.goldpoint New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: YODOBASHI CAMERA CO.,LTD.
String: goldpoint
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-1809-71826
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
YODOBASHI CAMERA CO.,LTD.
- Address of the principal place of business
20-1 3-chome Kita-Shinjyuku
Shinjyuku-ku Tokyo 169-8585
JP
- Phone number
+81 3 3227 2271
- Fax number
+81 3 3227 2272
- If applicable, website or URL
http:⁄⁄www.yodobashi.co.jp
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Mr. Kenji Hirota
6(b). Title
Director
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+81 3 3227 2134
6(e). Fax Number
+81 3 3227 2182
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Mr. Jiro Nishijima
7(b). Title
Director
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+81 3 3227 2134
7(e). Fax Number
+81 3 3227 2182
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Corporation
8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
JAPAN
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.
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
Fumihiko Hino managing director
Kazunori Fujisawa executive vice president
Kenji Hirota director
Naoki Ishii director
Ryuuichi Kouriki managing director
Shojiro Matsui director
Tadayuki Katou senior managing director
Taisei Yamamoto director
Terukazu Fujisawa president
Tsutomu Yoshizawa director
Yoshiyuki Ami director
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Fumihiko Hino managing director
Kazunori Fujisawa executive vice president
Ryuuichi Kouriki managing director
Tadayuki Katou senior managing director
Terukazu Fujisawa president
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.
goldpoint
14(a). If an IDN, provide the A-label (beginning with "xn--").
14(b). 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.
14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (in English).
14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (as referenced by ISO-639-1).
14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (in English).
14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (as referenced by ISO 15924).
14(e). If an IDN, list all code points contained in the U-label according to Unicode form.
15(a). If an IDN, Attach IDN Tables for the proposed registry.
Attachments are not displayed on this form.
15(b). Describe the process used for development of the IDN tables submitted, including consultations and sources used.
15(c). List any variant strings 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.
The .goldpoint string and A-Label were developed in line with and checked against the eligibility, stability and policy criteria as stated in the ICANN Applicant Guidebook - version 2012-01-11. The results of those checks are as follows:
- The string has less than 63 characters;
- The string in ASCII is composed of three or more visually distinct characters;
- The ASCII label consists entirely of letters;
- The string is not a reserved name as shown in section 2.2.1.2.1
- Reserved Names of the ICANN Applicant Guidebook - version 2012-01-11; and
- .goldpoint is not identical or similar to any of the top 10 invalid TLDʹs responsible for the majority of DNS pollution, as referenced in the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)ʹs report on this topic at http:⁄⁄www.icann.org⁄en⁄committees⁄security⁄sac045.pdf. It is likely that the .goldpoint has not already been queried with meaningful frequency at the root. Therefore, it is unlikely that .goldpoint will inherit significant invalid query traffic.
Due to the positive results of these checks, YODOBASHI CAMERA CO.,LTD. does not believe that the .goldpoint gTLD will be subject to any operational or rendering problems.
- (OPTIONAL) Provide a representation of the label according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/ipa/).
Mission/Purpose
18(a). Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.
The mission and purpose of the new restricted .goldpoint gTLD is to benefit internet users by ensuring increased trust, confidence and user experience through the elimination of user confusion and assurance of brand authenticity.
The new .goldpoint gTLD will operate as a restricted registry, in which YODOBASHI CAMERA CO.,LTD.(Yodobashi) can create and control domain spaces that promote its GoldPoint programʹs brand identity and authenticity. In this regard, the .goldpoint gTLD will be used by Yodobashi to provide information, services and resources in connection with the GoldPoint program to customers in a way that promotes trust, convenience and utility. The .goldpoint gTLD will provide an authoritative internet space for Yodobashi and its affiliates that are associated with the brand. Second and third level domain names can then be utilized for providing a unique and high quality service platform supporting the GoldPoint program whilst assuring internet users of its brand authenticity.
Yodobashi is a Japanese retail group that sells a large range(over 850,000 different items) of electronics goods including cameras, personal computers, audio and visual equipment, appliances and software. Yodobashi, based in Tokyo, was founded in 1960 as Fujisawa Shashin Shokai and changed its name to YODOBASHI CAMERA CO.,LTD. in 1974. Yodobashi opened its first store in Tokyo in 1975 and currently owns 21 super-sized electronic retail stores throughout Japan with approximately 4,800 employees. In 2011, Yodobashi was the 12th largest company in terms of its sales volume in the Japanese retail industry with its net profits of 61 billion Yen in 2011.
GoldPoint is the name of the loyalty program provided through the subsidiary of Yodobashi, GoldPoint Marketing Inc. The GoldPoint program allows its members to earn ʺGoldPointsʺ, which are set individually depending on the product. Members are subsequently able to use those points in their next shopping at Yodobashi or with its affiliates or selected partner companies affiliated with Yodobashi. Members may choose to apply to the GoldPoint program with a credit-card function that provides additional benefits such as earning more points for certain products. The GoldPoint program has been operating for 21 years since 1990. Currently, there are over 20 million members enrolled in the GoldPoint program and over a million of them are utilizing the program with the credit-card function. In this regard, consumer trust, utility and continuous innovation are paramount considerations in all its activities.
