The .MAYONNAISE Top-Level Domain

Oups...sorry, I meant "KETCHUP".


What is the purpose/mission of this proposed, .KETCHUP generic Top-Level Domain? 

ProMark Brands Inc, a subsidiary of H.J. Heinz Company, has filed this application for a .KETCHUP gTLD with the intention of bringing to market a trusted, hierarchical, and intuitive namespace for consumers to access content related to Heinz Tomato Ketchup worldwide.

• ProMark intends to initially limit registration and use of domain names within the .KETCHUP gTLD to Heinz and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates;
• After year 3, ProMark will evaluate whether opportunities exist to carry out the business strategy for the .KETCHUP gTLD through expansion that continues the sustainable operations of the registry through fee-based registrations to parties other than Heinz and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates.
• Four stage rollout for the .KETCHUP gTLD:
• Heinz will register a limited number of .KETCHUP second-level domain names;
• ProMark will begin allocating domain names in the .KETCHUP gTLD for more widespread internal corporate use and it will evaluate expanding the operations of the gTLD to permit registration by other registrants, such as licensees and strategic partners;
• ProMark may begin to implement the permanent migration of Internet traffic away from the gTLDs in which Heinz’s domain names are currently registered, and toward the .KETCHUP gTLD;
• ProMark will assess whether its business plan and expansion strategy should be augmented by extending registration rights to a broader class of licensees, potentially including customers of Heinz.

Operating rules

ProMark’s proposed operating rules to limit registration to Heinz and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates



Read the complete application details here.

LinkedIn new gTLD group reaches 800 members

I am happy to welcome Mafalda F. Occupational Safety Specialist at Monten Studio in Avon, Mississippi, a Venture Capital & Private Equity.

Mafalda F. is member 800 to join the new generic Top-Level Domains group on LinkedIn.

Update on the Trademark ClearingHouse

I have more and more questions regarding the Trademark Clearinghouse so here is an update.

• Reading the project Timeline, I understand the Trademark Clearinhouse will be launched in October 2012;
• Rightsholders should be charged around USD 150 to subscribe and there will be an annual renewal fee;
• Registries will pay too: a set-up fee of USD 7,000 to 10,000 will be due per TLD registry. The set-up fee should cover Sunrise and Trademark Claims processes, as well as assistance in integration and testing;
• ICANN has set up an official web page I suggest all interested parties should visit it. As it says, this page tracks the progress of implementation work done on the Trademark Clearinghouse.

The next date is Wednesday the 27 of June 2012

In June the 27th, there will be a session in Prague which will provide an update on the continuing work toward implementation of the Clearinghouse.


The session will include a review of processes that are being built, such as:

1. Submission of rights information to the Clearinghouse;
2. Sunrise registration and notification processes;
3. Trademark Claims notification processes.

There will be a virtual meeting room to watch session leader Kurt Pritz (Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Relations) update interested parties. Note it is planned that this session will include the participation of one or more providers of Clearinghouse services.

To attend, click here.

New gTLDs ICANN feed back

It is possible to comment applications on the ICANN web site but it is also possible to provide a simple feed-back regarding something you've liked - or not.

You can sumbit your feed-back on the "New gTLD Program Feedback" page.

At the moment I write this, there are 4 comments (which are not very optimistic by the way) but hey give anyone the opportunity to give an advice. I would say this is fair-play, thank you ICANN.

Note, ICANN reserves the right to remove feedback that does not adhere to "ICANN Expected Standards of Behavior" and "ICANN's Open Comment Forum Process and Standards".

You can feed-back on the new gTLD program feedback.

Top-Level Domains Infographics

"Infographics" allow to have a fast and, most of the time, good visual snapshot of a situation. A few new gTLD players (journalists, service providers, bloggers...) have given us their best shot:

• A glimpse of what the Internet will look like in the near future: check the Infographic here;
• Analysis of the the extensions: check the Infographic here;
• Some visual facts about the new gTLDs: check the infographic here.

The .MENU Top-Level Domain

What is the purpose/mission of the proposed, .MENU generic Top-Level Domain?

