gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.study	OPEN UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD	ngtld.webcentral.com.au	View

18(B)I. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF YOUR PROPOSED gTLD IN TERMS OF AREAS OF SPECIALTY, SERVICE LEVELS OR REPUTATION?

The key goals of the proposed new .study gTLD are in line with ICANN’s Affirmation of Commitments: to promote consumer trust, competition and consumer choice. OUA also seeks to foster its reputation as the leading provider of its online learning services and provide an authoritative internet space through which OUA and its affiliates are able to communicate with its users directly and effectively. Acknowledged within the Australian market for its online innovation, OUA aims to use the proposed .study gTLD to leverage its market leadership position as an online learning space and drive traffic and business growth for OUA by using .study as a trusted centre of targeted content and information about study options for its prospective students. The .study gTLD will allow its users to identify study topics more quickly and easily by matching their learning interest, career aspirations and lifestyles. OUA also plans to provide second level domain names such as open.study and university.study to assist in generating search-derived traffic for itself and its partner universities. Further, the ability to create personalised domain names on demand and domain names related to the individual study topics OUA provides will support these goals. Strengthened security measures, service levels and more effective functionality will provide a trusted and positive user experience.


18(B)II. WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE YOUR PROPOSED gTLD WILL ADD TO THE CURRENT SPACE, IN TERMS OF COMPETITION, DIFFERENTIATION, OR INNOVATION?

It is anticipated that the proposed .study gTLD will make positive contributions to the wider internet community, particularly in the online learning space, by providing:


DIFFERENTIATION (INCREASED TRUST):

The .study gTLD will simplify how internet users interact with OUA by providing a distinctive domain space specifically for open online learning. OUA anticipates that the .study gTLD will generate more search-derived traffic from users searching for study options. Such internet users will be able to directly navigate to the .study gTLD site to find the most relevant study option for their studies. By centralising accredited and certified study options, .study will facilitate its users’ decision-making process when investing in their education, saving them time and resources searching for the appropriate studying opportunity tailored to their needs. Further, OUA plans to increase its partnership with other educational institutions in Australia and overseas. The use of the .study gTLD may ultimately be adopted to regulate the education sector from a digital perspective. OUA seeks to establish a global standard in education by developing the .study gTLD to differentiate its offer in online learning among multiple providers. OUA already offers a unique model which enables students to study individual study topics and to commence study without the need for previous study, in most cases, via open entry. The current domain name system has shown that it is vulnerable to malicious abuses due to registration of domain names which seek to exploit consumer confusion. OUA can address some of these vulnerabilities by maintaining complete control over the domain names registered under the .study domain space. OUA intends to use .study to ensure that users are able to distinguish OUA’s selected network of education providers and the individual study topics they offer from counterfeiters. Together with consumer trust, internet users will be able to rely on the authoritativeness of the domain names under the .study domain space, which will differentiate interaction between internet users and OUA’s websites.


COMPETITION:

The differentiation of .study gTLD as a trusted online learning site for OUA will drive existing and new TLD registry operators and other education providers to make improvements in mechanisms to improve consumer trust of their TLDs. The ability to market OUA’s offer of individual study topics with the use of the .study gTLD will provide OUA a significant competitive edge as students wishing to find appropriate study options tailored to their needs will be encouraged to interact with domain names under the .study domain space. With a dedicated .study domain space, educational institutions and services providers in the education sector may have increased choices in the registration of domain names. As a result, .study will have a flow on effect to enable increased competition. Therefore, the benefits of the proposed .study gTLD will be distributed not only to its direct customers, but to the internet community at large forcing improved services in the market place.


INNOVATION:

With the expansion of the internet community to all corners of the world, the existing TLD structure presents limitations, not only in the availability of domain names for registrants, but also to businesses and organisations establishing a coherent global online brand presence to meet their evolving business needs. It is often difficult to register a domain name in existing domain space due to unavailability of the desired name. This problem is amplified for organisations such as OUA who work across many different jurisdictions and geographical markets. Even when the desired domain name is available, it may come with a high price tag associated with a purchase of such desired name from a third party or be ambiguous and fail to explain the nature of the organisation’s business. With .study, OUA has the ability to create second or third level domain names including the use of geographic names on demand which are relevant to its student base and the individual online study topics that OUA offers. By building its website and future websites with clear domain names such as openuniversities.study and country.study, OUA will be able to convey a clear message that it provides studying options from its partner universities and other accredited education providers. OUA will be able to combine its use of the domain space with innovative user focused marketing and services to address the currently unmet needs in the existing domain name system providing greater consumer choice.


