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

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.istIstanbul Metropolitan Municipalitygmail.comView
Istanbul, being one of the oldest and magnificent cities of the world, is now excited to add one more gem to its unique richness. Istanbul assumes the title of a prestigious TLD Registry, in addition to its numerous titles as a precious center of arts, science, culture, history and tolerance in the world.

The .ist TLDʹs mission is to create ʺISTʺ brand for Istanbul at national and international levels, provide an alternative usage as short-form for Istanbul, encourage innovation, help local businesses to thrive, market and promote tourism in the Istanbul, and spread the dynamic image and the brand value of Istanbul around the world. Through the introduction of a new unrestricted top-level domain name, serving as new resources for local and global enterprises and entrepreneurs, will provide the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (the ʺIMMʺ) and portfolio owners with new opportunities to generate new income and will support the development of the City and economy as well as introducing the cultural and historical heritage of Istanbul to the world. Everyone will have the opportunity to chose their online presence through ʺ.istʺ TLD or ʺ.istanbulʺ TLD.

New revenue streams

The TLD will enable the IMM to generate new income streams by licensing second-level domain names to local businesses, citizens, visitors, non-profits, and other organizations no matter whether they are Turkish citizens or not. In addition, with locally branded affiliations city portalsʹ administrations will be able to extend the IMMʹs revenue opportunities from the physical world to the virtual. These new ways and new revenue-generating possibilities will enable a considerable resource for the IMM to support its services for the public and City development as well as to support its unique initiatives for tourism and economic development.

By providing new revenue streams and business opportunities for local and global businesses and entrepreneurs as well as for the City government, the TLD will support economic growth and development on a large scale primarily in domestic and subsequently in foreign markets.

Increased recognition

The TLD will help to reinforce the visibility of the Istanbul by becoming the ʺofficialʺ Internet resource for citizens and visitors. It will potentially become a high-profile virtual space to connect people who loves Istanbul, discuss ideas, support diverse ethnic and cultural groups, and enable citizens to interact with civic departments, public officials, and Cityʹs representatives.

Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its history dates back to thousands of years possessing the invaluable treasures of ancient times. It was home to many civilizations, and has preserved the cultures peacefully. It keeps the best examples of urbanism, architecture, art and culture. It is an exceptional global city preserving the cultural properties of ancient times which are still safe and standing.
By the mission of having such an extraordinary treasure, our aim is to introduce history of Istanbul, spread information about its unique values and increase awareness of Istanbul around the world. This TLD will create a global resource for this precious city, which will bring information for the next generations.

Throughout its history, Istanbul has always affected the world and it still does. We believe that this TLD will support to increase brand awareness, recognition, and reputation of the Istanbul around the world. In this sense, it will support to promote and market tourism and culture in the Istanbul globally.

Enhanced online profile, security, control and trust

The TLD will make it easier for citizens to access their local administration with simple, remarkable and memorable web sites and email addresses with short-form for Istanbul. We believe that this will support to use of available e-government applications and improve communication and interaction between local government and citizens. In addition, the TLD will enable the City administrations to launch new e-government initiatives, inform citizens about emergencies, and advertise services, tourism, local events, public transportation, legislation, and local issues. Therefore, it will empower and drive new interaction ways for citizens and government employees.

The administration of the TLDs by the IMM will also help improve trust and confidence. Every entity with a second-level domain name, from the largest organization to individuals, could potentially benefit from the potential prestige, visibility, and authenticity conferred by the TLDs.

In addition to creating awareness in foreign countries, this TLD proposal which has been prepared and developed by the light of the recent, actual and experienced processes and policies of the registries with assistance of its back-end registry service provider, is the strongest support for the objective of Istanbul to become a world brand.

In the future, we believe that “.ist” TLD will be an engine of innovation that will support the growth and development of all people, all the enterprises and entrepreneurs across the world, particularly in Istanbul and Turkey.

Furthermore, we believe that Istanbul has to take a part of this program. Istanbul which leads the world cities, competes with other cities in every platform with its population, history, culture structure, cosmopolitan status and economic power, deserves the participation in this program and operate this new TLDs. In order to achieve this process and management of TLD Registry successfully, all public and government institutes and agencies of Istanbul will be mobilized and will make all necessary sacrifices in every aspect of the TLDs operations.

Summary of Key Headlines About Istanbul

Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul (Turkey), President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

- He served as President of MEWA (Middle East West Asia) and Vice-President of UCLG between 2004 and 2007, and was Co-President of UCLG from 2007 to 2010. In November 2010 he was also elected as the President of the UCLG for a term of 3 years, and he is currently serving as the President of UCLG.

Location and Population

- With a history of 8.500 years, Istanbulʹs location is strategically important for Balkans, Caucasia and the Asia.
- Istanbul has two strategic air ports in terms of geopolitical location. Access to 3 continents, about 75 countries and 2,7 billion people by 4-5 hours of flight from Istanbul. 43 million people travel by air per year with 1,056 flights per day.
- A city with a scale of a countryʹs. Istanbul is larger than 23 European countries with its geography and population of 13 million people. 37% of the total population comprises young people in 25-39 ages group.

Economy and Market

- Istanbul generates about 23% of Turkeyʹs Gross National Product (GNP). Its annual contribution to the state budget is about 40%.
- According to a recent survey in global metropolitan economies*, Istanbul ranked number one developing city among 150 great metropolises such as Singapore (4), Rio de Janeiro (10), Moscow (47), Chicago (82) and Paris (96).
- According to a research in the worldʹs richest cities* indicated interesting results, with Istanbul surpassing 127 countries with its $133 billion yearly income.

History, Culture and Tourism

- Istanbul is an UNESCO world heritage city.
- Awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2010.
- Awarded the title of European Capital of Sport 2012.
- Istanbul is the strongest candidate city to 2020 Olympic Games.
- Istanbul ranked 49th in congress tourism in 1998, and today it ranks 7th with hosting over 100 congresses.
- In Istanbul, 1 billion 997 million TL of investment were made in the field of Culture and Tourism between the years of 2004-2012.

* Resources and detailed headlines are provided at the question #48 Funding and Revenue as Attachment48d4.
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.salonOuter Orchard, 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.