gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.hangout	Charleston Road Registry Inc.	google.com	View

18.b. Benefits to Registrants, Internet Users, and Others

18.b.i.1. Specialty

Charleston Road Registry intends to apply for an exemption to ICANN’s Registry Operator Code of Conduct and operate the proposed gTLD with Google as the sole registrar and registrant. The proposed gTLD will specifically align with Google+ Hangouts, an existing Google product, and will provide users with improved capabilities that meet their diverse needs.

The specialization goal of the proposed gTLD is to provide a dedicated domain space for the management of select content users’ Google+ Hangouts. This specialization introduces a new domain name hierarchy that will generate new Google+ Hangouts namespace and provide for select users’ direct management of the introduction and phase out of their new or retiring offerings on their unique domain within the .hangout gTLD. This specialization will enhance Internet users’ current and future experience with Google+ Hangouts.

18.b.i.2. Service Levels

Through its association with Google, Charleston Road Registry is uniquely positioned to enable and support the proposed gTLD by providing its service reliability and speed of delivery as a part of its services. Google brings unique expertise and a proven record of excellence in infrastructure operations: Google now runs the biggest DNS system in the world, has industry-leading uptime on its services, such as web search, and offers enterprise services on which governments and businesses depend.

Charleston Road Registry’s service level goal for the proposed gTLD is to ensure that Google, as the proposed sole registrant, is supported in delivering the high level of quality, speed, and service to users for which it is known. Indeed, two of Google’s core principles in providing Internet search and related goods and services are “focus on the user and all else will follow” and “fast is better than slow.”

In focusing on the user, Google strives to provide the best user experience possible. Google will continue to operate under this principle when designing new offerings and providing goods and services within the proposed gTLD.

Google keeps speed in mind with each new product it releases, from faster mobile applications to improved Web browsers designed for rapid search and navigation. Google continues to devote its resources to improving speed and efficiency. In managing the proposed gTLD, Google expects to keep its service reliability and speed to this standard through direct management of all technical infrastructure related to DNS resolution other than the operation of the root servers.

Charleston Road Registry is committed to using the most technologically advanced, secure, and reliable registry services for all of the domain names within the gTLD so as to not compromise the service levels, security, and stability of the gTLD to users across the globe.

18.b.i.3. Reputation

Google has a proven record of providing high-quality, secure online services. Charleston Road Registry seeks to enhance Google’s reputation for excellence, superior quality, and high level of security and become known as an exemplary domain name services provider.

When Internet users visit a domain name in the proposed gTLD environment, they will be able to reliably expect and experience the high level of security and quality on which Google’s reputation has been built.

The registry will be structured so that Google registers and manages domain names in the .hangout gTLD, that those domain names are used for only Google+ Hangouts-related purposes, and that the registry is responsive to legal rights owners (if applicable).

As noted, Charleston Road Registry intends to apply for an exemption to ICANN’s Registry Operator Code of Conduct and operate the proposed gTLD with Google as the sole registrar and registrant. This facilitates Google’s ability to further enhance the Google+ Hangouts brand and reputation of Google+ Hangouts offerings.

In addition, Charleston Road Registry’s operation of the new gTLD will provide the opportunity for users to build and⁄or bolster their unique brands or tailor unique user identities in association with the proposed gTLD and Google+ Hangouts.

18.b.ii.1. Competition

Charleston Road Registry supports the advancement of registry operators as a whole and the diffusion of gTLDs amongst diverse stakeholders to generate increased competition for the benefit of the Internet public. Increased competition will result in more competitive prices for consumers, generate efficiencies and increase productivity in enterprises, and spur innovation in the gTLD space.

Google will have the opportunity to differentiate and innovate upon its Google+ Hangouts products and services through its use of the gTLD.

The proposed gTLD, .hangout, will provide a new mechanism for the management of Google+ Hangouts content. The .hangout gTLD will help grow the volume of content and conversation on the Internet, thereby increasing competition among all content providers and entities offering services for content providers.