18(B)III. WHAT GOALS DOES YOUR PROPOSED gTLD HAVE IN TERMS OF USER EXPERIENCE?

The proposed .study gTLD will provide a positive user experience, which meets the changing and growing needs of the global internet community. OUA will maintain control in the registration and use of domain names and will ensure that the new gTLD will only be used for purposes authorised by OUA. Therefore, the .study gTLD will:

- provide an easy and intuitive reference and access point for internet users searching for study options matching their learning interest or career aspirations;

- represent authenticity thus promoting user confidence;

- direct internet users to relevant information in a timely manner by creating domain names such as university.study on demand;

- allow the use of IDNs at a later stage to enable OUA’s current and prospective students to interact directly in their native language;

- use geographic names to localise OUA’s websites to connect with internet users in the relevant regions and to comply with local laws;

- enhance security and minimise security risks by implementing necessary technical and policy measures;

- strengthen brand reputation and user confidence by eliminating user confusion; and

- prevent potential abuses in the registration process reducing overall costs to businesses and users.


OUA intends to create relevant domain names for use including product, services or geographic names in the second or third level domain names. In accordance with the registration policy and the proposed measures for protection of geographic names as outlined in response to Question 22, OUA will use geographic names to localise its websites in the Australia and its main territories initially where OUA offers its online studies. OUA plans to expand the use of geographic names to other countries in the Asia Pacific and US regions at a later stage where OUA plans to expand its operations. The use of geographic names is intended to:

- connect internet users with relevant information as applicable to the territory; and

- comply with required rules and regulations in the relevant territory.


At this stage, OUA does not intend to utilise Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) at the second level. However, as the use of the .study gTLD evolves, OUA may wish to utilise IDNs to allow internet users to engage with .study in their native language, creating a more positive user experience and encouraging diversity.

The .study gTLD should address the concerns that the current domain name system is open to potential malicious abuse and user confusion in the registration processes. Although the current system allows an eligible party to lodge a claim through existing Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or other dispute resolution processes, the .study gTLD will reduce potential abuses in the registration processes and overall costs to internet users. User confidence in the domain name system will be strengthened, which will ultimately contribute towards promoting ICANN’s core values in benefiting the public interest.


18(B)IV. PROVIDE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICANTʹS INTENDED REGISTRATION POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF THE GOALS LISTED ABOVE.

The proposed registration policy is attached in response to Question 28.

Only OUA will be eligible to register domain names in .study at this stage. The domain name registration processes will address the requirements mandated by ICANN, including rights abuse prevention measures.


18(B)V. WILL YOUR PROPOSED GTLD IMPOSE ANY MEASURES FOR PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANTS OR USERS? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY SUCH MEASURES.

OUA is committed to protection of privacy and confidential information in accordance with its objective of increasing consumer trust and providing a safe and legitimate internet space for internet users. Privacy and confidential information will be protected in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to internet security, privacy and user’s confidential information including the Privacy Act 1988 (Australia).

Privacy is of fundamental concern to most of OUA’s students as such OUA has a strong interest in ensuring a high level of privacy protection for its users. OUA has implemented its own privacy policy that complies with the 10 National Privacy Principles (NPP) listed under the Privacy Act 1988 (Australia) to demonstrate its commitment to the protection of user privacy and confidential information. OUA’s privacy policy includes provisions regarding:

1. Collection of personal information (NPP 1 & 10): OUA will not collect any personal information unless it is necessary for its functions. OUA will inform a user of the purpose of such a collection when the information is needed.

2. Use and disclosure of personal information (NPP 2): OUA will only use the personal information collected for the purpose informed to the user or otherwise permitted by law.

3. Security and quality of personal information (NPP 3 & 4): OUA takes reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information in its collection is accurate, complete and up-to-date and protects the personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

4. Access to and correction of personal information (NPP 5 & 6): OUA allows its users to access their personal information and request for any correction of such information to be made.