The .menu gTLD will benefit proposed registrants, internet users and others by offering an internet space exclusively dedicated to restaurant menus of all kinds, and their affiliated constituents:

• The Registry will focus on restaurant menus, supporting and building directories around each category of dining by geography;
• Dedication to this subject will allow the Registry to become the chosen destination for all seeking restaurant and menu information;
• The proposed gTLD will promote competition by creating a digital environment dedicated to all social, informational and commercial aspects of restaurants and their menus;
• The Registry will establish category and geography-specific community directory websites;
• The proposed gTLD will catalyze innovation by creating an online community devoted to the menus of the global restaurant industry;
• .menu will allow for the following innovations:
• Search: optimized and customized;
• Community-specific premium domains that will be utilized for the benefit of all interested parties;
• Targeted and more cost-effective advertising;
• The ability to create and analyze community metrics;
• Lay the foundation for a community-specific e-commerce platform.

Operating rules

1. Method for resolving multiple applications for a particular name
1. During the Sunrise period, multiple applications for a particular domain, assuming all are properly listed in the Trademark Clearinghouse and⁄or otherwise verified at the Registry’s discretion, will be resolved through an auction.
2. During the Landrush period, multiple applications for a particular domain name will be resolved through an auction process. 
3. During the general registration process, multiple applications for a particular domain name will be resolved on a first come first serve basis.
2. Cost benefits to registrants intended for implementation:
1. The Registry reserves the right to offer introductory discounts and advantageous pricing to industry leaders or other entities that enhance the community reputation and visibility of the gTLD.
2. The Registry may coordinate with registrars to offer price discounts to customers purchasing multiple domains or bundled services.
3. Intended contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation:
1. The Registry will comply with the Registry Agreement and will make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the pricing policy. This includes complying with all pricing requirements detailed in Article 2.10 of ICANN’s New gTLD Registry Agreement.
2. The Registry may from time to time increase prices in accordance with market rates and other applicable factors throughout the internet community.

Read the complete application details here.

The .BBB Top-Level Domain

What is the purpose/mission of this proposed, Community-based, .BBB generic Top-Level Domain?

BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by:

• Creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities;
• Setting standards for marketplace trust;
• Encouraging and supporting best practices; 
• Celebrating marketplace role models; and
• Denouncing substandard marketplace behaviour. 

Operating rules

If CBBB (the applicant) receives multiple requests for the same name from qualified community members, CBBB would not use auction as the means of resolving the competing claims. Rather, CBBB will take the following considerations into account:

• What the current primary domain of the business or charity is registered as;
• Whether they own the trademark of the proposed domain name;
• How long a business or charity had been accredited by the BBB or Wise Giving Alliance; and
• Who requested the domain name first.

Read the complete application details here.

The .AAA Top-Level Domain

What is the purpose/mission of this proposed .AAA generic Top-Level Domain?

The most important purposes of the .AAA TLD can be summarized as follows:

1. Securing, protecting and operating the Applicant’s key brand (“AAA”) as a gTLD to the benefit of its stakeholders referred to below;
2. Reflect the “AAA” brand at the top level of the DNS’ hierarchy, next to the existing gTLDs and ccTLDs;
3. Provide stakeholders of the Applicant with a recognizable and trusted identifier on the Internet. Such stakeholders include, but are not limited to:
1. the regional clubs of the Applicant;
2. the local clubs of the Applicant;
3. certain organizations associated with the Applicant, e.g. vintage car clubs;
4. members of the Applicant; and directors and officers of the Applicant and its subsidiaries, including its employees;
5. business partners and other strategic partners as identified by the Applicant.
4. Provide such stakeholders with a secure and safe Internet environment, under the control of the Applicant, in which they are able to obtain information, products and services from and communicate with the Applicant and where they are able to obtain genuine information provided by the AAA and its approved stakeholders.

Operating rules

The domain names to be registered by the AAA and, as the case may be, its Affiliates, will likely relate to the following:

• registered trademarks of the AAA;
• names of the regional and local clubs of the AAA;
• names of the individual members of the AAA;
• names of organizations associated with the Applicant, e.g. vintage car clubs;
• third parties who perform services or offer products to the benefit of the Applicant’s members;
• names of departments within the AAA;
• names of foundations and social initiatives supported by the AAA;
• names of events (e.g. motorsports events) organized by the AAA;
• etc.

Read the complete application details here.