The proposed gTLD will promote competition in the gTLD space by inciting competitors to respond with improved gTLD operations, greater range and higher quality products and services integrated with domain name offerings, and⁄or the creation of their own respective gTLDs, to the benefit of all Internet users. Launching the proposed gTLD will also generate increased competition in the online marketplace by adding incremental availability to the second-level domain pool.

Charleston Road Registry intends to apply for an exemption to the ICANN Registry Operator Code of Conduct and to act as the sole registrar for the proposed gTLD. Given that the proposed gTLD is exclusively intended for use in connection with Googleʹs services, Charleston Road Registry believes that there is a reasonable case for such an exemption. Should ICANN not approve this proposed exemption, Charleston Road Registry will facilitate a fair and equitable registrar process, providing open access to any registrar who meets ICANN accreditation guidelines.

18.b.ii.2. Differentiation

The proposed gTLD will clearly be differentiated from other gTLDs due to its purposefully limited scope. This differentiation includes: (1) uniqueness in terms of the users the proposed gTLD seeks to benefit; (2) a clear indicator that second-level domains within the gTLD offer a particular, targeted content; (3) and because the TLD will be associated with a Google offering, Internet users will immediately be able to rely on the quality of the product.

The gTLD will provide an authoritative environment for the provision of Google+ Hangouts offerings. New, higher quality products offered in the gTLD will also attract new users to the Google offering.

The .hangout gTLD will provide Google+ Hangouts with the opportunity to differentiate its Google+ Hangouts content from other online services by virtue of its branded gTLD. This signification is not currently available in the gTLD space.

The proposed gTLD will also encourage differentiation among users. Google’s services, including tools to improve and customize users’ unique Google+ Hangouts experiences, will provide users with new ways of distinguishing themselves from others.

18.b.ii.3. Innovation

The proposed gTLD is in itself innovative, as it seamlessly combines DNS services with other Google products and services. The proposed gTLD will promote further innovation by creating a new space for the categorization and classification of online content. It will also provide services to users that will enable them to improve their interaction with Google+ Hangouts on the Internet. This environment delivers value to the public by introducing new and differentiated content, goods and services.

The proposed gTLD, .hangout, will promote innovation by encouraging competitors of Google+ Hangouts to provide linkages that fulfill the same need as Google+ Hangouts plans to offer to select users. Google may choose to innovate within its portfolio of web spaces and introduce distinguishing feature(s) that will further crystallize the relationship between content offered in the gTLD and the Google brand and reputation. This will likely invite user comparison among domains, encouraging other service providers to innovate new features and services as a point of differentiation.

Charleston Road Registry considers the proposed gTLD to be a platform for innovation with existing and future Google products and services. Charleston Road Registry, therefore, may incorporate these new offerings into future registry service options (subject to the ICANN approval process), infusing new ideas into the gTLD for the betterment of the public.

Google consistently aims to improve upon technologies that connect people with information, as demonstrated by a proven record of innovation and iteration. Charleston Road Registry strives to offer its users this same level of continuous development in advancing its management and operation of the gTLD, engendering an improved user experience.

18.b.iii. User Experience

Charleston Road Registry will strive to provide the highest level of user experience through operational stability, security and performance to serve the interest of users in the proposed gTLD. Charleston Road Registry is uniquely positioned to provide this level of experience given its relationship with Google; per its SEC filings, Google invested over $3 billion in its IT infrastructure in 2011 and maintains a record of excellence in infrastructure operations.

Google keeps user experience in mind with each new service it releases, from allowing users to personalize their Gmail accounts to providing small to medium businesses with tools customized for their specific needs. The proposed gTLD provides Google with a formal mechanism whereby it can continue to improve its services to address the ever-changing needs of all Internet users.

The proposed gTLD, furthermore, facilitates an improved online user experience by provisioning the DNS on users’ behalf and streamlining the process by which users are able to link to and make use of the Google offering.

The proposed gTLD, .hangout will provide Internet users with an improved Google+ Hangouts experience by allowing for select Google+ Hangouts usersʹ direct management of their offerings within the .hangout gTLD.