5. Commonwealth Government Identifiers (NPP 7): OUA will issue its own identification numbers instead of using Commonwealth government identifiers (such as health insurance numbers) as its own identifier of individuals to protect the privacy of information provided by its users.

6. Anonymity (NPP 8): OUA allows users not to identify themselves when it is lawful and practicable to do so.

7. Transborder Data Flows (NPP 9): OUA complies with the requirements under law relating to transborder data flows.

8. Sensitive information (NPP 10): OUA will not collect sensitive information about its users without their consent unless permitted by law.


As the .study gTLD will only be available to OUA, initially, the amount of personal data that will be collected for the purposes of operating the gTLD and made publicly available in the WHOIS database will be very limited. OUA will provide a publicly available and searchable WHOIS look up facility, where information about the domain name status, registrant information including administrative and technical contact details can be found in accordance with Specification 4 of the Registry Agreement. In order to prevent misuse of the WHOIS look up facility, OUA will utilise measures including a requirement where any person submitting a WHOIS database query is required to read and agree to the terms and conditions in accordance with the registration policy. This will include the terms of use that the WHOIS database is provided for information purposes only and that the user agrees not to use the information for any other purposes such as allowing or enabling the transmission of unsolicited commercial advertising or other communication.

OUA will deploy Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) which is intended to benefit both OUA and its users interacting with OUA online. DNSSEC provides additional security by validating information in the transmission, therefore it is intended to benefit those who publish information in the domain name system (DNS) and the users who retrieve information from the new .study gTLD. OUA already implements measures to protect privacy or confidential information of its users against misuse, loss, alteration and unauthorised access. Such measures include the use of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data encryption.

OUA will continue to apply all security measures currently implemented and will comply with all other policies and practices required by ICANN in the Registry Agreement and any relevant Consensus Policy for protecting the privacy and confidential information of registrants and users in the new .study domain space.


18(B)VI. DESCRIBE WHETHER AND IN WHAT WAYS OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE YOUR PROJECTED BENEFITS.

The proposed new gTLD will be publicised by a media plan to promote recognition of the new gTLD within the internet community to be a trusted site and as a sign of authenticity.

During the initial stage of the operation of the proposed new gTLD, it is anticipated that internet users may be re-directed to current websites. However, over time, it is foreseen that communication to the internet community of the existence of the proposed new gTLD and encouragement to utilise the trusted site will contribute towards minimising malicious abuses and protecting internet users.

gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.melbourne	The Crown in right of the State of Victoria, represented by its Department of Business and Innovation	dbi.vic.gov.au	View

GOAL OF THE .MELBOURNE TLD IN TERMS OF AREAS OF SPECIALTY, SERVICE LEVELS OR REPUTATION

The goal of the .melbourne gTLD is to encourage innovation and growth, underpinned by business viability, best practice and the strength of the Melbourne brand, through the creation of a domain space dedicated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The unique domain space will provide internet users with easier access to valuable geo-specific content, products, information and services related to and linked with Melbourne. It will also allow registrants and government bodies a clearer, more cohesive branding message in the online environment and a new opportunity to market their message to consumers in a user friendly online space. Further, it is hoped that the creation of a locality-specific internet space will increase the service levels, relevance and accuracy of information that is available to the broader community of internet users, thus contributing towards a more trusted and positive user experience.

ANTICIPATED CONTRIBUTION TO THE CURRENT SPACE

It is anticipated that the proposed .melbourne gTLD will make positive contributions to the wider internet community by providing:

Competition:
The differentiation of the .melbourne gTLD as a space dedicated to businesses, organisations, individuals and government bodies connected to Melbourne, Victoria may drive existing and new TLD registry operators to make improvements in mechanisms to improve consumer trust and relevance in their TLDs. The .melbourne gTLD will encourage internet users to interact with domain names under .melbourne domain space to look for products, services and information from businesses, organisations, residents, communities and government bodies with a connection to Melbourne. There is currently no online space that is specifically targeted at Melbourne or devoted to the needs of Victorian residents. The benefits of the proposed .melbourne gTLD will be distributed not only to consumers located in Melbourne, but to the internet community at large forcing improved services and competitive pricing in the market place for domain name registrations.

