Austria requires phone numbers for .AT domain registration
Austria’s NISG 2026 adds a telephone‑number requirement for .AT domain holders, with non‑compliance risking domain deletion.
The September 2026 domain name landscape sees several notable developments. Google Registry is launching four new generic top‑level domains—.EAT, .FLY, .HERE and .PHONE—under a “Start Date” sunrise followed by early access and general availability windows spanning late 2026 into 2027. Trademark owners are warned to file before third‑party grabs. Austria implements the EU NIS2 Directive via its NISG 2026, requiring .AT domain holders to provide a telephone number and to cooperate with verification, with potential contract termination for non‑compliance. Meanwhile .FR reaches 4.5 million registrations, underscoring its status as a major European ccTLD. Two UDRP rulings from WIPO illustrate the high bar for establishing bad‑faith registration: one over “thescentstories.com” where the U.S. fragrance brand’s claim failed because the Indian respondent’s prior Indian trademark and lack of reputation in India; the other over “hismile.com” where the Australian oral‑care brand’s bid was undermined by the respondent’s plausible crypto‑project intent. Counsel should monitor upcoming sunrise windows for new gTLDs, advise .AT registrants on the phone‑number requirement, and review UDRP strategies in light of these recent Panels’ emphasis on evidence of actual bad‑faith knowledge.