In focusing on the user, Google strives to provide the best user experience possible. Google will continue to operate under this principle when designing and providing new service offerings in the proposed gTLD. The proposed gTLD will provide users with improved customization services and facilitate additional opportunities to enhance their current and future experience with Google+ Hangouts.

The proposed gTLD will provide a more trusted and user-friendly environment where domain names and content related to the hangout gTLD can flourish. Charleston Road Registry seeks to have users deem the gTLD trustworthy and reliable and recognize it as an aggregated source of targeted goods, services, and information.

Lastly, the proposed gTLD improves the Internet user experience by creating greater structure and categorization on the Internet.

18.b.iv. Registration Policies

Because the sole purpose of the proposed gTLD is to associate domain names with the Google+ Hangouts product, Charleston Road Registry intends to apply for an exemption to the ICANN Registry Operator Code of Conduct and operate the gTLD with Google as the sole registrar and registrant. As the sole registrant, Google will have the opportunity to differentiate and innovate upon its Google+ Hangouts products and services through its use of the gTLD.

Given the proposed limited scope and use of the gTLD, Charleston Road Registry believes that there is a reasonable case for such an exemption. Should ICANN not condone this proposed exemption, Charleston Road Registry will make access to Registry Services, including the shared registration system, available to all ICANN-accredited registrars.

Charleston Road Registry believes that given its specific use related to Google+ Hangouts, the .hangout gTLD will best add value to the gTLD space by limiting all second-level domains solely to pointing to select Google+ Hangouts user pages. Google, as the sole registrant, will manage the second-level domain eligibility and allocation process. Only select users who meet Google+ Hangouts’ eligibility criteria will be eligible for a second-level domain within the gTLD.

Charleston Road Registry is committed to implementing strong and integrated intellectual property rights protection mechanisms. Doing so is critical to Google’s goals of model Internet citizenship and fostering Internet development, especially in emerging regions. Accordingly, Charleston Road Registry intends to offer a suite of rights protection measures which builds upon ICANNʹs required policies while fulfilling its commitment to encouraging innovation, competition and choice on the Internet.

18.b.v. Protection of Privacy and Confidential Information

Charleston Road Registry will strive to ensure the appropriate level of privacy and security will be met for its users. Although Google will be the only registrant (and is intended to serve as the only registrar for the gTLD as well), Charleston Road Registry and its provider of registry services, Google, have imposed measures to achieve this protection for their users; additional specifics regarding the practices for the registry include but are not limited to the following:

- Since Google will be the only registrant, personally identifying information regarding individual users will not be sent to or stored by the registry. Such data will remain on Google’s infrastructure used to provide the individual service, and is subject to Google’s existing privacy policy.

- Charleston Road Registry will attempt to prevent the misuse of WHOIS data for improper purposes such as spam, intellectual property theft or phishing. Charleston Road Registry will attempt to identify patterns of abusive usage of the WHOIS service and will appropriately use CAPTCHA, query throttling or other techniques to prevent information scraping.

- Google will restrict access to data and information systems maintained by the registry to a specific list of individuals involved with supporting the Google Registry system in production. Google will review this list on a periodic basis to ensure that the level of access granted to individuals is appropriate. Google uses two-factor authentication and other mechanisms to ensure that staff with access to user information are properly identified prior to using registry systems.

- In the event that other registrars are involved, registrar billing and payment information will not be stored alongside domain name registration information. All registrar billing and payment information will be stored in a PCI-compliant billing system similar to that used by Google Ads.

Beyond these specific mechanisms, both Charleston Road Registry and Google will govern its approach to privacy by the Google Privacy Policy. This policy applies to registrars, registrants and end users of registry services such as DNS zone publication and WHOIS data publication. The Privacy Policy is located at http:⁄⁄www.google.com⁄policies⁄privacy⁄.