Innovation:
With the expansion of the internet community, the existing gTLD structure presents limitations, in particular in terms of the ability for registrants to register relevant domain names. These limitations are reflected in the difficulties in registering appropriate domain names, as well as determining authentic and relevant information provided by government bodies, businesses, communities, organisations and residents with a connection to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The .melbourne gTLD intends to overcome these limitations by providing an online space dedicated to locality-specific information through the registration of second level domains by eligible registrants, as specified in the registration policy. The .melbourne gTLD will present an internet space in which businesses, communities, organisations and government bodies can create domain names that are relevant to their respective customer, member or constituent base, services and products. .melbourne gTLD will provide a geo-specific online identity to eligible registrants, with eligibility criteria different from those applied in the current .au ccTLD or other domain spaces, addressing the currently unmet needs in the domain name system in terms of consumer choice.

Differentiation (Increased trust):
The .melbourne gTLD will simplify how internet users interact online with Victorian residents by providing a distinctive domain space that specifically targets the States’ residents and is devoted to their needs. Internet users will be able to directly navigate to .melbourne gTLD sites, saving time and resources searching for reliable and relevant sites. The current domain name system has shown that it is vulnerable to malicious abuses due to registration of domain names which seek to exploit consumer confusion. The .melbourne gTLD can address some of these vulnerabilities by maintaining a simple yet efficient degree of control over the domain names registered under the .melbourne domain space by requiring that registrants warrant their eligibility in accordance with the registration policy. The .melbourne gTLD will provide greater user confidence in the information provided on the dedicated .melbourne online space, as the registration policy will require that registrants meet the eligibility criteria and refrain from using domain names in manner that is unlawful or inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD. Internet users will be able to rely on the relevance of the domain names and accuracy of information under the .melbourne domain space, which will differentiate interaction between internet users and the registrants under the .melbourne gTLD.

GOALS OF THE .MELBOURNE TLD IN TERMS OF USER EXPERIENCE

The proposed .melbourne gTLD will provide a positive user experience which meets the changing and growing needs of Melbourne and Victorian residents and the broader internet community. Registrants will be required to warrant their eligibility to register domain names in accordance with the registration policy and that their use will be consistent with that policy and the mission and purpose of the TLD, thus deterring abusive registrations. Therefore, the .melbourne gTLD will:
– provide an easy and intuitive reference and access point for internet users, enabling them to easily locate relevant information made available by government bodies, businesses, organisations, communities and groups connected to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;
– represent legitimacy, since registrants will need to identify and warrant themselves as possessing an address within the State of Victoria, thus promoting user confidence;
– direct internet users to relevant information in a timely manner by providing a dedicated domain space specifically targeted at Melbourne, Victoria;
– enhance security and minimise security risks by implementing necessary technical and policy measures and offering rapid resolution of complaints;
– strengthen brand reputation by offering the government a new communication infrastructure and user confidence by eliminating user confusion; and
– reduce potential abuses in the registration process, via the application of eligibility criteria, and overall costs to businesses and users.

The .melbourne gTLD will address the concerns that the current domain name system is open to potential malicious abuse and user confusion in the registration processes. Although the current system allows an eligible party to lodge a claim through existing Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or other dispute resolution processes, the .melbourne gTLDs eligibility requirements will reduce potential abuses in the registration processes and overall costs to internet users. User confidence in the domain name system will be strengthened, which will ultimately contribute towards promoting ICANN’s core values in benefiting the public interest.

.MELBOURNE REGISTRATION POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF THE ABOVE-LISTED GOALS

Key provisions of the proposed registration policy are described below.

Only eligible registrants will be able to register second level domain names in the .melbourne gTLD. Applicants must possess an address in the State of Victoria, Australia in order to register domain names. Registrants will be required to warrant their satisfaction of the eligibility criteria and provide a Victoria, Australia address or business registration number in order to register domain names. Ineligible registrations are considered abusive and thus fall within the scope of the Anti-Abuse Policy, which is provided in the response to Question 28.

The DBI will launch the .melbourne gTLD in several phases, including two sunrise rounds, as set out in the registration policy and described in more detail in Question 18(c), below. This approach will provide an opportunity for trademark holders, government bodies and businesses meeting the general and sunrise eligibility criteria to register domain names. Thereafter .melbourne will be open for registrations from all eligible registrants, first during a landrush period with competing applications resolved by auction, and then in general availability on a first-come⁄first-served basis. The domain name registration processes in the proposed new gTLD will address the requirements as mandated by ICANN, including but not limited to, minimum rights abuse prevention measures such as the use of the Trademark Clearinghouse. Launch and rights protection mechanism implementation is described in detail in the response to Question 29.

