dotafrica Launch Strategy : Operational Briefing Proposed by the ZA Central Registry Prepared by Domain Name Services (Pty) Ltd 18 February 2013

Transcription

1 dtafrica Launch Strategy : Operatinal Briefing Prpsed by the ZA Central Registry Prepared by Dmain Name Services (Pty) Ltd 18 February 2013 Table f Cntents 1 Intrductin Definitins Prject Time Lines Diagrammatical Overview Launch Strategy Phase 1: Plicy Develpment and Adptin This Launch Strategy Dcument: The TLD Charter: The Launch Plicies and Prcedures: The Registry Supplemental Plicies: Phase 2: Launch Phase Part I: Reserved Name Lists (RNL) Part II: Sunrise Phase Part III: Premium Name Redemptin Part IV: Land Rush Open Delegatin

2 1 Intrductin The purpse f this dcument is t identify and explain the mechanisms and prcedures required fr the launch f the dtafrica (.africa) Tp Level Dmain (TLD) by the ZA Central Registry (ZACR). This dcument must be read in cnjunctin with varius ther supplemental dcuments in rder t btain a mre cmprehensive verview f the TLD prcess leading up t and during its launch. These related dcuments include: The Launch Plicies and Prcedures The Registry Supplemental Plices and Prcedures. In terms f the evlutin f the dtafrica prject, we currently find urselves n the cusp f a transitin frm the Applicatin Phase t the Launch Phase. These tw phases currently verlap and will cntinue t d s until the TLD is eventually delegated. The fundamental differences between the tw phases is that the Applicatin Phase fcuses n the ICANN applicatin prcess itself, including gvernment and stakehlder supprt, whilst the Launch Phase fcuses n issues such as: Reserved Name Lists; Pririty Rights and Sunrise; and Premium Names and Land Rush 2

3 2 Definitins accredited registrar means a EPP enabled registrar accredited by the ZACR dmain name means a name delegated in the net.za Secnd Level Dmain (SLD) EPP means Extensible Prvisining Prtcl, which is an pen standard adpted and implemented by the ZA Central Registry fr its dmain name registry platfrm. landrush phase means a first- cme- first- served prcess where dmain names that have nt been reserved may be registered launch phase means the cmbinatin f a Sunrise and Landrush phases. MVS means the Mark Validatin System used t capture, validate and priritise marks and prvide a Signed Mark Data (SMD) identifier t be used in the applicatin fr dmains during the sunrise phase. marks means prprietary name rights including registered and un- registered trade mark rights, cmpany and persnal names t mentin a few. redemptin prcess means a prcess specifically relating t the RNL, which gverns the prcesses fr the registratin f a reserved dmain name by a pre- determined rganisatin. In ther wrds a reserved name may nly be redeemed by a pre- defined registrant and is nt allcated n a first cme- first- served basis. registry means the entity administering the TLD, being the ZACR. regulatr means the cmpany/rganizatin respnsible fr the versight f the.za zne. In this case the regulatr is ZADNA. RNL means Reserved Name List, mre fully explained in clauses and sunrise means a dmain registratin prcess in which mark hlders may register their varius marks and apply fr their marked dmains. TMCH means Trade Mark Clearing Huse, a mechanism established by ICANN and which is similar t the MVS in peratin, but is applicable acrss all new gtlds ( ZACR means the.za Central Registry (NPC) 3

4 3 Prject Time Lines

5 4 Diagrammatical Overview 5

6 5 Launch Strategy 5.1 Phase 1: Plicy Develpment and Adptin Plicy develpment and adptin requires that the varius plicy dcuments, charters and plans required fr the launch and n- ging administratin f the TLD, must be finalized and apprved. The finalizatin and frmal adptin f these dcuments is an imprtant first phase fr the launch f the TLD and serves as a blue print t define the varius rles and respnsibilities f all stakehlders invlved in the prcess This Launch Strategy Dcument: Prvides the cntext and backgrund fr the ther dcuments and prcesses necessary fr the launch f the TLD by the ZACR. Bradly defines the peratinal prcesses and mechanisms t be implemented by the ZACR in launching the TLD The TLD Charter: Defines the general functin and purpse f the TLD, including: whether it is t be an pen r mderated dmain; pricing and any ther aspects that the SteerCm wuld like t include. The Charter will infrm the directin that the Registry Plicies and the Launch Plicies will need t adpt The Launch Plicies and Prcedures: Outline the detailed peratinal plicies and prcedures that will gvern the launch f the TLD under the administratin f the ZACR. These dcuments will generally seek t gvern the mechanisms and prcedures relating t: Reserved Name List (RNL see ) Pririty Rights and Sunrise mechanisms; and Premium Names and Land Rush mechanisms Reserved Name List (RNL) Plicy: This plicy frms part f the cllectin f Launch Plicies (clause 5.1.3) and regulates the reservatin f certain dmain names, prir t launch, which 6