18.b.vi. Outreach and Communications Efforts

Once Google begins developing public-facing resources in its gTLD, it intends to inform the public about the gTLD and the opportunity for users to obtain domain space there through marketing and public relation investments.

Charleston Road Registry, in conjunction with Google, intends to promote gTLDs under its purview collectively, such that the public gains an awareness and understanding of new gTLDs and the availability of new second-level domain space on the Internet. Charleston Road Registry and Google believe that this approach will make the strongest impact in modifying consumer behavior and is the best path to achieving success for all new gTLDs collectively.

Charleston Road Registry and Google will reach out to the Internet community via a number of different outreach and communications methods and venues to deliver its mission and message to the public, including but not limited to: press briefings, videos posted on various Internet sites, blogs and other social media, and paid advertising. In addition, when developing resources for localized Internet registrars in different global regions, Google will use local marketing and communications platforms as needed.

gTLD	Full Legal Name	E-mail suffix	Detail
.COACH	Coach, Inc.	steptoe.com	View

i. What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation?

Specialty

Currently, there is no top-level domain dedicated to high-quality lifestyle accessories and no top-level domain dedicated to Applicant’s brand. The goal of the TLD, in terms of specialty, is to securely provide a top-level domain dedicated to providing Products to Internet users and customers around the globe under Applicant’s and Applicant’s Affiliates’ famous and trusted brands. Allowing Applicant to control its own Internet space for its famous brand gives it the ability to customize its domain and website names and signal to the general population of Internet users that websites within the TLD will indeed be securely controlled by Applicant without having to incorporate a non-branded, non-industry-related term such as .com, .net or .biz. In addition the TLD will permit the Applicant and Applicant’s Affiliates to send a consistent and focused branding image to customers from all parts of the world, without the registration and operational impediments Applicant currently experiences with ccTLDs. This specialty will benefit Internet users seeking authentic online Products without the worry that they will become the next phishing or counterfeiting victim.

This specialization simultaneously makes it easier for Internet users who are looking for Applicant-related information and fashion information to locate this information more efficiently. The appendage of the TLD indicates to users what they can expect to find at that website under the TLD, namely, premiere and authentic Products offered by the famous and reputable Applicant or Applicant’s Affiliates. It also has another added benefit in that web addresses will become shorter—one impact of a dearth of ‘good’ web addresses has been for them to get longer over time. Using the TLD not only means Applicant’s sites can benefit from having an important keyword in their web address, but it will also be much faster to type in the address. Built into a wider process of web optimization and marketing, the inclusion of the TLD as a keyword in every domain name will likely have positive implications for specialty, security, and global promotion purposes. This will increase traffic to these websites, promote competition, and facilitate use and trust by consumers of Products who prefer shorter domain names and want a trusted source of the specific services they seek.

Service Levels

The goal of the TLD, if made public, will be to ensure the highest level of security, quality and customer service is provided to Applicant’s customers, for whom security and quality is a high priority concern in connection with Products. Primarily, this entails ensuring that only Applicant and Applicant’s Affiliates, are able to register and control the second-level domain names in the TLD. Regarding security and quality concerns, this entails contracting with and using industry experts to provide the highest possible quality in registry and registrar services so as to not compromise the security and quality of any information that Applicant will receive or provide through the TLD.

Applicant will further endeavor, as it does with its current websites, to provide any outwardly-facing domain name and website in the TLD with fast and responsive customer service, available in English, during normal business hours by email and telephone seven (7) days per week to help any customer attempting to learn about or purchase Applicant’s Products. Similarly, Applicant will provide the highest level service to trademark and other legal rights owners by providing an easily accessible point-of-contact on all outwardly-facing domain names and websites.

By focusing on the end user, Applicant will ensure that it is providing the best specialized user experience possible. To do this, Applicant may employ testing to determine what their expectations are for an Applicant-branded Web experience and then tailoring the TLD to its end users. For example, when designing its current websites or adding a new look to its homepage, Applicant takes care to ensure that they will ultimately serve the Internet user. Applicant’s homepage interface in the TLD will thus be clear and simple, with pages loading promptly. Applicant’s Products will be provided through secure websites and networks, and at high speeds. Applicant will continue to operate under this principle when designing websites and providing high-quality Products and other ancillary services through the TLD.

