18(a) Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD

Prototypical answer:

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is a trade association whose membership consists of more than 100,000 real estate brokers, agents, and salespeople, (collectively referred to throughout as “REALTORS®”) working through 100 member real estate boards and provincial associations (collectively referred to throughout as “Boards”) across Canada, as well as Foreign Affiliate members outside of Canada. 

CREA is the owner of the MLS® trademarks in Canada and licenses the use of those trademarks to its members. The MLS® trademarks are registered in Canada as “certification marks”, which means that they identify a standard or level of service provided by the members of the group licensed to use the marks. In this case, the MLS® marks, and the proposed .MLS TLD, identify professional services rendered by members of CREA to effect the purchase and sale of real estate as part of a cooperative selling system.

Member Boards operate cooperative selling systems, which include an inventory of listings of participating RELATORS® and ensures a high level of accuracy of information, professionalism, and cooperation amongst REALTORS® to affect the purchase and sale of real estate. These cooperative selling systems are called MLS® Systems and they date back to 1955 in Canada.

CREA’s mandate, as set out in its By-laws, Rules, and Regulations includes promoting and protecting the MLS® trademarks and acting as a technological resource for its members by providing technology services and products. The purpose of applying for the .MLS TLD is to further fulfill this mandate.

The mission⁄purpose of .MLS is to allow registration of domain names by CREA’s members. The goal is that the .MLS TLD will indicate to consumers that those websites contain information about MLS® Services or listing content that originates from an MLS® System.

Similar gTLD applications: (1)