.ford New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: Ford Motor Company
Application Downloaded On: 08 Oct 2014
String: FORD
Application ID: 1-1310-12426
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
Ford Motor Company
- Address of the principal place of business
One American Road Dearborn, Michigan - 48126 US
- Phone number
+13133223000
- Fax number
+13135946859
- If applicable, website or URL
http://www.ford.com
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Kara Tertzag Lividini
6(b). Title
Attorney
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
(313) 323-8559
6(e). Fax Number
(313) 337-1135
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Ron Merbler
7(b). Title
Ford Digital Enterprise Manager
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+13138457509
7(e). Fax Number
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Corporation
8(b). State the specific national or other jurisdiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
State of Delaware
8(c). Attach evidence of the applicant's establishment.
Attachments are not displayed on this form.
9(a). If applying company is publicly traded, provide the exchange and symbol.
New_York_Stock_Exchange / F
9(b). If the applying entity is a subsidiary, provide the parent company.
9(c). If the applying entity is a joint venture, list all joint venture partners.
Applicant Background
11(a). Name(s) and position(s) of all directors
Name
Position
Alan Mulally President and Chief Executive Officer
Anthony F. Earley, Jr. Director
Edsel B. Ford II Director
Ellen R. Marram Director and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee
Gerald L. Shaheen Director
Homer A. Neal Director and Chair of the Sustainability Committee
Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr. Director
James H. Hance, Jr. Director
John L. Thornton Director
Jon Huntsman Director
Kimberly A. Casiano Director
Richard A. Gephardt Director
Richard A. Manoogian Director and Chair of the Compensation Committee
Stephen G. Butler Director and Chair of the Audit Committee
William Clay Ford, Jr. Executive Chairman
William W. Helman IV Director
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Name
Position
Alan Mulally President and Chief Executive Officer
John Fleming Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs
Lewis W.K. Booth Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mark Fields Executive Vice President and President, The Americas
William Clay Ford, Jr. Executive Chairman
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
11(d). For an applying entity that does not have directors, officers, partners, or shareholders: Name(s) and position(s) of all individuals having legal or executive responsibility
Applied-for gTLD string
- Provide the applied-for gTLD string. If an IDN, provide the U-label.
FORD
14A. If applying for an IDN, provide the A-label (beginning with "xn--").
14B. If an IDN, provide the meaning, or restatement of the string in English, that is, a description of the literal meaning of the string in the opinion of the applicant.
14C1. If an IDN, provide the language of the label (in English).
14C2. If an IDN, provide the language of the label (as referenced by ISO-639-1).
14D1. If an IDN, provide the script of the label (in English).
14D2. If an IDN, provide the script of the label (as referenced by ISO 15924).
14E. If an IDN, list all code points contained in the U-label according to Unicode form.
15A. If an IDN, upload IDN tables for the proposed registry. An IDN table must include:
the applied-for gTLD string relevant to the tables,
the script or language designator (as defined in BCP 47),
table version number,
effective date (DD Month YYYY), and
contact name, email address, and phone number.
Submission of IDN tables in a standards-based format is encouraged.
15B. Describe the process used for development of the IDN tables submitted, including consultations and sources used.
15C. List any variants to the applied-for gTLD string according to the relevant IDN tables.
- Describe the applicant's efforts to ensure that there are no known operational or rendering problems concerning the applied-for gTLD string. If such issues are known, describe steps that will be taken to mitigate these issues in software and other applications.
Ford Motor Company (ʺApplicantʺ) can confirm that to the best of their knowledge there are no rendering problems with regard to .FORD based on the fact that this is a US-ASCII based string and does not contain any non-US-ASCII characters.
In addition the string .FORD is compliant with the following technical standards:
- DOD Internet Host Table Specification (RFC 952)
- Domain Names: Implementation and Specification (RFC 1035)
- Requirements for Internet Hosts — Application and Support (RFC 1123)
- Clarifications to the DNS Specification (RFC 2181)
- Application Techniques for Checking and Transformation of Names (RFC 3696)
With regard to potential operational issues, as outlined in RFC 3696, there are potential issues with regard to software not recognising new TLD names as valid or in some cases attempting to ʺguessʺ what the user may be looking for when the software judges the TLD to be invalid.
However, Applicant recognises that ICANN has taken steps to mitigate this by promoting the Universal Acceptance of all Top-Level Domains and providing TLD verification code for use by software developers and application providers.
