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 If one of the reasons why the .AQUITAINE new gTLD was withdrawn is that the region of Aquitaine didn't know about this change coming.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 Friday, April 22nd

Today is a sad day: Prince died. I was a serious fan and still have almost all of its CDs. I'll probably insert one in the CD Player tonight with my guests. There is nothing to add at this point and the thing that comes to my mind at the moment I write these lines is...drugs.sucks.

1. The .TUBE Sunrise Period has begun;
2. Infographic - 100,000 registrations for the .TECH new gTLD;
3. Webinar - .INSURANCE and .SUNRISE new gTLDs (Wednesday, May 11, 2016);
4. The .VIP Sunrise Period ends soon: contact Nameshield;
5. HOT - New gTLD Program Delegation Deadlines;
6. Child abuse imagery on new gTLD domain names?
7. Two more new gTLDs were just delegated: .PROGRESSIVE and .MLS;
8. Judge Halts .Africa Domain; Lengthy Litigation Likely.

SUBSCRIBE (it's free)

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The .TUBE Sunrise Period begins

The .TUBE new gTLD Sunrise Period has begun. The Top-Level Domain, or new domain name extension, is about creating, watching and sharing videos on Internet.

WHEN

1. SUNRISE PERIOD START:
   Thursday, 21 April, 2016 - 16:00
2. SUNRISE PERIOD END:
   Monday, 20 June, 2016 - 16:00

WHERE
Interested participants can contact the Nameshield Group to participate in the Sunrise Period.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements