Businesses May Want to Reconsider Using an Emoji in their Domain Name
Businesses that were hoping to capitalize on the emoji craze by incorporating them into their domain names will have to go back to the drawing board. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) recently published an advisory strongly opposing the use of an emoji.
Emojis are increasingly used to augment or replace text in everything from text messages to social media posts. Apple’s latest phone includes face scanners that can create a 3D emoji based on your expressions.
Not surprisingly, entities have sought to include emojis in their domain names. In May, the SSAC weighed in and recommended against the registration of any domain name that includes emoji. It concluded that such domains “may not function consistently or may not be universally accessible as expected.”
Use of Emoji Poses Risk of Confusion
As explained in the ICANN advisory, the standard for Internationalized Domain Names in Applications (IDNA) expressly excludes emoji from the characters accepted for use in domain names. Accordingly, the practical implication is that domain names with emoji would not be accepted or processed consistently by applications. “From an architectural perspective, if IDNs are to continue to be used as stable and secure identifiers, adherence to the original design goals of IDNA is needed,” the SSAC report concluded.
The SSAC advisory also noted that many emoji are visually similar and can be difficult to distinguish, especially when displayed in small fonts or by different applications. For instance, there are more than 20 emoji with different code points that can be used to convey a “happy face.”
While recipients of a text message can understand what the sender is intending to convey, when emoji are used in domain names, such ambiguities increase the risk of user confusion. “As a result, the user is less likely to reach the intended resource and may instead be tricked by a phishing site or other intentional misrepresentation,” the SSAC states. “It is likely to be even harder for the user to remember and type the exact emoji (or emoji sequence) that the registrant intended.”
The SSAC also raises concerns about the ability to use code to “glue” emoji together to create new ones. It highlights that a single unmodified emoji might look exactly the same as its “glued together” counterpart to some users. Moreover, systems that do not support emoji composition will display the individual components of a “glued together” emoji as a sequence of separate emoji, with results that may visually be very different from what was intended.
Along the same lines, the advisory cites the confusion that could be created by the ability to apply different skin tones to emoji. “This presents an obvious confusability challenge to users who may find it difficult to detect these color differences, either because they do not perceive them (e.g., they are color-blind) or because the emoji are displayed in a way that makes them indistinguishable,” the report states.
Lastly, the SSAC emphasized the importance of universal acceptance, specifically the importance of applications and systems accepting, validating, storing, processing, and displaying of all domain names unambiguously. “Currently, it is already difficult to get people to accept the new labels that have appeared with IDNs and the new generic TLD (gTLD) program,” the advisory states. “Adding emoji to domain name labels will only make this problem worse.”
Breach of Contract Explained: Types and Consequences
Breach of contract disputes are the most common type of business litigation. Therefore, nearly all New York and New Jersey businesses will likely have to deal with a contract dispute at least once. Understanding when to file a breach of contract lawsuit and how long you have to sue for breach of contract is essential […]
How to Dissolve a Corporation in New Jersey: A Step-by-Step Guide
Closing your business can be a difficult and challenging task. For corporations, the process includes formal approval of the dissolution, winding up operations, resolving tax liabilities, and filing all required paperwork. Whether you need to understand how to dissolve a corporation in New York or New Jersey, it’s imperative to take all of the proper […]
Gross Lease vs. Net Lease: Understanding the Key Differences
Commercial leases can take a variety of forms, which is often confusing for both landlords and tenants. Understanding the different types, especially the gross lease structure, is important when selecting the lease that best suits your needs. One key distinction between lease types is how rent is calculated and paid. This article addresses the two […]
What to Do If You Are Impacted by a Retailer Bankruptcy Part 2
Over the past year, brick-and-mortar stores have closed their doors at a record pace. Fluctuating consumer preferences, the rise of online shopping platforms, and ongoing economic uncertainty continue to put pressure on the retail industry. When a retailer seeks bankruptcy protection, a myriad of other businesses are often impacted. Whether you are a supplier, customer, […]
The Current Administration's Proposals for the Financial Services and Banking Industries Will Affect Your Business
Since his inauguration two months ago, Donald Trump’s administration and the Congress it controls have indicated important upcoming policy changes. These changes will impact financial services policies and priorities. The changes will particularly affect cryptocurrency, as well as banking rules and regulations. Key Regulatory Changes in Cryptocurrency For example, in the burgeoning cryptocurrency business environment, […]
Tips for Commercial Landlords Impacted by Wave of Retailer Bankruptcies Part 1
The retail sector has experienced a wave of bankruptcy filings over the last year. Brick-and-mortar businesses in financial distress include big-name brands like Big Lots, Party City, The Container Store, and Vitamin Shoppe. When large retailers seek bankruptcy protection, they are not the only businesses impacted. Landlords can be particularly hard hit. While commercial landlords […]
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!