Domain names may be registered for a term between 1 and 10 years as per ICANN´s requirements. Upon expiry of the domain name, the Registry will auto-renew the domain name for a one year term unless the registrant submits its intention not to renew the domain name.

The registration policy will stipulate that domain names will need to meet certain standard technical criteria, such as being less than 63 characters long. Registrants will be required to use the domain name in a manner which does not contravene relevant legislation in Victoria and Australia. Furthermore, the domain name must not be used in a way that is inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD.

DBI will prepare a list of reserved domain names that is consistent with Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement and which also limits registration of government body names. In addition, DBI will not initially allow registrations of domain names for:
– One character labels;
– 2nd level labels utilised in Australia’s ccTLD, .au; and
– names restricted by State or Commonwealth legislation in Australia.

Registrants will be required to use .melbourne domain names in a manner that does not contravene relevant State and Commonwealth legislation in Australia. Furthermore, the domain name must not be used in a way that is inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD.

If registrants are found in breach of the terms and conditions in the registration policy, the registry will be able to exercise the right to suspend or cancel the registration of the domain name.

MEASURES FOR PROTECTING PRIVACY OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANTS OR USERS

DBI is committed to the protection of privacy and confidential information in accordance with the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD, fostering increased consumer trust through providing a safe, user friendly and valuable geo-located internet space for internet users. Privacy and confidential information will be protected in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to internet security, privacy and user’s confidential information, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Australia), the National Privacy Principles (Australia), the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Victoria) and its related privacy principles. The .melbourne gTLD will develop a privacy policy and practice intended to protect the personal data of its registrants and internet users. The .melbourne gTLD and its privacy policy will comply with the Specification 9, subsection 1(e), of the Registry Operator Code of Conduct contained within the Registry Agreement.

DBI will provide a publicly available and searchable WHOIS look up facility, where information about the domain name status, registrant information including administrative and technical contact details can be found in accordance with Specification 4 of the Registry Agreement. In order to prevent misuse of the WHOIS look up facility, DBI will utilise measures including a requirement where any person submitting a WHOIS database query is required to read and agree to the terms and conditions in accordance with the registration policy. This will include the terms of use that the WHOIS database is provided for information purposes only and that the user agrees not to use the information for any other purposes such as allowing or enabling the transmission of unsolicited commercial advertising or other communication.

The .melbourne registry will deploy Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), which is intended to benefit both DBI and users interacting with the .melbourne gTLD online. DNSSEC provides additional security by validating information in transmission, therefore it is intended to benefit those who publish information in the domain name system (DNS) and the users who retrieve information from the new .melbourne gTLD.

Further, DBI will comply with all security measures, policies and practices required by ICANN in the Registry Agreement and any relevant Consensus Policy for protecting the privacy and confidential information of registrants and users in the new .melbourne domain space.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS

The proposed new .melbourne gTLD will be publicised by a media plan to promote recognition of the new gTLD within the internet community as a space dedicated to businesses, residents, community groups, organisations and government bodies linked to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Outreach and communication activities will focus on the achievement of the following primary objectives:
– overall awareness of the new .melbourne domain space within key stakeholders and target audiences;
– end-user awareness and utilisation of the .melbourne gTLD; and
– registrar engagement, uptake and sell-through.

The following marketing disciplines, targeted at both individuals and businesses within the Melbourne region, will form the basis of the .melbourne launch marketing activity:
– above the line advertising, including awareness and value-based messaging within print and outdoor mediums;
– Public Relations targeting major daily newspapers, online, broadcast and social media channels;
– event sponsorship supporting the mission and purpose of the .melbourne gTLD as the domain name of choice for Melbourne’s consumer and business community; and
– registrar engagement, including co-operative marketing initiatives.

Launch marketing activities will also feature the allocation of a small number of premium .melbourne domain names to high-traffic online properties owned and managed by the City of Melbourne. Following launch, marketing activities will shift focus from awareness to the empowerment of the Registrar sales channel.