Since the inception of the current domain name system, business activities conducted on the internet are constantly changing and evolving with increased complexity. The volume of commercial transactions over the internet is constantly growing and bringing benefits of simplicity and lowered transaction costs to businesses and consumers. However, at the same time, criminal activities over the internet including data breach, hacking and phishing activities have also become more sophisticated resulting in loss of consumer confidence beyond mere monetary harm. The .goldpoint gTLD will facilitate greater trust and assurance from internet users connecting with Yodobashi online, whilst still allowing convenient and efficient interaction.
Yodobashiʹs mission and purpose of the proposed new gTLD share ICANNʹs initiatives to promote public interest. Yodobashi is committed to contribute towards achieving such initiatives in line with ICANNʹs Affirmation of Commitments, which includes:
-consumer trust: the .goldpoint gTLD registry will be operated in a centralized manner with a restrictive registration policy. Registration of domain names will only be available to Yodobashi and its affiliates, at this stage. This will provide added consumer trust that the .goldpoint domain names are trustworthy. As the .goldpoint domain names are subject to an internal evaluation process under Yodobashiʹs control, this eliminates the possibility of malicious conduct within the .goldpoint domain space;
-competition: the proposed new gTLD is not intended to instigate competition and consumer choice at the level of registration of domain names among prospective registrants. Instead it is anticipated to contribute to ICANNʹs initiatives to promote public interest through its operation focused on promoting consumer trust. Increased trust in the .goldpoint gTLD will drive existing and new top level domain(TLD) registry operators to make improvements in mechanisms to improve consumer trust of their TLDs; and
-consumer choice: the proposed new gTLD will enable user-driven improvements and innovations assisting Yodobashiʹs marketing efforts through its ability to create new second and third level domain names on demand relevant to the GoldPoint program and its member services. These names will provide Yodobashiʹs customers and GoldPoint program members with more choices for interacting with the GoldPoint program online. As Yodobashi has effective control over the registration and use of domain names under the .goldpoint domain space, this will also contribute towards general service innovations on the internet.
Given the restricted nature of the .goldpoint gTLD, the projected number of registrations is likely to be limited. It is anticipated that a more limited number between 15 and 45 domain names will be registered in the first few years. However, the number of registrations is likely to increase as Yodobashi develops and implements new services and marketing campaigns to promote its GoldPoint program by creating product and service related domain names in the second or third levels.
As the new .goldpoint gTLD expands and evolves, Yodobashi may consider offering the use of second level domain names at a later date to its partner companies that meet an internal evaluation process to ensure that registration of domain names under the .goldpoint gTLD will adhere to its business and brand strategy. In this endeavor, Yodobashi will continue to comply with all operational, technical and policy requirements, as well as maintaining consumer trust and the stability of the internet. Yodobashi will keep ICANN reasonably informed of any material developments relating to the .goldpoint gTLD including compliance with the continued operations instrument obligations as set out in Specification 8 of the Registry Agreement.
Yodobashi does not intend to use geographic names in the second level. However, Yodobashi may use geographic names to localise its websites where its GoldPoint program operates at a later stage. The use of geographic names is intended to:
-connect internet users with relevant information as applicable to the territory; and
-comply with required rules and regulations in the national territory.
The use of geographic names will be in accordance with registration policy and the proposed measures for protection of geographic names as outlined in response to Question 22.
Yodobashi will also utilize Internationalized Domain Names(IDNs) at the second level in Japanese language. The use of IDNs will allow internet users to engage with .goldpoint in their native language, creating a more positive user experience and encouraging diversity. As the use of the .goldpoint gTLD evolves, it is anticipated that the use of IDNs, including additional languages, may increase within the .goldpoint domain space.
Yodobashi is a well-recognized global brand in Japan and parts of Asia. Its GoldPoint program with over 20 million members is also a well-recognized brand in Japan. Yodobashi has its ʺGoldPointʺ trademark registered in Japan in Class 36 in relation to issuance of credit cards and provision of credit cards.
Yodobashi has over 180 existing domain names relating to the applied-for .goldpoint in over 140 gTLDs including goldpoint.net, goldpoint.org and goldpoint.mobi and over 40 country-code TLDs(ccTLDs) such as goldpoint.jp and goldpoint.co.jp.
18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
18(b)i.
The key goals of the proposed new .goldpoint gTLD are in line with ICANNʹs Affirmation of Commitments: to promote consumer trust, competition and consumer choice. Yodobashi seeks to foster its GoldPoint programʹs online reputation and provide an authoritative internet space, in which Yodobashi is able to communicate with its customers and GoldPoint program members directly and effectively.