7 may be regarded as imprtant, sensitive, ffensive and/r therwise in the general interest fr the wellbeing f the TLD. The RNL plicy shuld: Identify key stakehlders t participate in the RNL prcess; Define the rules, prcedures and guidelines fr identifying dmain names that shuld be reserved and hw they will be mderated (apprved) fr entry int the RNL. Outline the mechanisms and prcedures fr the actual submissin and classificatin f names int the RNL, the perid reservatin, the entity respnsible fr the redemptin f the dmain name (if applicable) and ther related administrative matters. Whilst a dmain name has been entered int the RNL the Registry (ZACR) will ensure that the name is nt made available fr registratin, ther than thrugh a defined redemptin prcess. Fr plicy develpment, please refer t: Pririty Rights and Sunrise Plicy: This plicy frms part f the cllectin f Launch Plicies (clause 5.1.3) and regulates the prtectin f pririty / prprietary rights within the TLD, particularly trade mark rights, during the Launch Phase (clause 5.2). The plicy shuld: Establish a mechanism and assciated prcedures whereby the public and the Intellectual Prperty cmmunity can submit their marks fr validatin either via the TMCH r MVS; Establish the guidelines and prcedures fr the appintment f a mark validatin prvider and its rle and respnsibilities; Establish guidelines fr the type and priritizing f marks; Define the registry / registrar mechanisms and prcedures that dmain name applicants must utilise in rder t apply fr dmain names, crrespnding with their validated marks, during the Sunrise prcess. Define the cntentin reslutin mechanism and prcesses if tw r mre dmain name applicants lawfully apply fr the same dmain name during the sunrise perid. Fr plicy develpment, please refer t: Premium Names and Land Rush Plicy: This plicy frms part f the cllectin f Launch Plicies (clause 5.1.3) and regulates the identificatin and allcatin f high value / premium names within the SLD. The plicy shuld: Establish a mechanism and assciated prcedures whereby members f the public can btain premium names (r premium name ptins) frm established premium name prviders and/r directly via a Land Rush mechanism administered by the Registry; Establish the guidelines and prcedures fr the appintment f premium name prviders and the basis n which they may btain premium name ptins; 7

8 Establish guidelines fr identifying premium name lists; Define the registry / registrar mechanisms and prcedures that dmain name applicants must utilise in rder t apply fr dmain names, during the Land Rush prcess. Define the cntentin reslutin mechanism and prcesses if tw r mre dmain name applicants apply fr the same dmain name during the Land Rush perid. Fr plicy develpment, please refer t: The Registry Supplemental Plicies: This dcument utlines the detailed peratinal plicies and prcedures that gvern the relatinship between the Registry (ZACR) and Registrars. This dcument will generally seek t gvern the mechanisms and prcedures fr inter- Registrar transfers, dmain updates, deletes, billing issues and dispute reslutin etc. 5.2 Phase 2: Launch Phase As indicated abve, the Launch Phase culminates in the cnsecutive implementatin f the Sunrise and Land Rush mechanisms, which are designed t address the allcatin f pririty rights and high value / premium names. Frm the Diagrammatical Overview abve (clause 4) it shuld be apparent that certain independent mechanisms in supprt f the Launch Phase might already have been implemented as early as Phase 1, depending n whether r nt the necessary plicies have been finalised and adpted Part I: Reserved Name Lists (RNL) As utlined in detail abve, the RNL prcess must be established as sn as the plicy framewrk gverning its implementatin has been finalised and adpted. This culd happen as early as during Phase 1. The prvisins and prcesses set ut in the Reserved Name List Plicy (clause abve) will apply. Names entered n t the RNL will take precedence abve all ther applicatins submitted during the Launch and Open Delegatin Phase. Althugh the RNL will be used fr a wide variety f Registry functins, its primary purpse is t prvide stakehlders (particularly African gvernments) with an pprtunity t reserve dmain names that are ptentially ffensive, sensitive and/r therwise related t a substantive natinal interest. A special nline facility has been develped t assist African gvernments and ther relevant stakehlder grups in submitting their prpsed names t the RNL mderatr (Ms. Alice Munyua). This facility will be accessible via the dtafrica.org website, under the gvernment tab Part II: Sunrise Phase The MVS will be established and made available as sn as the plicy framewrk gverning its implementatin has been finalised and adpted. This culd happen as early as during Phase 1. 8

