.way

Link Freedom Group (LFG) aspires to become a best-in-class, vertically integrated domain name registration authority, see linkfreedomgroup.link. This TLD is part of a carefully curated portfolio of strings that LFG intends to pursue in ICANN’s 2026 New gTLD Program. In assembling this portfolio, LFG focused on securing meaningful, memorable, and commercially compelling strings that resonate strongly with end users and offer long-term growth potential. Over the past four years, LFG (Nova Registry) has successfully grown its flagship TLD, .LINK, from approximately 125,000 to more than 300,000 domains under management. This growth has been driven by innovative distribution strategies, the expansion of registrar partnerships, and a granular pricing model that has enabled .LINK to remain competitively priced while avoiding the significant fee increases implemented by some other registry operators. LFG’s experience in the domain name industry has reinforced one of the key lessons from the 2012 application round: long-term sustainability is strengthened through portfolio diversification. By spreading operational costs and mitigating revenue fluctuations across multiple TLDs, LFG is better positioned to withstand market volatility and invest in continued growth. Accordingly, LFG believes that even obtaining a subset of the TLDs for which it has applied will establish a diversified portfolio capable of supporting long-term economic stability, operational resilience, and sustainable growth.

The mission and purpose of this TLD is to expand consumer choice by dedicating a space to the many goods and services that have a proprietary "way" that distinguishes them from others (e.g. "The HP Way"). Registrants and users will be commercial and non-profit entities and individuals that have a special means of delivering a benefit. It will be sustainable because new entities are continually being formed, and many base their success on the particular "way" in which they deliver for clients/customers.

The mission of .way is to provide a versatile namespace for travel, navigation, methods, education, personal journeys, philosophies and solution-oriented services.

Mission The mission of .way is to provide an open, distinctive and adaptable digital namespace for individuals, organizations, brands, content, services and projects associated with paths, directions, methods, ideas and progress. “way” is a common English word with broad applications. It may describe a physical or conceptual path, a direction, a method of doing something, an approach to an objective or a means of achieving a result. The namespace can support personal, professional, educational, technological, creative, cultural and commercial uses. It is intended to provide memorable online identities for websites, brands, content, products, services and projects. Registration or use of a .way domain name does not constitute verification or endorsement of a registrant or of any claimed method, direction, result, information, product or service. Purposes 1.Provide a clear and memorable digital identity for individuals, organizations, brands, content, products, services and projects. 2.Support uses associated with paths, directions, methods, ideas, development, exploration and progress. 3.Allow registrants to use “way” as a word, theme, name or identifier relevant to their lawful activities. 4.Maintain an open and adaptable namespace as technologies, user needs and forms of digital expression evolve. Intended Registrants 1.Businesses, brands, startups, organizations and project operators using “way” as part of a name, message, product, service or digital identity. 2.Creators, educators, researchers, developers, designers, publishers, professionals and individuals presenting ideas, methods, content, works or projects. 3.Organizations and projects relating to education, technology, creativity, culture, media, mobility, lifestyle or other professional and commercial activities. 4.Other individuals and entities using “way” for a lawful website, brand, work, product, service, tool, project or digital identity. These categories describe principal intended uses and are not exclusive eligibility requirements. Subject to applicable requirements and published policies, .way domain names may support a broad range of lawful uses. Intended Users Intended users include Internet users seeking individuals, organizations, information, content, products, services, tools and projects presented through .way domain names.Because “way” may be used in different personal, professional and commercial contexts, each domain’s meaning will depend on the registrant’s chosen name, content and use. Users remain responsible for evaluating related information, products, services and claims. Implementation Activities The registry plans to: 1.Offer registrations through ICANN-accredited registrars in accordance with applicable launch and rights-protection requirements. 2.Publish registration, renewal, dispute and abuse-reporting policies. 3.Conduct general awareness and outreach among potential users. 4.Address security and abuse matters in accordance with applicable ICANN requirements, registry policies and available evidence. Long-Term Sustainability The long-term relevance of .way is supported by the established and broad use of “way” to describe paths, directions, methods, approaches and means of achieving objectives across personal, professional, educational, technological, creative and commercial contexts. Its general-purpose positioning allows the namespace to serve varied users, organizations, brands, content and projects without depending on one industry, platform or short-term trend. The registry’s financial model is based principally on registration and renewal revenue, supported by prudent cost management and financial planning. Relevant assumptions, costs and risks are addressed in the financial materials submitted with the application. The registry intends to operate .way as a long-term digital namespace and maintain its security, stability and relevance as user needs and online practices evolve.

1. Mission and purpose. This gTLD will be operated as an open, unrestricted generic top-level domain. Its purpose is to expand naming choice in the DNS by making this term available at the top level for any lawful use chosen by the registrant. Registrations will be available to all registrants on a first-come, first-served basis through ICANN-accredited registrars, subject only to the Registry Agreement, ICANN Consensus Policies, and applicable law. The applicant will not operate this gTLD on an exclusive basis. 2. Intended registrants and users. Intended registrants are individuals, businesses, and other organizations worldwide seeking a short, meaningful domain name. There are no eligibility or name selection restrictions beyond those required by the Registry Agreement, ICANN Consensus Policies, and applicable law. Intended users are internet users worldwide who access domain names registered in this gTLD. 3. Related activities. The applicant is an established registry operator under contract with ICANN for 35 gTLDs, including .xyz. It has in place a qualified Registry Service Provider, distribution agreements with ICANN-accredited registrars across multiple regions, and all required rights protection mechanisms and DNS abuse mitigation practices. For this gTLD the applicant will onboard the TLD to its existing registry platform, conduct a Sunrise Period and Trademark Claims Period, launch General Availability through its registrar channel, and maintain ongoing registrar enablement, abuse monitoring, and compliance reporting. 4. Sustainability. Operation is funded by recurring registration and renewal revenue and does not depend on any single registrant, sector, or campaign. This gTLD will run on the applicant's existing shared registry infrastructure, so incremental operating cost is low and no minimum registration volume is required for viability. The applicant has operated gTLDs continuously since 2014.