18(b) How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?

Prototypical answer:

2 BENEFIT TO REGISTRANTS, INTERNET USERS, AND OTHERS r />r /> As of this writing, more than 800,000 internationalized second-level domain names are registered in .com, r /> including approximately 400,000 in Han (Simplified). The r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD, along with the other proposed IDN r /> transliterations of .com, provide an immediate benefit to registrants of those names by giving them the r /> opportunity to register IDN second-level domain names as “IDN.IDN” domain names. That is, registrants r /> can use their preferred script in both the second-level domain name and the gTLD name. Doing so r /> improves these domain names’ functionality and accessibility to speakers of non-Latin-based languages. r />r /> We anticipate that the availability of the CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM will r /> greatly increase the appeal and value of internationalized addresses in Mainland China. Expanding the r /> accessibility and functionality of these domain names to users worldwide is the primary benefit of all r /> internationalized transliterations of .com. r />r /> Finally, we anticipate that CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM will increase choice r /> and competition in Mainland China and elsewhere by giving local users the option of registering their r /> domain name with an established, trusted gTLD in their own language. Potential registrants in Mainland r /> China currently have limited choices if they want to register an IDN.IDN domain name in a gTLD that is r /> recognized across Chinese-speaking regions. The r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD creates an attractive new option for these r /> users. r />r /> More specifically, the CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD benefits the r /> following groups: r />r /> Registrants: As discussed above, current .com registrants with second-level .com IDNs in Han r /> (Simplified) can greatly expand the functionality and reach of their existing registered addresses by the r /> availability of IDN.IDN domain names entirely in Han (Simplified) script. In addition, new registrants, r /> whether in Mainland China or elsewhere, who seek entirely Han (Simplified) addresses, have the option r /> of registering their IDN.IDN domain names in a globally recognized domain. r />r /> Internet Users: The CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD significantly r /> increases the ubiquity and functionality of .com for users around the world, particularly those in Mainland r /> China. For the first time, Chinese speakers could access a transliteration of .com addresses entirely in r /> their native script. Verisign is committed to ensuring that the domain name experience remains consistent r /> to all users, in every major script, everywhere in the world. This commitment supports the vision of “One r /> World. One Internet.” that infuses ICANN’s global efforts. r />r />r /> 2.1 Business Goals r />r /> Our goal is for CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM to operate as a best-in-class r /> IDN registry. Although the CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD is distinct r /> from the .com gTLD in the DNS, we plan to provide a similar high quality of service that users of .com r /> have come to expect. r />r /> The first step in this process is to ensure that, like .com, r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM operates at the highest level of availability, r /> stability, and security. The CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD is rooted in r /> the same world-class infrastructure that supports .com and .net at the highest level of operational r /> excellence. Users and registrants have extremely high expectations of .com, and we leverage the full r /> capability of our infrastructure and operational expertise to ensure that r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM meets these expectations from the moment of r /> its launch. r />r /> The initial target audience for CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM is the registrants r /> of the approximately 400,000 IDN second-level addresses in .com. These registrants will have the r /> opportunity to register their IDN.com addresses as IDN. r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM addresses. r />r /> The secondary target market for CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM is the current r /> registrants of ASCII domain name addresses who may be doing business in Mainland China or other r /> regions with a high number of Chinese speakers. The r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD provides these registrants a ready-made r /> solution to localize their online identity while still maintaining the continuity of their .com addresses. r />r /> Finally, we are committed to working with registrars to perform outreach in Mainland China and elsewhere r /> to reach potential new registrants who are interested in establishing a new r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM domain name. r />r />r /> 2.2. Competition, Differentiation, and Innovation Goals r />r /> Chinese speakers currently have limited options for registering IDN.IDN domain names. The r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD introduces competition and choice for r /> registrants in Mainland China by providing them with an option that—while new—also carries the trust, r /> reliability, and accessibility of an established global brand. r />r /> What differentiates CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM from other potential market r /> entrants for Han (Simplified) IDN gTLDs is that it represents a localized representation of a domain that r /> many users already know and trust, .com. In addition, r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM is the best available phonetic representation of r /> “.com” inthe Chinese that uses Han (Simplified) script. The IDN’s brand is the brand of a globally r /> recognized domain, operated by a globally recognized provider. r />r />r /> 2.3 User Experience Goals r />r /> Verisign’s goal for CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM is to deliver a user r /> experience as similar to the current experience of .com as possible. Verisign operates the r /> CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM gTLD at the same high level of security, r /> stability, and availability as .com, allowing registrars to enjoy the same high service levels that Verisign r /> provides for all of the domains we operate. r />r /> We helped organize and are deeply involved in the IDN Software Developers Consortium (IDNSDC), r /> which is committed to improving the functionality and accessibility of IDNs to users. We continue to r /> engage significantly in the IDNSDC to complement the IDN initiatives being driven by ICANN and to help r /> drive adoption of IDN capabilities in standard client software. r />r />r /> 2.4 Registration Policies r />r /> The registration policies for CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED_TRANSLITERATION_OF_.COM follow closely the r /> existing IDN registration policies for .com. The Verisign Shared Registration System (SRS) allows the r /> creation of IDNs that contain Unicode supported non-ASCII scripts. We have developed a policy for IDN r /> registrations specifying permissible and prohibited code points. The policy is implemented in the following r /> five rules. IDNs that adhere to these five rules are considered valid registrations. r />r />r /> 2.4.1. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Standards r />r /> The IDNA2008 specification defines rules and algorithms that permit⁄prohibit Unicode points in IDN r /> registrations. We comply with all of the RFC documents that comprise the IDNA2008 standard. r />r />r /> 2.4.2. Restrictions on Specific Languages r />r /> All IDN registrations require a three-letter Language Tag. CHI, for instance, is for the Chinese language. If r /> the Language Tag associated with the registration is in our Language Tag Table, we have a List of r /> Included Characters for that language. The requested IDN must be entirely contained within this List of r /> Included Characters. If even one code point from the IDN is not a valid character for this language, the r /> registration is rejected. r />r />r /> 2.4.3. Restriction on Commingling of Scripts r />r /> If the Language Tag specified in the IDN registration is not in the approved list of Language Tags located r /> on our website, and so does not have a List of Included Characters, then we apply an alternate restriction r /> to prevent commingling of different scripts in a single domain. r />r /> The Unicode Standard defines a set of Unicode Scripts r /> (http:⁄⁄www.unicode.org⁄Public⁄6.0.0⁄ucd⁄Scripts.txt) by assigning each code point exactly one Unicode r /> script value. As a rule, Verisign rejects the commingling of code points from different Unicode scripts. r /> That is, if an IDN contains code points from two or more Unicode scripts, then that IDN registration is r /> rejected. For example, a character from the Latin script cannot be used in the same IDN with any Cyrillic r /> character. All code points within an IDN must come from the same Unicode script. This is done to prevent r /> confusable code points from appearing in the same IDN. r />r /> Again, this rule only applies to languages for which there is not a strictly defined List of Included r /> Characters. For example, the FRE Language Tag, indicating the French language, does not have a strict r /> List of Included Characters, and so the commingling rule applies. All code points in a French domain must r /> come from a single script. r />r />r /> 2.4.4. The Verisign SRS also adheres to ICANN’s Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized r /> Domain Names. Section 5 of the document outlines characters that are allowed by the IETF standard, but r /> should be prohibited for IDN registration. r />r />r /> 2.4.5. Special Characters r />r /> There are two (Unicode characters whose latest definitions are not backward compatible with previous r /> versions of the IDNA Standard. The Latin Sharp S and Greek Final Sigma were previously mapped to r /> alternate characters. Clients and registries that comply with the older standard would, for instance, map a r /> Latin Sharp S into two lowercase Latin letter S characters. This mapping is irreversible. The latest version r /> of the IDNA standard does not apply this mapping. So, whereas the Latin Sharp S was previously r /> prohibited (mapped into other characters), the latest standard allows registries to accept this character at r /> their own discretion. r />r /> Because these changes are not backward compatible, Verisign has elected to continue to disallow these r /> two characters until a clear and fair approach to their registration has been reached and communicated. r /> Additional information about our registration policies and approach to rights protection is available in our r /> response to Question 29, Rights Protection Mechanisms. r />r />r /> 2.5 Measures to Protect Privacy and Confidentiality r />r /> We limit information collection from registrants to ICANN mandated data points required in the registration r /> of a domain name, and use this data solely for the purpose of publishing to the publicly available Whois r /> service. Whois Terms of Use are available on our website. r />r />r /> 2.6 Outreach and Communications r />r /> Registrar Outreach r />r /> Many of our registrars have marketed and supported IDNs at the second-level of the .com TLD for more r /> than ten years. Well-established registrars have provided IDN communications and customer service in r /> markets where IDNs provide the highest level of benefit. We have sought advice from registrars and r /> actively communicated the planned approach for launching IDNs at the top-level in regular meetings with r /> the registrar channel. We continue to work closely with registrars not only to prepare for the Sunrise, r /> Trademark Claims service, and general launch periods, but also to reach existing and prospective r /> registrants who are interested in realizing the benefits of IDNs. r />r /> Registrant and End-User Outreach r />r /> We augment our existing IDN web content with launch planning information and additional online r /> resources for the IDN.IDN transliterations of .com. This web content includes details on the benefits of r /> IDNs, and our approach to protect intellectual property and enhance end-user ubiquity. The full launch r /> plan addresses Sunrise and Trademark Claims services, general launch through the registrar channel, r /> and localized content for the initial launch markets. r /> The IDN Software Developerʹs Consortium (IDNSDC) r />r /> To complement the IDN initiatives being driven by ICANN, we have organized a consortium to facilitate r /> adoption of IDN capabilities in standard client software. The IDNSDC works with domain name industry r /> stakeholders and application developers to bring greater awareness to existing client-side application r /> challenges so that registrars in communication with their domain name registrants may fully understand r /> usability issues.

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