- OPTIONAL.
Provide a representation of the label according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/ipa/).
18A. Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.
The mission and purpose of the proposed .FORD Top Level Domain (TLD) is the creation and operation of a TLD dedicated to the Ford businesses, brands, trade marks, goods and services. As such the objective is that the .FORD TLD will serve as an official, trusted, secure and dedicated name space for the globally renowned FORD brand and services. To this end the Applicant seeks to launch the .FORD TLD and to create and operate an innovative and secure platform in a manner which is consistent with its subject matter whilst committing to the promotion of competition, consumer trust, consumer protection and integrity of the FORD TLD and the associated Internet space.
The Applicant is committed to ensuring that it fully complies with and meets or exceeds the requirements of ICANN in terms of competition, consumer protection, security, stability and resiliency, malicious abuse issues, sovereignty concerns, and rights protection in relation to the expansion of the generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) name space by devising and implementing mechanisms in line with ICANN’s Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies.
The Applicant proposes to launch and operate the .FORD TLD to create a new Internet ecosystem dedicated to the Applicant and to enable and facilitate innovations, creation and promotion of new initiatives, platforms, applications and ventures from the Applicant and its Affiliates. The domain name space associated with the .FORD TLD will create a new environment which will enhance diversity, choice and utility of the Domain Name System, based on a segmented approach, hence encouraging specialisation, differentiation, consumer recognition, and consumer choice in line with ICANN policy development.
In order to ensure the integrity, success and to build confidence in the .FORD TLD and the associated domain name space, the Applicant is dedicated to ensuring that appropriate safeguards are put in place with a view to protecting, among other things, public interest, consumers, trade mark owners and other third party rights owners.
Operating and overseeing this new Internet space in a transparent, fair and efficient manner will be essential to create goodwill in the .FORD TLD and to develop confidence and trust in the .FORD TLD.
The fact that the Applicant intends to operate the .FORD TLD as a single registrant⁄single user registry model will allow the Applicant and its Affiliates to control the operations of the .FORD TLD and prevent violation of public interest, trade mark infringement and other types of malicious conduct. The .FORD TLD will thus create an environment where opportunities for abuse and malevolent conduct will be virtually eliminated.
Furthermore, the Applicant is dedicated to ensuring that the creation and operation of the .FORD TLD will not have an adverse or negative affect on the operational security and stability of the Internet and the Domain Name System.
The .FORD TLD will be a continuously evolving platform and serve as a base for innovative uses, content and services with a view to optimising specialisation, high level of service, reliable quality content, consumer trust and innovation.
The Applicant has considered potential uses of the .FORD TLD which would include allocating second-level domain names that correspond with:
- The specialisation areas of the Applicant and its Affiliates, such as:
ACCESSORIES.FORD
SHAREHOLDER.FORD
- Internal management and information, such as:
DEVELOPMENT.FORD
LEGAL.FORD
- Investor relations and corporate portal, such as:
INVESTOR.FORD
CORPORATEGOVERNANCE.FORD
These are some of the potential uses which have been identified as being in line with the operation of the proposed .FORD TLD following the single registrant⁄single user registry model. In addition, the Applicant and its Affiliates will actively use and continue to explore new ways of ensuring that the .FORD TLD is an environment which is conducive to innovation, consumer choice and recognition, business visibility and specialisation and may in this respect implement additional types of use of the .FORD TLD within the scope of the Registry Agreement to be executed before delegation of the .FORD TLD.
1.1) The Ford business
The Applicant is the Ford Motor Company, a publicly traded corporation in good standing and listed on New York Stock Exchange in the United States (NYSE: F) and on stock exchanges in Belgium and France. A global automotive industry leader, Ford Motor Company is based in Dearborn, Michigan, USA and manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. Ford Motor Companyʹs vehicle brands are Ford and Lincoln.
Ford Motor Company was incorporated in state of Delaware in 1919. It acquired the business of a Michigan company, also known as Ford Motor Company, which had been incorporated in 1903 to produce and sell automobiles designed and engineered by Henry Ford. From these beginnings Ford Motor Company has grown to become one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world.
Ford Motor Company is a truly global company with a worldwide workforce of approximately 164,000 employees and 69 manufacturing plants worldwide including 35 in North America, 8 in South America, 14 in Europe and 12 in Asia-Pacific and Africa. In addition to this, Ford is building seven new manufacturing plants with four in China, two in India, and one in Thailand.
