Back

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

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.MERCKMerck Registry Holdings, Inc.fairwindspartners.comView
18.3.1 What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs (e.g., time or financial resource costs, as well as various types of consumer vulnerabilities)?

MRH has proposed operating rules to limit registration to MRH and potentially qualified subsidiaries and affiliates and will provide a trusted online environment for end-users.

Therefore, one way in which social costs will be eliminated is that there will be no defensive need for other trademark and brand owners to register second-level domains in the .MERCK gTLD. In addition, the .MERCK gTLD will provide end-users with a trusted source for MRH information, goods, and services.

18.3.2 What other steps will you take to minimize negative consequences⁄costs imposed upon consumers?

MRH believes that the proposed operation of the .MERCK gTLD as set forth in this application has no known negative consequences or cost implications to end users. On the contrary, the proposed operation of this registry will likely lead to direct and quantifiable benefits to end users.

18.3.3 How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first-serve basis?

MRH does not envision multiple applicants for the same domain name, as domain names will only be allocated to its parent company, MSD, and potentially MSD’s qualified subsidiaries and affiliates.

18.3.4 Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).

MRH does not envision any advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, or bulk registration discounts at this time because these marketing⁄commercial initiatives are inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .MERCK gTLD as a trusted online source identifier for MSD, and potentially its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates.

Moreover, it is the current intention of MSD to have MRH provide domain name registrations initially at no cost, at least for the first five years of operation.

However, the company reserves the right to reevaluate this decision and may choose to impose a fee in the future. Any potential registrant fees imposed upon licensees or strategic parties will be commensurate with commercial agreements and made if this class of registrants is permitted to register domain names in the .MERCK gTLD.

18.3.5 Note that the Registry Agreement requires that registrars be offered the option to obtain initial domain name registrations for periods of one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar, but no greater than ten years. Additionally, the Registry Agreement requires advance written notice of price increases. Do you intend to make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation? If so, please describe your plans.

MRH is committed to providing the domain name registration periods set forth in the Registry Agreement. Moreover, it is the current intention of MSD to have MRH provide domain name registrations initially at no cost, at least for the first five years of operation. Therefore, providing contractual commitments in a domain name Registrant Agreement regarding the magnitude of price escalations does not seem relevant or appropriate. MRH acknowledges that the current template Registry Agreement requires that the Registry Operator “shall offer registrars the option to obtain registration periods for one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar.”

MRH acknowledges that the current template Registry Agreement requires that the Registry Operator “shall offer registrars the option to obtain registration periods for one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar.” However, MSD, as the sole registrant within the .MERCK gTLD, intends to only register domain names on an annual basis through a single registrar.

This is done to better account for costs on an annual basis as well as to provide for more concise financial statements in Question 46, (e.g., no multi-year registration or deferred revenue).
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.AUTOINSURANCEAllstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Companyfairwindspartners.comView
18.3.1 What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs (e.g., time or financial resource costs, as well as various types of consumer vulnerabilities)?

AFCIC believes that the safeguards set forth in the Applicant Guidebook, along with the additional RPMs identified in Section 18.2.4, are the primary drivers to minimize potential negative social costs. AFCIC also believes that the initial launch of the .AUTOINSURANCE gTLD, through known business entities with existing contractual relationships with Allstate, will also act as important impediments to any potential negative social costs.

18.3.2 What other steps will you take to minimize negative consequences⁄costs imposed upon consumers?

AFCIC believes that the proposed operation of the .AUTOINSURANCE gTLD as set forth in this application has no known negative consequences or cost implications for consumers. To the contrary, the proposed operation of this registry will likely lead to direct and quantifiable benefits to consumers. AFCIC believes that by following the core business values established by Allstate, it will be able to provide real value to consumers, and minimize any potential negative consequences⁄costs.

In addition, Allstate will manage the hosting of the domain names in the foreseeable future; therefore, a more timely resolution of any complaints submitted to the “abuse point of contact” will be facilitated as required per Section 4.1 of the template Registry Agreement.

18.3.3 How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first-serve basis?

While it is highly unlikely there will be multiple applicants for the same domain name in Stage 1, if such an instance should arise when agents request domain names, AFCIC believes that a phased equitable allocation approach, modeled after the ones that ICANN has previously approved in connection with numerous ICANN Registry Service Evaluation Process (RSEP) requests, would be the most prudent path forward, e.g., RFP, auction, and then first-come-first-serve.

18.3.4 Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).

AFCIC does not envision any pricing, introductory discounts, or bulk registration discounts because these marketing⁄commercial initiatives are inconsistent with the mission and Purpose of the .AUTOINSURANCE gTLD as a trusted online location for AFCIC, and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates. Moreover, it is the current intention of Allstate to have AFCIC provide domain name registrations at cost or at no cost, though the company reserves the right to reevaluate any decision and may choose to impose additional fees in the future. Decisions about any potential registrant fees imposed upon licensees , strategic partners, and others with the Required Agreement will be made in the future if this class of registrants is permitted to register domain names in the .AUTOINSURANCE gTLD.

18.3.5 Note that the Registry Agreement requires that registrars be offered the option to obtain initial domain name registrations for periods of one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar, but no greater than ten years. Additionally, the Registry Agreement requires advance written notice of price increases. Do you intend to make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation? If so, please describe your plans.

AFCIC is committed to providing domain name registration services in accordance with the periods set forth in the Registry Agreement and providing domain name registrants with pricing predictability. However, as noted in the proposed business model set forth herein, AFCIC’s current best thinking envisions only permitting domain name registrations to Allstate and Allstate’s qualified subsidiaries and affiliates in at least Stages 1 and 2.

AFCIC acknowledges that the current template Registry Agreement requires that the Registry Operator “shall offer registrars the option to obtain registration periods for one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar.” However, Allstate, as the anticipated sole registrant within the .AUTOINSURANCE gTLD, currently intends to only register domain names on an annual basis. If Allstate decides to provide domains to qualified subsidiaries and affiliates, the best thinking is that this will also be done on an annual basis. This is done to more accurately account for costs on an annual basis as well as to provide for more concise financial statements in Question 46 of this application, e.g., no multi-year registrations or deferred revenue.