gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.NGO	Public Interest Registry	pir.org	View

PIR’s goal is to provide the NGO Community an exclusive and immediately recognized home on the Internet. To achieve this goal and ensure that .NGO domain names are allocated in a manner that serves the NGO Community, PIR has developed a set of .NGO registration restriction policies and corresponding compliance and enforcement mechanisms.

The policies are built to match the need of the NGO Community based on feedback from NGO Community members; based on experience from the .ORG gTLD management since 2003; and generally established to ensure a higher security level for .NGO domain names than what currently is considered standard global requirements for gTLDs today.

.NGO Registration Policies
The registration policies in support of the NGO Community goals are described in the following summary and are detailed later in this section.
• Registrant Eligibility Requirements – all registrants must demonstrate affiliation through NGO membership organizations or through evidence of NGO status. PIR will work with membership organization, the NGO Community Advisory Council, and other members of the NGO Community to validate their eligibility.
• Name Selection Policy – ensures that only NGO Community relevant domain names are registered.
• Reserved Name Policy – names⁄types of domain names will initially be reserved from registration under .NGO.
• Registry Name Policy – names⁄types of domain names will be held from general availability, these will be used in support of the registry.
• Content and Use Restriction Policy – ensures that usage of the .NGO domain name corresponds with NGO Community activities.
• Compliance Functions – ensures ongoing compliance of the Registrant Eligibility Requirements, and the Content and Use Restriction Policy listed below.

The following policies support of the NGO Community goals and are detailed in subsequent Evaluation Questions of the application dedicated to such policies, as noted below.
• Abuse Prevention and Mitigation – includes the Anti-Abuse Policy which addresses the identification and prompt action taken on malicious use of domain names, and the Restriction Dispute Resolution Policy (RDRP) which ensures that disputes concerning any of the .NGO Registration Policies can be solved in an appropriate manner. Detailed descriptions of both policies can be found in response to Evaluation Question #28.
• Rights Protection Mechanisms – protects intellectual property holders under the Trademark Clearinghouse, Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS), Registry Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedures (RRDRP),Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Policy (PDDRP), in addition to the Sunrise services and policies that can be found in response to Evaluation Question #29.

PIR will review all policies and processes on an annual basis with involvement from the PIR’s NGO Community Advisory Council and present the results to the NGO Community, allowing them to provide feedback.

Specific Policy Details

Registrant Eligibility Requirements: The .NGO domain registrations are open to NGO Community members. All registrants must demonstrate affiliation through NGO membership organizations or through evidence of NGO status. PIR will work with NGO membership organizations, the NGO Community Advisory Council, and other members of the NGO Community to validate their eligibility.

In consultation with PIR’s NGO Community Advisory Council PIR is reviewing potential NGO membership organizations who can verify the NGO status of registrants. NGO membership organizations include the following, and will expand over time:
• Global organizations: International associations and⁄or classification-based associations.
• Regional organizations: Associations across broad geographic areas, potentially including multiple countries or jurisdictions.
• Local organizations: Associations or groups that provide support and memberships at a country or local level.

During the registration process, the registrant will be asked to verify their eligibility and to demonstrate affiliation with a NGO member organization. Once the initial certification in step 1 of the verification process is confirmed, the domain is successfully created. If the .NGO registrant fails to provide any additional required information through step 2 of the verification process, the domain will be deleted and released back into the pool of available domains.

Content and Use Restriction Policy: Abusive use of the .NGO domain names will not be tolerated by PIR. The following use and content limitations apply:
• Overall the NGO domain name must be for a bona fide NGO use, as defined in the Restrictions Dispute Resolution in response to Evaluation Question #28.
• Websites must be developed with the intent to promote the corresponding .NGO registrant’s existing mission and activities, and not solely for commercialized or for-profit marketing usage.
• Use of the registered domain name to engage in activities inconsistent with the mission of a NGO is not allowed.
• Any illegal or fraudulent usage of the .NGO domain name is not allowed, including but not limited to phishing and pharming attacks, distribution of malware, and distribution of adult content.
• Registration and use of a domain name in violation of Rights Protection Mechanisms is not allowed.

Violations of any of the .NGO Registration Policies may be grounds for loss of registration, pursuant to the enforcement mechanism discussed below (with an appeal procedure).

Compliance Functions: While disputes will be managed directly by resolution providers, PIR will conduct random compliance audits across all the .NGO Registration Policies. Periodically PIRʹs compliance staff will audit a sample of .NGO registrations to verify claims to membership in a listed organization, name policy adherence, and compliance with the name and use policy.

If a registrant is found to not be in compliance the registrant will be notified that the domain will be placed on registry lock and that if the compliance issue is not cured the domain will be terminated.

As part of the compliance function PIR will also utilize its existing expertise, obtained through its management of .ORG, to monitor and take action on any abusive behavior taken place with .NGO domain names.

