22 Describe proposed measures for protection of geographic names at the second and other levels in the applied-for gTLD

Prototypical answer:

If assigned a gTLD, MIT plans to adopt the rules and regulations (concerning the reservation of certain names) delineated in Specification 5 of the gTLD Registry Agreement (hereinafter “Specification 5”). Thus, MIT will protect names with national or geographic significance by reserving the country and territory names at the second level and at all other levels within the TLD, as per the requirements in the New TLD Registry Agreement (Specification 5, paragraph 5). MIT will employ a series of rules to translate the geographical names required to be reserved by Specification 5, paragraph 5 to a form consistent with the ʺhost namesʺ format used in domain names. Considering the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) advice “Principles regarding new gTLDs”, these domains will be blocked, at no cost to governments, public authorities, or IGOs, before the TLD is introduced, so that no parties may apply for them. MIT will publish a list of these names before introduction of the TLD, so that MIT selected registrars and eligible “.mit” domain registrants can be aware that these names are reserved. (Reviewing “.mit” domain registration requests for conflicts with the aforementioned policies will be part of the thorough review process which MIT has prescribed for “.mit” domain requests. This review process is fully described in the response to Question 18(b) but also summarized below.)

Pursuant to MIT’s anticipated procedures for receiving and processing requests for “.mit” domains, MIT’s Office of Information Services and Technology (“IS&T”) will review requests to determine, among other things, whether MIT can fulfill a request without contravening the standards outlined in Specification 5. IS&T will maintain a comprehensive list of the names (including country and territory names) which MIT has agreed to reserve at the second and other levels, and IS&T representatives reviewing “.mit” domain requests will evaluate whether such requests run afoul of MIT’s obligation to reserve certain names. If a request involves a domain name which MIT cannot issue without violating the terms of Specification 5, a representative of IS&T will communicate the problem to the party that submitted the domain request. The IS&T representative will explain to the domain requestor why the requested domain is not available for registration; and, assuming that the requestor meets the predefined criteria (outlined in the answer to Question 18(b)) to register a “.mit” TLD, the IS&T representative will also inform the requestor that he or she may submit a request for a different “.mit” domain. If necessary, the IS&T representative will assist the requestor in identifying alternative choices for “.mit” domains which MIT could issue pursuant to the terms of MIT’s predetermined TLD registration policies as well as the parameters of the gTLD Registry Agreement between ICANN and MIT.

As defined by Specification 5, paragraph 5, such geographic domains may be released to the extent that MIT reaches agreement with the applicable government(s). MIT will work with respective GAC representatives of the country’s relevant Ministry of Department to obtain their release of the names to MIT. If internationalized domains names (“IDN”s) are introduced in the TLD in the future, MIT will also reserve the IDN versions of the country names in the relevant script(s) before IDNs become available to the public. If MIT considers it advisable and practical, MIT will confer with relevant language authorities so that MIT can reserve the IDN domains properly along with their variants.

Regarding GAC advice regarding second-level domains not specified via Specification 5, paragraph 5: All domains awarded to registrants are subject to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (“UDRP”) and to any properly-situated court proceeding. MIT will ensure appropriate procedures to allow governments, public authorities or IGOs to challenge abuses of names with national or geographic significance at the second level. In its registry-registrar agreement, and flowing down to registrar-registrant agreements, MIT will institute a provision to suspend domains names in the event of a dispute. MIT may exercise that right in the case of a dispute over a geographic name.

To aid those submitting requests to IS&T for “.mit” domains, MIT plans to establish a web page which not only includes a link for prospective registrants to submit “.mit” domain requests, but also outlines MIT’s policies and procedures for requesting, implementing, and maintaining “.mit” domains. (These policies and procedures are described in detail in the answer to Question 18(b).) If MIT’S gTLD application is successful, IS&T will, prior to and in anticipation of the implementation of the TLD system, create the aforementioned web page at a “mit.edu” address. These terms and conditions will specify, among other aspects of MIT’s gTLD policies, the names which MIT has committed to reserve (at the second level and other levels) pursuant to Specification 5. Once the MIT gTLD has been delegated into the root zone and goes live, IS&T will also promptly establish a “.mit” address detailing MIT’s policies and procedures concerning the process of “.mit” domain registration. To properly notify MIT-associated persons and groups of MIT’s designated policies and procedures for registering a “.mit” domain, MIT outreach and communication efforts (described in the answer to Question 18(b)) will not only describe MIT’s policies concerning “.mit” domain registrations, but also alert such persons and groups that the aforementioned “mit.edu” and “.mit” sites have been created for reference purposes.

Similar gTLD applications: (0)