomes Domgate as its first EPP registrar

TLD .QA to require a Qatari entity or trademark: new rule planned for 22 October 2026

From the launch of the new TLD .QA registry system, planned for 22 October 2026, Qatar’s TLD .QA will follow the .com.qa eligibility rule: a new .qa name will need, for example, a Qatari entity or a Qatari trademark. Until then, anyone can register a .qa name. Names registered before the launch keep renewing automatically, but any change to their registration details brings the new rule. Any changes here means any contact update or nameservers update.

Read more: TLD .QA to require a Qatari entity or trademark: new rule planned for 22 October 2026

Saudi Arabia joins the Madrid System: what changes for trademarks

Since 8 October 2026, brand owners can designate Saudi Arabia in an international trademark application under WIPO’s Madrid System, or add it to an existing international registration. Saudi Arabia charges CHF 1,397 per class and has 18 months to refuse protection. Under SaudiNIC’s rules, a trademark registered in Saudi Arabia is one ground for registering .sa domains.

Read more: Saudi Arabia joins the Madrid System: what changes for trademarks

1,615 new gTLD applications revealed: how to check them for your brand

ICANN published the 1,615 applications of its 2026 new gTLD round on 7 October 2026, 333 of them for .brand domains, on a public website that needs no login. Applicants can switch to back-up strings until 21 October 2026, the final list follows on 17 November 2026, and trademark objections can be filed with WIPO until 16 March 2027.

Read more: 1,615 new gTLD applications revealed: how to check them for your brand

Estonia Lets Founders Reserve .ee Domains in the Business Register

On 7 October 2026, the Estonian Internet Foundation announced two services it added with RIK to the e-Business Register: founders can reserve up to 20 available .ee names at no cost for seven days from the company’s entry in the register, or book any number for a year at €10 plus VAT each, then register them through an accredited registrar.

Read more: Estonia Lets Founders Reserve .ee Domains in the Business Register
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