Reputation

Applicant already has a reputation for excellence and superior quality in the fashion industry, including online through its current websites and domain names. Indeed, the type of Products that Applicant manufactures, distributes and sells are among the most vulnerable to counterfeiting and other fraudulent online activity and Applicant seeks, through the operation of the TLD, to maintain a reputation for providing a secure online environment in the industry for all Internet users to access fashion and product information more efficiently. Applicant also has a reputation of having enhanced creative capabilities and a reputation as a producer of innovation in the fashion industry. The goal of the TLD, if made public, is to continue to promote Applicant’s reputation for excellence, creativity and innovation.

The Registry will further strive to be known for ensuring only Applicant and Applicant’s Affiliates register domain names in the TLD, that those domain names are used for Applicant-related purposes at the direction of Applicant, that all customer information will be kept completely confidential, that the Whois is thick and reliable, and that the Registry is responsive to legal rights owners. Indeed, when Internet users visit a website within the TLD, they should know that Applicant will be the entity standing behind its world-renowned Products and services, and that they can expect the highest level of online service and security. In all, Applicant will strive to continue to be known as an exemplary and model domain name services citizen through the use of the TLD.

ii. What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?

Competition

The TLD will enhance competition to the current Internet space by allowing Applicant to control its own Internet space and to have the flexibility to innovate and create new online goods and services, and to reach new geographic areas with a consistent branding message – the latter is something that is presently hampered by variances in ccTLD registration and operation policies. These innovations and consistencies in how the Applicant will provide high-quality lifestyle accessories online will incentivize existing and new top-level domains and fashion companies that operate on existing and new top-level domains to also improve the security and quality of their own online storefronts and to accelerate the introduction of new goods and services in order to continue attracting new customers. Thus, the entry of the TLD will benefit consumers by increasing the likelihood of the successful introduction of new and innovative online goods and services from the fashion industry.


Differentiation

The TLD will be differentiated from all other top-level domains current available in the marketplace because it will be able to affix its famous brand to second-level domains as the TLD and indicate to Internet users the source of the TLD. Indeed, no other existing top-level domain is similar in appearance to the TLD, none is used exclusively for high-quality lifestyle accessories, and none exclusively serves Applicant’s users and customers. In terms of differentiated uses, Applicant will be able to customize the second-level domains within the TLD so as to signify the service offered as well as the source of the service. Finally, unlike in existing top-level domains, only Applicant and Applicant’s Affiliates will be allowed to register or operate domain names within the TLD, allowing the TLD to become unique in that customers do not have to fear corruption, security, spam, phishing, counterfeit products or false or inaccurate information.

Innovation

Applicant is already a recognized leader in online fashion innovation. Indeed, technology is at the forefront of Applicant’s online fashion presence. One of the most crucial issues of importance to Applicant’s customers is quality and legitimacy. The TLD, if publicly used, will allow Applicant to provide information, goods and services to its customers in a more technologically-advanced way and allow Applicant to implement technical advances that may not have been capable before in the existing, less secure environment over which Applicant has less control.

Indeed, Applicant believes that the TLD will open up new opportunities and permit Applicant to innovate and provide truly high-quality websites for Products. With the TLD, Applicant can test and innovate both the technology behind and the public face of the TLD with consumers to facilitate their desired Web experience and to ensure it meets the highest possible security standard. This innovation will promote competition in the Internet space and provide higher levels of service to its users and customers. Moreover, the TLD will be innovative in that it will allow more people to have greater access to a dedicated and secure top-level domain for Applicant’s Products. The TLD will also allow Applicant to securely work in communities where access to fashion industry information is limited and to strive to provide high-quality lifestyle accessories to more people.

iii. What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?

