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

Prototypical answer:

Protection of Geographic Names
Ummah Digital has chosen CoCCA Registry Services (NZ) Limited (CoCCA) as their registry services provider. CoCCA has over 12 years of experience in authoring registry software and providing registry support services. With 35 national TLDs relying on CoCCA’s technology to manage critical infrastructure, the CoCCA EPP Shared Registry System (SRS) is the most widely deployed, field-tested SRS in use today. In many respects new niche market gTLDs are predicted to more closely resemble existing ccTLD name spaces than the current gTLD ones. CoCCAʹs commercial model and technology enables TLD Sponsoring Organizations to focus on operating the front end portion of the registry including sales, marketing and community relations while leaving the operational aspects to the proven team at CoCCA.

In addition to technology CoCCA has a considered and tested set of leading – practice policies designed to address security, stability, rights protection, abuse mitigation, privacy and other issues, CoCCA is a trusted partner for Ummah Digital to operate the .ummah gTLD in a manner that is fully compliant with all ICANN rules and regulations.

CoCCA, on behalf of the Ummah Digital, intends to implement the following measures to protect geographical names at the second and at all other levels within the TLD:

Reservation Measures for Geographical Names
Ummah Digital will adhere to Specification 5 of the proposed Registry Agreement, “Schedule of Reserved Names at the Second Level in gTLD Registries” ⁄ section 5 titled “Country and Territory Names.” The geographic names listed in the following internationally approved documents will be reserved at the second level within the TLD and at all other levels where registrations occur:
(1.i.1) the short form (in English) of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166- 1 list, as updated from time to time, 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
(1.i.2) 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; and
(1.i.3) the list of United Nations member states in 6 official United Nations languages prepared by the Working Group on Country Names of the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

Potential Release of Geographical Names
Ummah Digital is committed to working with governments and other stakeholders that may have a concern regarding the registration of names with national or geographic significance at the second level. If Ummah Digital decides to release reserved geographical names, Ummah Digital will abide by the process outlined in Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement by seeking agreement from the applicable government(s). Ummah Digital understands that any release of the geographical names may be subject to Governmental Advisory Committee review and approval by ICANN.

Review, Audit, and Updates to Policies
Policy management is dynamic in nature requiring continual management. Ummah Digital, in conjunction with CoCCA’s assistance, will be engaged in policy development efforts in general and with respect to protections of geographical domain names. Ummah Digital will review and consider suggestions or concerns from government, public authorities or IGOʹs regarding this policy. And as with all required policies, Ummah Digital will perform openly and transparent should updates to existing policy or the creation of new policy be required. Further, Ummah Digitalʹs internal processes will continually review and manage its reserve lists as one part of the abuse prevention mechanisms described in greater detail within question 28, “Abuse Prevention and Mitigation.”

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