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

Prototypical answer:

KSB has engaged KSregistry to deliver registry services for our TLD.

This response describes protection of geographic names as implemented in the managed TLD registry service.


A. PROTECTION OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES

In accordance with Specification 5 of the New gTLD Registry Agreement, the Registry Operator must initially reserve all geographic names at the second level and at all other levels within the TLD at which the Registry Operator provides for registrations.

We will support this requirement by using the following internationally recognized lists to develop a comprehensive master list of all geographic names that will be initially reserved:

- The 2-letter alpha-2 code of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, including all reserved and unassigned codes [http:⁄⁄www.iso.org⁄iso⁄support⁄country_codes⁄iso_3166_code_lists⁄iso-31661_ decoding_table.htm];
- The short form (in English) of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, 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-31661_ decoding_table.htm#EU];
- 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. This lists the names of 193 independent States generally recognised by the international community in the language or languages used in an official capacity within each country and is current as of August 2006 [http:⁄⁄unstats.un.org⁄unsd⁄geoinfo⁄ungegn%20tech%20ref%20manual_M87_combined.pdf]; and
- The list of UN member states in 6 official UN languages prepared by the Working Group on Country Names of the United Nations Conference on the standardization of Geographical Names [http:⁄⁄unstats.un.org⁄unsd⁄geoinfo⁄UNGEGN⁄docs⁄9th-uncsgndocs⁄ econf⁄9th_UNCSGN_e-conf-98-89-add1.pdf]

Names on this reserved list in the TLD registry will be prevented from registration, unless and until any such names are released from reservation per our release procedures generally described below.

A corresponding list of geographic names will be made available to the public via the Registry Operator’s website in order to inform Registrars and potential Registrants of the reserved status of such names. The lists previously noted, will be regularly monitored for revisions and the reserved list, both within the registry and publicly facing, will continually be updated to reflect any changes.

In addition to these requirements, KSregistry is able to support our wishes in regards to the reservation of additional terms on a case by case basis. The managed TLD registry allows such additions to the reserved list to be made by appropriately authorized staff, with no further system development changes required.

The following applies to all Domain Names contained within the managed TLD registry reserved list:

- Attempts to register reserved Domain Names will be rejected;
- WHOIS queries for listed Domain Names will receive responses indicating their reserved status;
- Reserved names will not appear in the TLD zone file; and
- DNS queries for reserved domain names will result in an NXDOMAIN response.


B. PROCEDURES FOR RELEASE

We understand that if and when we wish to release any reserved names at a later date, this will require further approval from ICANN.

In order to release reserved names, we will have in place a special release mechanism, described below.

Consistent with the “.info” release of geographic names, as referenced in the New GTLD Applicant Guidebook, we will present the GAC Representatives with an option, at no charge, of objecting to release and use of any initially reserved names at the second level. However, as further detailed below, since such names will be used for the purposes of the representation of our company, it is almost impossible to anticipate any abuse or misconduct. Thus we reasonably believe that very few GAC Representatives, if any, would exercise this option. Nevertheless, the at-no-charge objection will remain an option for the GAC Representatives, in compliance with current ICANN requirements regarding geographic reserved names. We will make a proposal to ICANN via the RSEP or other future process created by ICANN for this purpose.

Generally, it is extremely unlikely that our authorized use of any “countryname.KSB” or “cc.KSB” domain name could be confusing to users, or otherwise offensive to any country. To the extent that use of any “.KSB” domain was ever deemed confusing or offensive, we are likely to have a strong desire to resolve the situation quickly and respectfully to any affected country’s sovereign interests. At minimum, we will ensure that its designated abuse contact is aware of the additional sensitivities that may potentially arise with respect to use of “cc.KSB” or “countryname.KSB” domains, such that any complaints of this nature are prioritized accordingly.

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