Name Selection Policy: The .NGO registrant must fulfill certain name policy criteria. PIR will employ the following restrictions concerning the names that eligible .NGO registrants can register. As such a .NGO registrant cannot register any name they wish but is limited by the following restrictions. A .NGO registered domain name may be:
1) the name of (entire or portion of) the NGO, e.g. its “doing business as” name,
2) an acronym representing the NGO,
3) a name that recognizes or generally describes the NGO, or
4) a name related to the mission or activities of the NGO.

Reserved Name Policy: The following names⁄types of domain names will initially be reserved from registration:
• All single- and two-character second-level domain names;
• Domains of an inappropriate nature, e.g., adult-related terminology, pursuant to a list defined by PIR and its NGO Community Advisory Council;
• Names provided by ICANN as required reserved names;
• A list of generic names defined by PIR and its NGO Community Advisory Council based on the overall criteria that the names represent the NGO Community in a general manner. Such names will be released in a specific RFP process ensuring that the names will benefit the NGO Community.

Registry Name Policy: The following names⁄types of domain names will be held from general availability; they will be used in support of the registry.
• Names to support registry operations, e.g., directory.ngo;
• Names to support PIR’s NGO Community Advisory Council.

Compliance and Enforcement Mechanisms
PIR will take both proactive and reactive measures to enforce the policies of the gTLD. Proactive measures are taken at the time of registration by requiring .NGO registrants to meet the .NGO Registration Policies and to agree to all policies and procedures of the gTLD. Reactive measures are addressed via our audit process and through our defined dispute resolution processes.

A violation of the .NGO Registration Policies will be enforced on a case-by-case, fact specific basis under the processes set forth below:
1. Any allegation that a domain name is not used primarily for NGO purposes shall be enforced under the provisions of the Restrictions Dispute Resolution Policy (ʺRDRPʺ) as described in Evaluation Question #28. The RDRP will be included as an appendix to the Registry Agreement. An appeal procedure is included in the RDRP.
2. Any alleged violation of the Rights Protection Mechanisms shall be enforced under the provisions contained in each of them.

Disputes resulting from violations of the .NGO Registration Policies will be resolved through the Compliance Functions and the Rights Protection Mechanisms. The Rights Protection Mechanisms (as detailed in Evaluation Question #29) will be made applicable by the ICANN-Accredited Registrarsʹ registration agreements with registrants. Proceedings under the Rights Protection Mechanisms will be conducted in accordance with the policies and procedures that will be included in an appendix to the Registry Agreement. As set forth in the Compliance Functions, the registry operator will review on a random basis, monitor, and verify that any particular domain name is being used primarily for NGO purposes and that a domain is being used in compliance with the Rights Protection Mechanisms processes.

Resource Plans
PIR will devote 2 compliance officers to handle compliance and disputes as they arise, although currently for .ORG this need is rare. Most compliance checks on registration eligibility are expected to be handled in an automated process.

gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.LLC	Dot Registry LLC	hotmail.com	View

In order to accurately protect the integrity of our domain name and serve the proposed community the following safeguards will be adapted:

1) All Registrants will be required to submit a minimum of: Their registered business address, State of formation, name and contact information of responsible party, and legally registered business name. DOT Registry or its agents will use this information to cross-reference the applicable state’s registration records in order to verify the accuracy of the Registrant’s application. Should DOT Registry be unable to verify the legitimacy of the Registrants application additional information might be requested in order to award a domain name.