As such Ford Motor Company is one of the world’s largest producers of cars and trucks and in 2011 the company sold approximately 5,695,000 vehicles at wholesale throughout the world. The net income attributable to Ford Motor Company in 2011 was $20.2 billion.
Ford Motor Company and its subsidiaries also engage in other businesses, including financing vehicles via its wholly-owned subsidiary Ford Motor Credit Company LLC which offers a wide variety of automotive financing products to and through automotive dealers throughout the world. The majority of Ford Credit’s business consists of financing Ford vehicles and supporting the Ford dealership network.
1.2) The Ford brand
Since its creation, the Applicant has acquired and constantly developed reputation and goodwill in its FORD brand and services worldwide through continuous and significant investment, use and effort.
The FORD brand, trade marks and domain names are invaluable assets and serve to identify the Ford Motor Company business as a trusted source of the highest quality goods and services globally.
The Applicant owns thousands of trade mark registrations which consist of or contain the term FORD worldwide in most classes of goods and services, including but not limited to: class 12 (motor land vehicles, vehicle bodies), class 11 (lighting installations & apparatus; installations & apparatus for air conditioning, ventilation or heating motor land vehicles), class 36 (insurance, warranty, financing, hire purchase and lease purchase financing services), class 37 (maintenance of motor land vehicles).
The Applicant has secured trade mark registrations which comprise of or contain the term FORD in over 160 countries and territories. The FORD brand is ranked in 50th position in the ʺInterbrand Best Global Brands 2011ʺ list.
The popularity and consumer recognition of the FORD brand have made Ford Motor Company one of the most famous companies and brands in the world. Reflecting its global reach, the Applicant owns numerous domain names consisting of or including the term FORD across a broad range of gTLD and ccTLD extensions.
Moreover, the Applicantʹs FORD trade mark and brand has been recognised by the courts in several decisions as ʺamong the most famous marks in the worldʺ and is an ʺundoubtedly famous markʺ.
18B. How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
The main goals of the .FORD TLD are specialisation, visibility, differentiation, innovation and enhancement of consumer recognition and trust.
Given the intended mission and purpose for the .FORD TLD, the volume of second level domain name registrations will not be a pertinent indicator to assess or measure its success. The Applicant will rather focus and strive to achieve a high level of consumer recognition and trust in the .FORD TLD.
Operating and overseeing this new dedicated Internet space in a transparent, fair and efficient manner will be a key factor in creating goodwill in the .FORD TLD that will match the reputation the Applicant has via its globally recognised brand. As a result Internet users and customers of Ford will come to have the same levels of confidence and trust in the .FORD TLD.
The creation of a dedicated Internet name space which is indelibly associated with the Ford brand assurance of quality, will create a clear benefit to Internet users and to the Applicant and its Affiliates as it will establish certainty and trust as to the source of the content.
18(b)(1): What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation?
(a) Goals in terms of speciality
The creation and operation of the .FORD TLD will create specialisation by creating a segment of the Domain Name System solely dedicated to the Applicant.
Currently there is no Top Level Domain that specifically corresponds to the Applicant and to its businesses, brands, trade marks, goods and services. Thus no existing Top Level Domain could conceivably deliver the level of specialisation which could potentially be achieved by the .FORD TLD.
Based on the significant goodwill and consumer recognition that the Applicant has acquired and developed in the term FORD, it is anticipated that the .FORD TLD will, by association, clearly and visibly demonstrate the specialised nature of the .FORD TLD resulting in consumer recognition and trust. Internet users will know that they are getting genuine information and be able to access content, information and services relating to the Applicant by virtue of the .FORD TLD.
Specialisation is a key element for the Applicant and for the proposed creation and operation of the .FORD TLD. It is anticipated that this drive for specialisation will in the future become the standard for Internet users, customers and other third parties. As such the .FORD TLD will provide a defined, unique and clear indication to Internet users that the .FORD domain name space is one that is dedicated to the Applicant.
Therefore, the .FORD TLD will be designed as a single source dedicated segment of the Internet and the Domain Name System where it will be possible to locate and access data in an efficient manner relating to the products and services of the Applicant and its Affiliates with the same level of trust which the Applicantʹs customers place in the Applicantʹs brand, all within a secure environment.
