French new Regions and new gTLDs (Round 2)

France has decided to change its regions' names (because it spends too much money with its mutiple administrations) and...it is happening right now: names are being confirmed. The French "Conseil d’État" will validate them in October 2016 but we already know which should be confirmed with a 90% chances.
It appears that "Languedoc-Roussillon" and "Midi-Pyrénées" will probably take the name of "Occitanie".
The reason why I am writing about this is that Round 2 of the ICANN new gTLD program is coming in 2019/2020 (according to my little finger). With all of these new names definitely validated in 2017, this leaves 2 to 4 years for French representatives to learn about new domain name extensions and check if it makes sense to create a new gTLD for these regions. If one of the reasons why the .AQUITAINE new gTLD was withdrawn is that the region of Aquitaine didn't know about this change coming.

".OCCITANIE" or ".OCC"?
Now these names will be voted by the end of 2016, I believe it is going to give ideas to many "new gTLD experts" to hunt for these new extensions with some advantages:

1. Many lessons were learnt from Round one;
2. New domain names are now more popular and there are existing examples such as ".alsace", ".corsica" and ".bzh";
3.  The average price to apply is now known.

News

1. Wardrobe.club was won in the .CLUB Premium contest;
2. New gTLD registration volume reports:
1. New gTLDs related to CITIES;
2. New gTLDs related to CATERING;
3. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY;
3. Balenciaga.space: "Complainant has NOT demonstrated all three elements of the URS by a standard of clear and convincing evidence";
4. Presentation .TUBE webinar;
5. The weekly French new gTLD report by Nameshield: 108,000+ registrations for the .GDN new gTLD;
6. Ending soon - The .MED and .TUBE (today) Sunrise Periods;
7. .BERLIN - Dirk Krischenowski Blasts ICANN Over TMCH Which Has “Largely Failed”;
8. Can someone call the city hall of Tours (in France) and tell them that "mairie.tours" is still free to register?
9. More coming during the day.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The new gTLD info for Monday, April 25th

You probably noticed that some French Trademarks recently started to appear on the French TLDs report. Two of them now have more than 100 registrations and these figures will be updated weekly.

1. Impressive - The .MMA Registry (a .TRADEMARK) has 1,700+ registrations!
2. The .MED Sunrise Period has begun;
3. Reports:
1. The weekly .CITIES new gTLD report;
2. The weekly French new gTLD report by Nameshield;
3. New gTLDs related to Catering;
4. New gTLDs related to Photography.
4. Survey - Impact of new gTLDs on trademark enforcement strategies;
5. Request for Proposal to Allocate Reserved .BANK Domains;
6. Article - Understanding the world of .BRAND;
7. Comparing ".coms" to premium new domains;
8. Learn: "Brand TLDs are Launching. Get Informed";
9. Will Amazon decide about who can register a .MOI domain name?
10. Multiple Registry (FFM) is granted a WFOE Licence for China;
11. Podcast - Craig Schwartz for .BANK;
12. More coming by the end of the day.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The .MED Sunrise Period begins

There were four applicants for the .MED new gTLD.

WHAT
As published on the TMCH website: ".med is the intersection of global clinical excellence with advanced technology to create the most trusted and respected healthcare community on the Internet".

WHEN

• SUNRISE PERIOD START: Monday, 25 April, 2016;
• SUNRISE PERIOD END: Friday, 24 June, 2016.

WHERE

Parties interested in registering a ".med" domain name can contact the Nameshield Group to participate in the Sunrise Period.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar