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18(a) Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.sportSportAccordsportaccord.comView
Q18a Description
18.a.1 Mission and Purpose of .SPORT
SportAccord is submitting this application on behalf of a global Sports community to ensure that the .SPORT gTLD shall serve as a trusted and intuitive name space for the global Sports community. The Sport Community is organized primarily through International, Regional and National Sports Federations and their members. All domain names registered within the .SPORT gTLD will be required to comply with the following three policies: Registrant Eligibility (who can register within the .SPORT gTLD); Name Selection Criteria (what domain names can be registered); and Authorized Usage Policy (how the domain names can be used). The umbrella of policies will provide the Sports Federations the confidence that the .SPORT gTLD can be operated on behalf of the global Sports community. The registry will incorporate both active and passive safeguards into its operation to ensure that these registrants continue to abide by the terms and conditions set forth in the registration agreement.

SportAccord is fully committed to operating the .SPORT gTLD in a commercially viable manner, as evidenced by the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process that it undertook as part of this application process. However, SportAccord is also filing this application for defensive purposes to ensure that a .SPORT gTLD is kept out of the hands of a third party that for commercial reasons may turn a blind eye toward illegal and or inappropriate activity within the gTLD. While SportAccord closely analyzed the objection mechanisms currently incorporated into the Guidebook, it was decided that filing this application was the most prudent course of action in the collective interests of the global Sport community.

18.a.2 SportAccord’s Role and Legacy as a Trustee to the Global Sport Community

SportAccord was originally founded in 1967 when delegates from 26 international sports federations met in Lausanne. The purpose of this meeting was to address the need for permanent liaisons between the IFs, for the defense of their objectives and common goals, the preservation of their autonomy and constant exchange of information. The name “General Assembly of International Sports Federations” was adopted.

In 1976, this name was replaced by “General Association of International Sports Federations” (GAISF). GAISF represented the logical continuation of the past IFs’ meetings, dealing not only with Olympic matters but also with all questions of common interest for the IFs. In 2003, in collaboration with ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) and AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), GAISF launched the first SportAccord Convention. The objective was to answer a growing need of the IFs for a “one-stop-shop” where they could all hold their annual meetings, network and share knowledge. In March 2009, GAISF was rebranded SportAccord at the meeting of the 7th SportAccord International Convention in Denver.

Today SportAccord serves as the umbrella organization for all (Olympic and non-Olympic) international sports federations as well as organizers of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations. Currently, SportAccord comprises 90 international sports federations governing specific sports and 15 organizations which conduct activities closely related to the international sports federations. SportAccord has defined conditions for membership which focus on three principles: good governance, universality, and ethics⁄social responsibility.

18.a.3 POTENTIAL BUSINESS MODELS

SportAccord is still analyzing potential use case options on the type of domain names to be permitted to be registered and by whom. This analysis is currently being undertaken by an independent Policy Advisory Board (PAB) supported by SportAccord for the purpose of recommending policy and best practice advice for the .SPORT gTLD and any other sport themed gTLD that may wish to voluntarily adopt its best practices. To date, over fifty International Sport Federations and sport event organizers have formally supported SportAccord’s .SPORT gTLD initiative. Out of these supporters, over twenty have actively engaged in participating in the PAB to help make this initiative beneficial to the global Sport community.

The emerging consensus on potential business models includes the following elements.

First, SportAccord is keenly aware that any new gTLD must have relevant content to achieve recognition and trust. SportAccord has evaluated recent TLD launches and their experience with new paradigms, such as the dotAsia Pioneer program. Recent experience shows that it is critical for relevant content to be available as soon as possible and ideally before any general registration phases. SportAccord would ideally like to launch a series of information portals shortly after delegation. In addition to building awareness and recognition within the community, these portals will also provide appropriate IT staff to test the seamless and secure access of .SPORT domain names.