(b) Goals in terms of service levels
The Applicant is fully committed to providing the highest levels of service in the course of the operation of the .FORD TLD. Customer satisfaction is one of the cornerstones of the Applicantʹs business and as a result of this the Applicant and its Affiliates have extensive experience in meeting the needs of its customers and ensuring their satisfaction, not just with the Applicantʹs motor vehicles, but with all aspects of the process from customised client brochures to the dedicated Ford dealership network to financing and after sales services and parts.
The systems, networks and infrastructure that the Applicant has implemented across its businesses in order to meet its customerʹs needs in the end to end process is one of the keys to its success. The Applicant would seek to replicate this experience and success in the .FORD TLD.
Given the Applicantʹs commitments in terms of service levels associated with the .FORD TLD, the Applicant has entered into contractual agreements for the provision of services by third party service providers who are all leaders in their respective fields of activity. Thus the Applicant is seeking to ensure that both its internal resources and third party service providers have the capacity to achieve the highest levels of service performance in the course of the operation of the .FORD TLD.
A key goal of the Applicant in the operation of the .FORD TLD will be to provide services in a highly secure environment so as to significantly reduce opportunities for malicious conduct. As the Applicant intends to operate the .FORD TLD following the single registrant⁄single user registry model, the Applicant will be able to fully control operation of the .FORD TLD and to ensure that services will be provided through the FORD TLD in a secured, reliable and trusted manner.
(c) Goals in terms of reputation
The Applicant will use best endeavours to ensure that it operates the .FORD TLD in a manner that furthers its excellent global reputation in terms of quality of content and service, security and compliance.
Since its incorporation in 1919, the Applicant has acquired and constantly developed reputation and goodwill in its FORD brand and services worldwide through continuous and significant investment, use and effort.
Thus, the creation, delegation and operation of the .FORD TLD will be consistent with the Applicantʹs continuously increasing use of its FORD brand and will allow the Applicant to further promote the Applicant and its Affiliates’ reputation for excellence, technological advancement, innovation and specialisation.
Given the increasing importance of the Internet as part of the Applicantʹs business and services, not only as a method for consumers and the dealership network to interact with Ford Motor Company, but also with the increase of Internet connected devices in motor vehicles, the creating and operating a dedicated segment of the Internet is of utmost importance to the Applicant, its Affiliates and their credibility and reputation.
As the Applicant intends to operate the .FORD TLD following the single registrant⁄single user registry model, the Applicant will be able to fully control and oversee operation of the .FORD TLD. As a result, the .FORD TLD will by its very nature be associated with trusted and genuine content which will help the Applicant furthering the development of its reputation and consumer recognition in its FORD brand. Whilst the very nature of the .FORD TLD will help avoiding abuse and infringements, the Applicant is fully committed to address potential abuses and infringements in a timely and efficient manner if and when they occur.
18(b)(2): What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?
(a) Goals in terms of competition
The .FORD TLD will contribute to the creation of a more competitive Domain Name System by operating a Top Level Domain dedicated to a particular commercial entity and thus incentivising competitors to position themselves on this new market in order not to lose ground to the Applicant and its Affiliates and to potentially provide new services or content or existing services or content in new ways.
Thus the Applicant will contribute by its .FORD TLD initiative to the development of dedicated and specialised segments of the Domain Name Space and the diversification of content and services available on the Internet.
The .FORD TLD initiative, the specialisation, innovation and high level of consumer recognition and trust that the Applicant and its Affiliates anticipate to achieve through the .FORD TLD will likely trigger a reaction from other economic agents and thus indirectly lead to the creation and availability of new and improved resources, products, services, and contents on the Internet.
Thus, the creation and operation of the .FORD TLD will benefit consumers by fostering innovation, competition, diversity of content and availability of specialised choices for consumers.
(b) Goals in terms of differentiation
The .FORD TLD will be operated on a single registrant⁄single user registry model and second level domain names will be reserved for exclusive registration by the Applicant for the exclusive use of the Applicant and its Affiliates.
The .FORD TLD will, by its very nature, be highly distinctive and differentiated from all other Top Level Domains currently available and likely to be available in the future because it will be comprised of the Applicantʹs globally renowned and distinctive FORD brand.
Thus the .FORD TLD will clearly and officially indicate to users the source of the TLD.
