As we wrap up the year, we wanted to take a moment to look back at what 2025 looked like for the ICA – and thanks to all of you, it was a busy and meaningful one.
Here’s a snapshot of what we accomplished together this year, along with a bit of context on why this work matters.
Advocacy & Policy
- We released the first-ever WIPO–ICA UDRP Review Final Report
- The WIPO–ICA project team put forward 24 policy proposals
- UDRP Perspectives were cited 314 times in UDRP decisions
- Zak co-conducted the 2nd UDRP Panelist Education & Training Workshop
- 3 ICA members served on the ICANN IGO–INGO IRT
Why this matters:
The WIPO–ICA collaboration is a historic one. For the first time since the UDRP was created more than 25 years ago, registrants and panelists were brought into a structured, formal review of how the system works in practice.
This project moved beyond theory and focused on real-world decision-making, procedural fairness, and consistency. Along with other initiatives the ICA has undertaken, this work is already influencing UDRP decisions, informing panelist training, and shaping future discussions around reform. It represents a meaningful step toward a more balanced, transparent, and predictable UDRP system.
At the same time, ongoing initiatives like the weekly UDRP Digest, webinars, and panelist education workshops help ensure that these insights are shared widely and applied consistently across the community.
Education & Community
- 51 ICA Weekly UDRP Digests published, now reaching 731 subscribers
- The 2nd Annual Gerald Levine Lecture drew:
- 100+ attendees, nearly 200 registrations, over 150 views
- 6 webinars, AMAs, and socials, with nearly 1,000 total views and online attendance
- A special shoutout to Zak and Kamila for joining the Domain Name Wire podcast
Why this matters:
Education is central to the ICA’s mission. These programs help members stay informed on policy developments, legal trends, and practical issues affecting domain owners, while also creating space for discussion, learning, and connection across the community. They also serve the broader public by making resources like the UDRP Digest and public webinars accessible to anyone interested in understanding domain policy and registrant rights.
ICANN Engagement
- 3 ICANN meetings attended
- 20 ICANN Business Constituency meetings
- 15 ICA members actively participating in the BC
Why this matters:
ICANN is where many of the policies that affect domain investors are debated and shaped. Active participation ensures that registrant perspectives are represented, informed by real-world experience, and heard early in the policy development process.
Being effective at ICANN requires continuous engagement and relationship building over many years. Only through combining our forces in a trade association like the ICA, are we best able to have our interests represented in this organization whose decisions have such an impact on our businesses.
ICA Member Meeting & Growth
- 190 attendees joined us at the ICA Member Meeting
- We welcomed 30+ new ICA members this year
Why this matters:
The annual member meeting remains a cornerstone of the ICA community, bringing members together to share ideas, build relationships, engage directly on issues that impact the industry, and have a little fun together. Growth in membership strengthens the ICA’s ability to advocate effectively on behalf of domain owners.
Awards & Recognition
We presented two ICA awards:
- The Lonnie Borck Memorial Award (LBMA)
- The Trailblazer Award
This year’s LBMA was awarded to Richard Lau, and the Inaugural Trailblazer Award went to Darpan Munjal of Atom.com.
We can’t wait to announce and honor the 2026 winners at the ICA Member Meeting in Las Vegas. The nominee’s are:
- Trailblazer nominees: Chad Folkening, Unstoppable, Namecheap, Dynadot, DomainEasy
- LBMA nominees: Chad Folkening, Elliot Silver, Todd Ryan, Bob Hawkes, Drew Rosener, Braden Pollock, Jeff Neuman, Gerry Levine, Barbara Neu
Why this matters:
These awards recognize leadership, innovation, and thoughtful contributions to the domain name ecosystem, while highlighting the individuals and organizations helping move the industry forward.
None of this happens without an engaged, thoughtful, and supportive community. Whether you joined a call, contributed to policy work, attended the meeting, or simply followed along and stayed informed, thank you for being part of the ICA.
We’re already looking ahead to what’s next, and we’re excited to keep building together in 2026.
Wishing you a great end to the year, Happy New Year and thank you for supporting the ICA!
Kamila and the ICA Leadership Team