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

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.ART.ART REGISTRY INC.afilias.infoView
Describe proposed measures for protection of geographic names at the second and other levels in the applied-for gTLD. This should include any applicable rules and procedures for reservation and⁄or release of such names.

We 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).

We 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 (Sunrise), so that no parties may apply for them. We will publish a list of these names before Sunrise, so our registrars and their prospective applicants can be aware that these names are reserved.
We will define a procedure so that governments can request the above reserved domain(s) if they would like to take possession of them. This procedure will be based on existing methodology developed for the release of country names in the .INFO TLD. For example, we will require a written request from the country’s GAC representative, or a written request from the country’s relevant Ministry or Department. We will allow the designated beneficiary (the Registrant) to register the name, with an accredited Afilias Registrar, possibly using an authorization number transmitted directly to the designated beneficiary in the country concerned.

As defined by Specification 5, paragraph 5, such geographic domains may be released to the extent that Registry Operator reaches agreement with the applicable government(s). Registry operator will work with respective GAC representatives of the country’s relevant Ministry of Department to obtain their release of the names to the Registry Operator.

If internationalized domains names (IDNs) are introduced in the TLD in the future, we will also reserve the IDN versions of the country names in the relevant script(s) before IDNs become available to the public. If we find it advisable and practical, we will confer with relevant language authorities so that we 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. We will ensure appropriate procedures to allow governments, public authorities or IGO’s 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, the registry operator will institute a provision to suspend domains names in the event of a dispute. We may exercise that right in the case of a dispute over a geographic name.
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.IrishDot-Irish LLCtldassets.comView
Dot-Irish LLC
Question 22

Certain geographic names will be reserved and handled in accordance with procedures delegated by ICANN. Dot-Irish LLC will reserve country and territory names, at the second level and at all other levels within the TLD at which the Registry Operator provides for registrations, as per the requirements in the New gTLD Registry Agreement (Specification 5, paragraph 5):

• “5.1 the short form (in English) of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, as updated from time to time, including the European Union, which is exceptionally reserved on the ISO 3166-1 list, and its scope extended in August 1999 to any application needing to represent the name European Union 〈http:⁄⁄www.iso.org⁄iso⁄support⁄country_codes⁄iso_3166_code_lists⁄iso-3166- 1_decoding_table.htm#EU〉;
• 5.2. the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names, Technical Reference Manual for the Standardization of Geographical Names, Part III Names of Countries of the World; and
• 5.3. the list of United Nations member states in 6 official United Nations languages prepared by the Working Group on Country Names of the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names”.

These domains will be reserved before Sunrise, so that no parties may apply for them. Dot-Irish LLC will publish a list of these names before Sunrise, so our registrars and prospective applicants will be aware that these names are reserved.

Dot-Irish LLC will have a written procedure so that governments can request the above reserved domain(s) if they would like to take possession of them. This procedure will require a written request from the country’s GAC representative, or a written request from the country’s relevant Ministry or Department. As required by Specification 5, paragraph 5, such domains may be released to the extent that the Registry Operator reaches agreement with the applicable government(s).

If internationalized domains names (IDNs) are introduced in the TLD, Dot-Irish LLC will also reserve the IDN versions of the country names in the relevant script(s) before IDNs become available to the public. The lists referenced in Specification 5 paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 show how country names should be rendered in their native scripts. Dot-Irish LLC will confer with relevant language authorities when advisable or practical so that IDN domains may be properly reserved along with their variants.

Regarding GAC advice on second-level domains not specified via Specification 5: All domains awarded to registrants are subject to the UDRP, and to any properly situated court proceeding. In its registry-registrar agreement, and flowing down to registrar-registrant agreements, the registry operator will have a provision to suspend domains names in the event of a dispute. Dot-Irish LLC may exercise that right in the case of a dispute over a geographic name if the dispute is formally raised by the relevant government’s GAC representative.

Alternatively, the GAC and ICANN may approve a widespread formal distribution policy of geographic names as also noted in Specification 5. Dot-Irish LLC will monitor changes or developments in this policy area and respond accordingly.