The .FORD TLD and all second level domain name registrations under it will act as a clear corporate identifier of the source of the dedicated services or contents.
Therefore, differentiation will be achieved in three ways:
- At the top level
- At the second level
- Through dedicated content
(c) Goals in terms of innovation
The Applicant and its Affiliates have established a reputation as one of the leading global companies in the field of technological innovation for motor vehicles not only in terms of engine and performance design, but also in terms of in-vehicle technologies.
By way of example, the Applicant introduced the Ford SYNC integrated in-vehicle communication and entertainment system which enables Ford vehicle drivers to control via voice commands functions such as the in-vehicle entertainment system, navigation systems and climate control. In addition to this, the Ford SYNC system can also assist in turning Internet connected devices into wireless routers.
The Applicantʹs purpose in applying for the .FORD TLD is to pursue further innovation and technological advancement through a new dedicated platform based on the creation of the .FORD TLD.
The .FORD TLD will serve as a base for allowing the Applicant and its Affiliates to provide their products and services to each other, their consumers and Internet users in innovative and diverse ways.
The .FORD TLD will be a new technological ecosystem for the Applicant and its Affiliates to continue with their mission of technological innovation.
18(b)(3): What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
Given that the Applicant will operate and oversee the .FORD TLD on a single registrant⁄single user registry model, user experience will in this context refer to two types of use:
(a) Exclusive use by the Applicant and its Affiliates
The Applicant will design a platform within the .FORD TLD which will allow the Applicant and its Affiliates to use this dedicated segment of the Internet in rationalised and unprecedented ways and allow access, experience, exchange, provision and updating of content and information.
Only the Applicant and its Affiliates will have the possibility to alter content with respect to domain names, to manage domain names and to take other actions necessary for the maintenance of domain names under the .FORD TLD.
(b) Passive use by third parties
Whilst the exclusive use of the .FORD TLD will be reserved for the Applicant and its Affiliate, other users will be able to access content, information and services within the .FORD TLD.
The .FORD TLD will provide a single, genuine, secure and trusted ecosystem where users worldwide will be able to experience and access content, information and services relating to the Applicant and its Affiliates. The specialisation and visibility of the .FORD TLD as the dedicated Top Level Domain of the Ford Motor Company will provide considerable legitimacy and recognition to the .FORD TLD and thus be an online landmark for users worldwide.
By virtue of operating its own dedicated TLD registry this will enable the Applicant to ensure a high degree of content quality and integrity which should result in an optimal user experience within the new .FORD dedicated segment of the Internet name space.
18(b)(4): Provide a complete description of the Applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.
The Applicant intends to create and operate the .FORD TLD as a single registrant⁄single user registry and will reserve domain names under the .FORD TLD for exclusive registration by the Applicant to the exclusion of other parties. Thus it will not be possible for individuals or entities who are not the Applicant to register domain names under the .FORD TLD.
In addition, the Applicant does not intend to sell, distribute or transfer control or use of any second level domain name registrations in the .FORD TLD to any party that is not an Affiliate of the Applicant as defined in the Draft New gTLD Registry Agreement in section 2.9 (c) version 2012-01-11.
As a result, rules and regulations aiming at protecting the public interest in the event of the opening of a TLD to general registration will not be relevant.
Accordingly the intended registration policies in support of the goals set out in the Applicantʹs .FORD TLD application will not contain provisions relating to registration by parties that are not the Applicant who will solely and wholly control and maintain registrations under the .FORD TLD.
Such policies will be consistent with all applicable ICANN’s Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies and the Applicant is committed to ensure that said policies are strictly complied with.
18(b)(5): 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.
Given that the Applicant will operate the .FORD TLD on a single registrant⁄single user registry model, confidential information relating to the sole registrant (the Applicant) and exclusive users (the Applicant and its Affiliates) will be the responsibility of the Applicant and its Affiliates and will be addressed by existing internal policies implemented within the Applicantʹs organisation.
In relation to the information on users who will access content, information and services within the .FORD TLD, the Applicant will ensure that the operation of the .FORD TLD is at all times consistent with the Applicantʹs various privacy policies which are tailored for the different ways personal information is collected by different lines of business and offerings within the Applicant organisation.