Second, as noted above, the .SPORT gTLD will incorporate the following minimal safeguards into any business model at the time of launch: Registrant Eligibility; Name Selection Criteria; and Authorized Usage. The current consensus involves the initial reservation of all sport disciplines (basketball, football, ski, cricket, rugby, etc.) and their corresponding acronyms (e.g. FIFA, FIG, FIBA, FIM, etc.) The exact composition of this reserve list will be compiled with the assistance and guidance of the PAB and based on new research to be conducted throughout 2012. There will also be a corresponding policy defining how reserved domain names can be assigned to the appropriate body.

Domain name registration of the .SPORT registry will normally be confined to the second level, though in special cases the .SPORT registry may also handle third-level registrations. Domains at the third level within individual sport specific domain names may be created by the appropriate International Federation who will set their own policies. Registrant Eligibility criteria at the second level within the .SPORT gTLD will be based on recommendations of the PAB acting in consultation with all International Sport Federations. Eligible registrants may include, but are not limited to: clubs, universities, athletes, sponsors, educational bodies, service providers, media, organizers, and fans.

All domain names within the .SPORT name space would be subject to suspension, cancellation or forcible change of administration in case of violation of the terms and conditions set forth in the domain name registration agreement. In addition, the registry will incorporate both active and passive safeguards into its operation to ensure that registrants abide by the terms and conditions and applicable policies.

SportAccord believes that the approach described above can achieve the following goals:

- Provide a trusted and intuitive namespace for the Sport community;
- Facilitate digital communication, from, to and within the Sport community;
- Provide a platform for the development in the digital space of the Sport community;
- Promote the values of sport; and
- Provide a namespace free from illegal gambling, and doping, violence, incitement to hatred and other content incompatible with the values of Sport.
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.toursSugar Station, LLCdonuts.coView
Q18A CHAR: 7985

ABOUT DONUTS
Donuts Inc. is the parent applicant for this and multiple other TLDs. The company intends to increase competition and consumer choice at the top level. It will operate these carefully selected TLDs safely and securely in a shared resources business model. To achieve its objectives, Donuts has recruited seasoned executive management with proven track records of excellence in the industry. In addition to this business and operational experience, the Donuts team also has contributed broadly to industry policymaking and regulation, successfully launched TLDs, built industry-leading companies from the ground up, and brought innovation, value and choice to the domain name marketplace.

DONUTS’ PLACE WITHIN ICANN’S MISSION
ICANN and the new TLD program share the following purposes:
1. to make sure that the Internet remains as safe, stable and secure as possible, while
2. helping to ensure there is a vibrant competitive marketplace to efficiently bring the benefits of the namespace to registrants and users alike.

ICANN harnesses the power of private enterprise to bring forth these public benefits. While pursuing its interests, Donuts helps ICANN accomplish its objectives by:

1. Significantly widening competition and choice in Internet identities with hundreds of new top-level domain choices;
2. Providing innovative, robust, and easy-to-use new services, names and tools for users, registrants, registrars, and registries while at the same time safeguarding the rights of others;
3. Designing, launching, and securely operating carefully selected TLDs in multiple languages and character sets; and
4. Providing a financially robust corporate umbrella under which its new TLDs will be protected and can thrive.

ABOUT DONUTS’ RESOURCES
Donuts’ financial resources are extensive. The company has raised more than US$100 million from a number of capital sources including multiple multi-billion dollar venture capital and private equity funds, a top-tier bank, and other well-capitalized investors. Should circumstances warrant, Donuts is prepared to raise additional funding from current or new investors. Donuts also has in place pre-funded, Continued Operations Instruments to protect future registrants. These resource commitments mean Donuts has the capability and intent to launch, expand and operate its TLDs in a secure manner, and to properly protect Internet users and rights-holders from potential abuse.

Donuts firmly believes a capable and skilled organization will operate multiple TLDs and benefit Internet users by:

1. Providing the operational and financial stability necessary for TLDs of all sizes, but particularly for those with smaller volume (which are more likely to succeed within a shared resources and shared services model);
2. Competing more powerfully against incumbent gTLDs; and
3. More thoroughly and uniformly executing consumer and rights holder protections.