9 The hlders f varius prprietary- naming rights, in particular trade mark rights, can start submitting their marks int the MVS, tgether with the necessary supprting dcumentatin. Once submitted, independent Intellectual Prperty experts, appinted by the ZACR, will validate the marks. All validated marks will result in the hlder btaining an SMD (Signed Mark Data) tken, which will essentially validate the hlder s claim t a crrespnding dmain name when applying fr that dmain name during Sunrise. Once the Sunrise Phase fficially cmmences in accrdance with the Sunrise Plicy, mark hlders will prvide their SMD, via their accredited registrars, t the ZACR in rder t validate their claim t a particular dmain name. All successfully validated dmain name applicatins submitted during the Sunrise windw will be queued by the ZACR and all uncntested applicatins will be delegated, whilst all cntested applicatins will be referred t an auctin prcess t determine the successful applicant n a highest bidder wins basis. Once all applicatins submitted during the Sunrise windw have been either delegated r refused, the ZACR will mve nt the Premium Name Redemptin phase. Names n the RNL may nt be delegated. Names allcated during the Sunrise phase may be cntested, after the fact, via an Alternate Dispute Reslutin (ADR) mechanism. 9

10 5.2.3 Part III: Premium Name Redemptin A premium name strategy can be established as sn as the plicy framewrk gverning its implementatin has been finalised and adpted. This culd happen as early as Phase 1 f the SLD transitin. As utlined in clause abve, depending n the prescriptins f the Launch Plicies, ne ptin wuld be t identify and allcate limited premium name lists t established premium name prviders. Once the Land Rush windw fficially cmmences in accrdance with the Land Rush plicy, premium name applicants can start applying fr their selected names. The ZACR will queue all legitimate applicatins (IE applicatins that meet the Sunrise Plicy requirements) and at the clse f the Land Rush windw all uncntested applicatins will immediately be delegated, whilst all cntested applicatins will be referred t an auctin prcess t determine the successful applicant n a highest bidder wins basis. Once all applicatins submitted during the Land Rush windw have been either delegated r refused, the ZACR will mve nt the Open Delegatin phase Part IV: Land Rush A premium name strategy can be established as sn as the plicy framewrk gverning its implementatin has been finalised and adpted. This culd happen as early as Phase 1 f the SLD transitin. As utlined in clause abve, depending n the prescriptins f the Launch Plicies, ne ptin wuld be t identify and allcate limited premium name lists t established premium name prviders. Once the Land Rush windw fficially cmmences in accrdance with the Land Rush plicy, premium name applicants can start applying fr their selected names. The ZACR will queue all legitimate applicatins (IE applicatins that meet the Sunrise Plicy requirements) and at the clse f the Land Rush windw all uncntested applicatins will immediately be delegated, whilst all cntested applicatins will be referred t an auctin prcess t determine the successful applicant n a highest bidder wins basis. Once all applicatins submitted during the Land Rush windw have been either delegated r refused, the ZACR will mve nt the Open Delegatin phase. Names n the RNL may nt be delegated. Names allcated during the Land Rush phase may be cntested, after the fact, via an Alternate Dispute Reslutin (ADR) mechanism. 10

11 5.3 Open Delegatin The Open Delegatin phase reflects the cmmencement f nrmal registry peratins fr the TLD, where names are allcated and administered in accrdance with the charter and the registry plices and prcedures. Whilst it is envisaged that dmain names will be allcated n a first cme- first- served basis, it shuld be nted that a suitable Alternate Dispute Reslutin (ADR) mechanism wuld be implemented fr the TLD space t prtect against the abuse f established rights. It is likely that the ADR mechanism will prtect against bth abusive and ffensive dmain name registratins. In additin t the alternate dispute reslutin mechanism, it is envisaged that the MVS (and pssibly the TMCH) will cntinue t prvide mnitring services ver the TLD in that all new dmain name applicatins will be checked against the MVS fr cnflicts. Shuld a cnflict be identified the Registry will ntify the MVS, which will in turn ntify the relevant mark hlders. 11