2) A Registrant will only be awarded the “.LLC” domain that matches or includes a substantial part of the Registrant’s legal name. For example, Blue Star Partners, LLC. would be able to purchase either BlueStarPartners.LLC or BlueStar.LLC.
3) Registrants will not be allowed to register product line registrations, regardless of the products affiliation to the limited liability company. All awarded domains must match or include a substantial part of the Registrant’s legal name.
4) If there are registrants applying for the same domain names, which correspond to their legal business names as registered in different states, then the “.LLC” domain will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to the first registrant.
5) However, if a registrant has a trademark registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), then such registrant will have priority over any other registrant to be awarded the applied for “.LLC” domain.
6) If a registrant’s “.LLC” domain has already been awarded to another registrant with the same or similar legal name, then DOT Registry will offer to award such registrant a “.LLC” domain with a distinctive denominator including but not limited to a tag, company describer, or name abbreviation. For example, if BlueStar.LLC was awarded to Blue Star Partners, LLC. of California, then Blue Star Partners, LLC. of Kansas would be offered the opportunity to use BlueStarPartners.LLC.
7) DOT Registry will work closely with the Secretary of State’s Offices throughout the United States, with NASS and with a number of other agencies and organizations in maintaining the integrity and security of its domain names. DOT Registry will utilize the Secretary of States’ data resources to confirm that companies applying for their “.LLC” domain are in fact registered businesses.
8) DOT Registry or it’s designated agent will annually verify each registrants community status in order to determine whether or not the entity is still an “Active” member of the community. Verification will occur in a process similar to the original registration process for each registrant, in which each registrant’s “Active” Status and registration information will be validated through the proper state authority. In this regard, the following items would be considered violations of DOT Registry’s Registration Guidelines, and may result in dissolution of a registrant’s awarded “.LLC” domain:
(a) If a registrant previously awarded the “.LLC” domain ceases to be registered with the State.
(b) If a registrant previously awarded a “.LLC” domain is dissolved and⁄or forfeits the domain for any reason.
(c) If a registrant previously awarded the “.LLC” domain is administratively dissolved by the State.
Any registrant found to be “Inactive,” or which falls into scenarios (a) through (c) above, will be issued a probationary warning by DOT Registry, allowing for the registrant to restore its active status or resolve its dissolution with its applicable Secretary of State’s office. If the registrant is unable to restore itself to “Active” status within the defined probationary period, their previously assigned “.LLC” will be forfeited. DOT Registry reserves the right to change the definition of “Active” in accordance with the policies of the Secretaries of State.
9) If DOT Registry discovers that a registrant wrongfully applied for and was awarded a “.LLC” domain, then such “.LLC” will be immediately forfeited to DOT Registry. Wrongful application includes but is not limited to: a registrant misrepresenting itself as a member of the Community of Registered Limited Liability Companies, a registrant participating in illegal or fraudulent actions, or where a registrant would be in violation of our abuse policies described in Question 28 (including promoting or facilitating spam, trademark or copyright infringement, phishing, pharming, willful distribution of malware, fast flux hosting, botnet command and control, distribution of pornography, illegal access to other computers or networks, and domain kiting⁄tasting).
10) All registration information will be made publicly available. DOT Registry will not accept blind registration or registration by proxy. DOT Registry’s registry services operator will provide thick WHOIS services that are fully compliant with RFC 3912 and with Specifications 4 and 10 of the Registry Agreement. Additionally, DOT Registry will provide a Web-based WHOIS application, which will be located at www.whois.llc. The WHOIS Web application will be an intuitive and easy to use application. A complete description of these services can be found in Question 26 below.
11) Awarded names are non-transferrable to entities outside of the designated community, regardless of affiliation to any member of the community. In the event that a registrant’s business entity merges, is acquired, or sold, the new entity will be allowed to maintain the previously awarded “.LLC” domain until the domain renewal date, at which point they will be evaluated as described in number seven (7) above. Further, any entity acquiring a “.LLC” domain through the processes described in this guideline that does not meet the registration criteria and wishes to maintain the awarded domain will be allowed a grace period after the renewal verification process to correct any non-compliance issues in order to continue operating their acquired domain. If the said entity is unable to comply with DOT Registry’s guidelines, the awarded domain will be revoked.
12) If an application is unable to be verified or does not meet the requirements of the sponsored community, the application will be considered invalid.
In addition to Applicant’s comprehensive eligibility, verification, and policing mechanisms, DOT Registry will implement a series of Rights Protection Mechanisms (RPM), including but not limited to: Support for and interaction with the Trademark Clearinghouse (“Clearinghouse”); use of the Trademark Claims Service; segmented Sunrise Periods allowing for the owners of trademarks listed in the Clearinghouse to register domain names that consist of an identical match of their listed trademarks; subsequent Sunrise Periods to give trademark owners or registrants that own the rights to a particular name the ability to block the use of such name; stringent take down policies in order to properly operate the registry; and Applicant shall comply with any RRDRP decision, further reinforcing the fact that Applicant is committed to acting in best interest of the community.
DOT Registry will employ an in house Rights Protection Mechanism Team consisting of our Director of Legal and Policy and two additional support personnel. The RPM team will work to mitigate any RPM complaints, while protecting the general rights and integrity of the “,LLC” gTLD. The RPM team will strictly enforce the rights protection mechanisms described in this application.
Membership verification will be performed via DOT Registry’s designated agents that which have software systems in place to efficiently interface with each state’s data records. By utilizing the resources of industry leaders in this field, DOT Registry will ensure accurate and timely verification in addition to our ability to meet the needs of such a vast community. “Active” status will be specifically verified by cross referencing an applicant’s registration data with state records. If this process is unable to be automated at any given time DOT Registry’s agents will manually verify the information by contacting the applicable state agencies. While manual verification will obviously employ a larger pool of resources, DOT Registry believes that its industry partners are sufficiently able to accomplish this task based on their employee pool and past business accomplishments. Registrants will be expected to provide a minimum of their legal registered name, state of organization, registered business address, and administrative contact. All additional information required such as proof of incorporation or “active” status verification will be the sole responsibility of DOT Registry or its designated agents and will be acquired through the processes described herein.
DOT Registry will not restrict the content of “.LLC” sites other then through the enforcement of our Abuse Mitigation practices or Rights Protection Mechanisms as described in question 28 and 29 of this application. All “.LLC” sites will be expected to adhere to the content restrictions described in DOT Registry’s abuse policies. Any sites infringing on the legal rights of other individuals or companies, trademarks, or participating in the practice and promotion of illegal activities will be subject to Applicant’s take down procedures.
“.LLC” domains are designed for the sole use of community members with the intention of promoting their specific business activities. Any Registrants falsely identifying themselves as a community members or inaccurately representing their intentions could be deemed in non-compliance with our registry policies resulting in the revocation of their awarded domain.