THIS TLD
This TLD is attractive and useful to end-users as it better facilitates search, self-expression, information sharing and the provision of legitimate goods and services. Along with the other TLDs in the Donuts family, this TLD will provide Internet users with opportunities for online identities and expression that do not currently exist. In doing so, the TLD will introduce significant consumer choice and competition to the Internet namespace – the very purpose of ICANN’s new TLD program.

This TLD is a generic term and its second level names will be attractive to a variety of Internet users. Making this TLD available to a broad audience of registrants is consistent with the competition goals of the New TLD expansion program, and consistent with ICANN’s objective of maximizing Internet participation. Donuts believes in an open Internet and, accordingly, we will encourage inclusiveness in the registration policies for this TLD. In order to avoid harm to legitimate registrants, Donuts will not artificially deny access, on the basis of identity alone (without legal cause), to a TLD that represents a generic form of activity and expression.

DONUTS’ APPROACH TO PROTECTIONS
No entity, or group of entities, has exclusive rights to own or register second level names in this TLD. There are superior ways to minimize the potential abuse of second level names, and in this application Donuts will describe and commit to an extensive array of protections against abuse, including protections against the abuse of trademark rights.

We recognize some applicants seek to address harms by constraining access to the registration of second level names. However, we believe attempts to limit abuse by limiting registrant eligibility is unnecessarily restrictive and harms users by denying access to many legitimate registrants. Restrictions on second level domain eligibility would prevent law-abiding individuals and organizations from participating in a space to which they are legitimately connected, and would inhibit the sort of positive innovation we intend to see in this TLD. As detailed throughout this application, we have struck the correct balance between consumer and business safety, and open access to second level names.

By applying our array of protection mechanisms, Donuts will make this TLD a place for Internet users that is far safer than existing TLDs. Donuts will strive to operate this TLD with fewer incidences of fraud and abuse than occur in incumbent TLDs. In addition, Donuts commits to work toward a downward trend in such incidents.

OUR PROTECTIONS
Donuts has consulted with and evaluated the ideas of international law enforcement, consumer privacy advocacy organizations, intellectual property interests and other Internet industry groups to create a set of protections that far exceed those in existing TLDs, and bring to the Internet namespace nearly two dozen new rights and protection mechanisms to raise user safety and protection to a new level.

These include eight, innovative and forceful mechanisms and resources that far exceed the already powerful protections in the applicant guidebook. These are:

1. Periodic audit of WhoIs data for accuracy;
2. Remediation of inaccurate Whois data, including takedown, if warranted;
3. A new Domain Protected Marks List (DPML) product for trademark protection;
4. A new Claims Plus product for trademark protection;
5. Terms of use that prohibit illegal or abusive activity;
6. Limitations on domain proxy and privacy service;
7. Published policies and procedures that define abusive activity; and
8. Proper resourcing for all of the functions above.

They also include fourteen new measures that were developed specifically by ICANN for the new TLD process. These are:

1. Controls to ensure proper access to domain management functions;
2. 24⁄7⁄365 abuse point of contact at registry;
3. Procedures for handling complaints of illegal or abusive activity, including remediation and takedown processes;
4. Thick WhoIs;
5. Use of the Trademark Clearinghouse;
6. A Sunrise process;
7. A Trademark Claims process;
8. Adherence to the Uniform Rapid Suspension system;
9. Adherence to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy;
10. Adherence to the Post Delegation Dispute Resolution Policy;
11. Detailed security policies and procedures;
12. Strong security controls for access, threat analysis and audit;
13. Implementation DNSSEC; and
14. Measures for the prevention of orphan glue records.

DONUTS’ INTENTION FOR THIS TLD
As a senior government authority has recently said, “a successful applicant is entrusted with operating a critical piece of global Internet infrastructure.” Donuts’ plan and intent is for this TLD to serve the international community by bringing new users online through opportunities for economic growth, increased productivity, the exchange of ideas and information and greater self-expression.