Similarly to how it operates its current domain names and websites in third-party top-level domains Applicant will strive to test, develop, and implement the TLD and its websites to satisfy its customers’ Web expectations in the most secure and user-friendly manner. In doing so, Applicant will take great care to ensure that domain names in the TLD will ultimately serve the Internet user. Accordingly, Applicant will rely on its consumer and security-driven testing to provide the best user experience possible for those seeking a robust, reliable and secure electronic storefront for its Products around the globe. Because users will know that all domain names in the TLD will be owned and operated by Applicant, Applicant anticipates that the TLD will eventually provide an enhanced and secure online technological experience for those interested in obtaining more information about and purchasing Applicant’s products. The TLD will serve to differentiate Applicant from other lifestyle accessories providers and serve to create a more stable, competitive, and active marketplace in the industry.

iv. Provide a complete description of the applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.

In order to support the goals listed above, only Applicant through its authorized employees will be allowed to register domain names within the TLD. Accordingly, the general public will never be allowed to register, buy, or sell domain names in the TLD. Applicant, however, reserves the right to sell, distribute, or transfer control or use of any registrations in the TLD to any third party than is an Affiliate of Applicant under the control of applicant for uses as specified by Applicant. Affiliate will be defined for the purpose of this application as (i) a person or entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person or entity specified, and (ii) control (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person or entity or specific aspects of an entity, whether through the ownership of securities, as trustee or executor, by serving as an employee or a member of a board of directors or equivalent governing body, by contract, by credit arrangement or otherwise.

As stated above, Applicant intends to operate a closed registry in order to continue to offer the Products it currently offers on its branded websites in existing top-level domains. Accordingly, policies and decisions regarding the registration and use of domain names within the TLD will continue to be provided through an internal team consisting of Applicant’s existing business, marketing and technical decision-making channels.

The TLD’s domain name policies will of course be limited by its abuse prevention and rights protection policies discussed further herein, and will strive to avoid registering domain names that are confusingly similar to third-party’s trademarks and related rights. Obscene, explicit, and offensive domain names will not be entitled to registration.

v. Will your proposed gTLD impose any measures for protecting the privacy or confidential information of registrants or users? If so, please describe any such measures.

Keeping customer information secure and private is of crucial importance to Applicant and other providers of Products, whose websites and goods and services are particularly vulnerable to online fraud and counterfeiting. Initially, Applicant intends to operate a registry with limited access so as to ensure the security and privacy of the information available. As Applicant’s use may expand, Applicant will take commercially reasonable steps to maintain the security and privacy of the information collected therein, and will remain in compliance with confidentiality and security regulations in relevant jurisdictions. For example, Applicant already has Privacy Policies in key global jurisdictions to safeguard the information of its current online customers. See e.g. Coach, Security and Privacy, available at:

http:⁄⁄www.coach.com⁄online⁄handbags⁄genWCM-10551-10051-en-⁄Coach_US⁄SecurityAndPrivacy⁄?LOC=BN (effective as of February 3, 2010).

If the TLD becomes publicly visible such that external users are interacting with content and information about Products accessed through the TLD, Applicant will, at a minimum, provide similar security measures and protect the privacy and confidentiality of its users according to the relevant laws in the appropriate jurisdiction.

vi. Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.

Outreach and communication are among Applicant’s important goals in connection with the TLD. For example, if the TLD is publicly used, it will provide better and more secure access to Products to consumers throughout the globe. Applicant may institute marketing and outreach efforts to inform the public about the TLD and the content and information available there.

Applicant already uses a number of different outreach and communications methods and venues to get its mission and message out to the public, including but not limited to: press releases; featured videos posted on various Internet sites; social media, including but not limited to blogs, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook; various news feeds around the globe; and paid advertising, which includes magazine and newspaper print, billboards and posters in major markets; and a variety of digital media. If the TLD is expanded to use by the general Internet public, Applicant will be able to incorporate the outreach and communication regarding the TLD into its current branding and marketing efforts to ensure that as many customers and users as possible understand the new resources available and how to interact with them to improve their consumer experience.