20(d) Explain the relationship between the applied-for gTLD string and the community identified in 20(a)

Prototypical answer:

The applied-for TLD string, .reit, is identical to the generic, globally-recognized acronym for the international community of real estate investment trusts that NAREIT serves.

A myriad of international reference materials define the term “REIT” solely as “real estate investment trust.” See e.g. Merriam-Webster, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄www.merriam-webster.com⁄dictionary⁄reit (last visited January 27, 2012); Dictionary.Com, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄dictionary.reference.com⁄browse⁄reit (last visited January 27, 2012); Financial Times Lexicon, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄lexicon.ft.com⁄Term?term=REIT (last visited January 27, 2012); Boerse.ard.de, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄boerse.ard.de⁄lexikon.jsp?p=150&key=lexikon_109596&letter=R (last visited January 27, 2012); M-Words, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄m-words.jp⁄w⁄REIT.html (last visited January 27, 2012); Australian Securities Exchange, REIT, available at http:⁄⁄www.asx.com.au⁄products⁄asx-australian-real-estate-investment-trusts.htm (last visited, January 27, 2012); Canada.com, What is a REIT Anyhow?, available at http:⁄⁄www.canada.com⁄vancouversun⁄news⁄story.html?id=730da2fa-1ad0-4b16-b0cb-a55d649c03a8 (last visited January 27, 2012); SingaporeStocks.com, Understanding REITs, available at http:⁄⁄www.singaporestocks.com.sg⁄investing-tips-help⁄understanding-reits.php (January 27, 2012); Hong Kong Real Estate Investor, REIT, http:⁄⁄www.hkrei.com⁄reit⁄ (January 27, 2012).

Moreover, the term REIT is widely recognized even in the very few nations that have adopted foreign-language acronyms, including France, where REITs are more commonly referred to as Société d’Investissement Immobilier Côtée (“SIIC”). [See, e.g., http:⁄⁄www.paris-europlace.net⁄paris07⁄p8_dumortier.pdf .] Indeed, the term “REIT” is used around the world to signify the REIT approach to real estate investment, and entities that qualify as a REIT (or SIIC under French law) will be encouraged to register a domain name in the .reit TLD.

Identification of the global community of real estate investment trusts is tied directly to the applied-for .reit TLD string. NAREIT believes that the term “REIT” is a unique term that has come to signify the global community of real estate investment trusts.

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