The details of said policies are available at the following URL http:⁄⁄www.ford.com⁄help⁄privacy⁄ and the premise of the principles contained in said policies are copied below:
ʺWe respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it. This privacy statement explains our policies and practices regarding on-line customer information. It is through this disclosure that we intend to provide you with a level of comfort and confidence in how we collect, use, and safeguard personal and other information we collect or that you provide through this website, and how you can contact us if you have any questions or concerns. It is our sincere hope that by explaining our data handling practices we will develop a trusting and long-lasting relationship with you.ʺ
18(b)(6): Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.
It is anticipated that the use made of the .FORD TLD will continuously evolve so as to ensure adaptation and innovation mirroring market trends, consumer demand and fostering technological advancement.
As the Applicant identifies new demands, needs, innovative and beneficial types of uses, the Applicant will implement new types of use of the .FORD TLD.
Communication on the .FORD TLD and the services that it will offer will be crucial and the Applicant and its Affiliates will make extensive use of its substantial in-house capabilities and experience. In addition, the Applicant and its Affiliates will use preferred third party service providers if necessary to ensure efficient and visible communication, promotion and public information on the .FORD TLD and on the content, information and services available within this dedicated segment of the Internet.
18C. What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs (e.g., time or financial resource costs, as well as various types of consumer vulnerabilities)? What other steps will you take to minimize negative consequences/costs imposed upon consumers?
Given that the Applicant intends to operate the .FORD TLD as a single registrant⁄single user registry, the Applicant will be the only registrant of second level domain names under the .FORD TLD to the exclusion of any other entity or individual.
In light of the intended structure and operating model of the .FORD TLD, the Applicant does not anticipate that its Top Level Domain will have any known negative consequences or cost implications to consumers.
The .FORD TLD operating model which will be based on the Applicant and its Affiliatesʹ sole control should actually create an environment with an unprecedented level of security, consumer trust, consumer protection, content quality and reliable indication of source.
18(c)(1): How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first-serve basis?
The Applicant will be the only registrant of second level domain names under the .FORD TLD to the exclusion of any other entity or individual.
Given the closed nature of the proposed single registrant⁄single user registry model for the .FORD TLD, the Applicant does not anticipate that the scenario of multiple applications for a particular domain name could ever occur.
In view of the above, it is neither necessary nor pertinent within the context of the .FORD TLD to implement mechanisms to resolve multiple applications for a particular domain name.
For the sake of completeness, should the Applicant, after the delegation of the .FORD TLD, wish to apply to ICANN for a modification of its single registrant⁄single user registry model, then the Applicant undertakes that it will implement appropriate mechanisms to ensure resolution of multiple applications for a particular domain name in the most transparent and fair manner and in accordance with all applicable ICANN’s Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies.
18(c)(2): Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
The Applicant will be the only registrant of second level domain names under the .FORD TLD to the exclusion of any other entity or individual.
Given the closed nature of the proposed single registrant⁄single user registry model for the .FORD TLD, there are no cost benefits to implement for registrants given that the only registrant under the .FORD TLD will be the Applicant.
In view of the above, it is neither necessary nor pertinent within the context of the .FORD TLD to implement any cost benefits for registrants.
For the sake of completeness, should the Applicant, after the delegation of the .FORD TLD, wish to apply to ICANN for a modification of its single registrant⁄single user registry model, then the Applicant undertakes that it will implement appropriate mechanisms to achieve cost benefits for registrants in the most transparent and fair manner and in accordance with all applicable ICANN’s Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies.
18(c)(3): Note that the Registry Agreement requires that registrars be offered the option to obtain initial domain name registrations for periods of one to ten years at the discretion of the registrar, but no greater than ten years. Additionally, the Registry Agreement requires advance written notice of price increases. Do you intend to make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation? If so, please describe your plans.
The Applicant will be the only registrant of second level domain names under the .FORD TLD to the exclusion of any other entity or individual.
Given the closed nature of the proposed single registrant⁄single user registry model for the .FORD TLD, contractual commitments to registrants regarding price escalation will not be relevant to the Applicant’s mission or goals for the .FORD TLD.
In view of the above, it is neither necessary nor pertinent within the context of the .FORD TLD to implement the types of mechanisms contemplated by question 18(c)(3).
For the sake of completeness, should the Applicant, after the delegation of the .FORD TLD, wish to apply to ICANN for a modification of its single registrant⁄single user registry model, then the Applicant undertakes that it will implement appropriate mechanisms in order to comply with the Registry Agreement and all applicable ICANN’s Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies.