18(c) What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?

Prototypical answer:

i. The Applicant will organize the registry operation for the .HERMES in such a manner that it will minimize the likelihood of having multiple applications for a particular domain name. This can be achieved in one of the following ways:
1. Given the fact that, at least prior to the launch of the .HERMES top-level domain, the Applicant ⁄ Registry Operator will reserve, delegate and use a large number of domain names that are directly or indirectly relevant to Applicant’s business in its own name. Since quite a number of these domain names will be of a descriptive nature, the chances for qualifying ⁄ eligible applicants ⁄ registrants to register such domain names after the launch will be limited;
2. The Registry Operator will release available domain names post launch in a highly controlled manner, which also reduces the likelihood that two or more applicants qualify for the registration of the same domain name in the .HERMES top-level domain;
3. As a method of last resort, and subject to the actual domain name registration policy adopted by the Registry Operator and in force at the time of registration, domain names will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

ii. The Applicant intends to make the .HERMES top-level domain available to qualifying domain name registrants at no cost to them; The Applicant ⁄ Registry Operator may, at its discretion charge a fee for the registration of domain names under the .HERMES TLD.

iii. The Applicant ⁄ Registry Operator may at its discretion make contractual commitments to increase or decrease the fees for the registration of domain names under the .HERMES TLD.

Similar gTLD applications: (18)