Yodobashi anticipates that the .goldpoint gTLD will provide its users and GoldPoint members with the most appropriate environment for its retail business. The ability to create domain names on demand related to specific marketing, specialty services and product development relevant to the GoldPoint program supports these goals. Yodobashi also seeks to improve service levels and brand value as well as user experience with the proposed .goldpoint gTLD by enhancing accessibility and ensuring credibility by adopting the proposed .goldpoint gTLD. Strengthened security measures, service levels and more effective functionality within the .goldpoint domain space will provide a trusted and positive user experience as well as building Yodobashiʹs reputation as an innovative company proactively adopting new technology.
18(b)ii.
It is anticipated that .goldpoint will make positive contributions to the wider internet community by providing:
Differentiation (Increased trust):
The .goldpoint gTLD will simplify how internet users interact with Yodobashi and its GoldPoint program by providing a distinctive domain space, which is appropriately tailored for the use of credit card transactions and loyalty programs. The marketing and promotion activities with the proposed .goldpoint gTLD will decrease opportunity loss and the risk of user confusion with other similar sites. Instead, internet users will be able to directly navigate to .goldpoint gTLD site, saving time and resources searching for an official site. The current domain name system has shown that it is vulnerable to malicious abuses due to registration of domain names which seek to exploit consumer confusion. Yodobashi can address some of these vulnerabilities by maintaining complete control over the domain names registered under the .goldpoint domain space. Together with consumer trust, internet users will be able to rely on the authoritativeness of the domain names under the .goldpoint domain space, which will differentiate interaction between internet users and Yodobashi.
Competition:
The differentiation of the .goldpoint gTLD as a trusted site for Yodobashi will drive existing and new TLD registry operators to make improvements in mechanisms to improve consumer trust of their TLDs. Further, as internet users will be encouraged to interact with domain names under the .goldpoint domain space, .goldpoint will have a flow on effect to enable increased competition. Therefore, the benefits of the proposed .goldpoint gTLD will be distributed not only to its direct customers, but to the internet community at large forcing improved services and competitive pricing in the market place.
Innovation:
With the expansion of the internet community to all corners of the world, the existing TLD structure presents limitations, not only in the availability of domain names for registrants, but also to businesses and organizations establishing a coherent global online brand presence to meet their evolving business needs. It is often difficult to register a domain name in existing domain space due to unavailability of the desired name. Even when the desired domain name is available, it may come with a high price tag associated with a purchase of such desired name from a third party. Yodobashi has the ability to create second or third level domain names including the use of geographic names and IDNs on demand which are relevant to Yodobashiʹs customer base, services and products. In connection with the GoldPoint program and its credit-card functionality, Yodobashi will be able to combine its use of the domain space with innovative user focused marketing and services to address the currently unmet needs in the existing domain name system providing greater consumer choice.
18(b)iii.
The proposed .goldpoint gTLD will provide a positive user experience, which meets the changing and growing needs of the global internet community. Yodobashi will maintain control in the registration and use of domain names and will ensure that the new gTLD will only be used for purposes authorized by Yodobashi. Therefore, the .goldpoint gTLD will:
- provide an easy and intuitive reference and access point for internet users and GoldPoint program members;
- implement an infrastructure where users can easily access the necessary information and services they require;
- improve user experience by making the domain name easy to remember;
- represent authenticity thus promoting greater user credibility;
- use IDNs to enable customer to interact directly in their native language;
- enhance security and minimize security risks by implementing necessary technical and policy measures;
- strengthen brand reputation and user confidence by eliminating user confusion; and
- prevent potential abuses in the registration process reducing overall costs to businesses and users.
.goldpoint should address the concerns that the current domain name system is open to potential malicious abuse and user confusion in the registration processes. Although the current system allows an eligible party to lodge a claim through existing Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or other dispute resolution processes, the .goldpoint gTLD will reduce potential abuses in the registration processes and overall costs to internet users. User confidence in the domain name system will be strengthened, which will ultimately contribute towards promoting ICANNʹs core values in benefiting the public interest.
18(b)iv.
The proposed registration policy is attached in response to Question 28.
Only affiliate entities of Yodobashi will be eligible to register domain names in .goldpoint at this stage. The domain name registration processes will address the requirements mandated by ICANN, including rights abuse prevention measures.
18(b)v.
Yodobashi is committed to protection of privacy and confidential information in accordance with its objective of increasing consumer trust and providing a safe and legitimate internet space for internet users. Privacy and confidential information will be protected in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to internet security, privacy and userʹs confidential information, including Personal Information Protection Law (Law No. 57, Chapter 1, 2003) (Japan). Yodobashi also complies with all relevant requirements and standards relating to the credit-card payment facility as well as Moneylending Control Act 2010 (Japan) and the terms and conditions of membership to the Federation of Moneylenders Association of Japan.
Yodobashi has also implemented its own privacy policy to demonstrate its commitment to the protection of user privacy and confidential information, which include provisions regarding:
- Purpose and usage of personal information obtained
- Collection of personal information
- Provision of personal information to third parties
- Ensuring accuracy of personal information
- Safety measures to prevent loss, alteration, destruction or unauthorized access to any personal information obtained
- Access to personal information held by Yodobashi
Privacy is of fundamental concern to most of Yodobashiʹs customers and its GoldPoint program members as the interaction between Yodobashi and its customers and GoldPoint program members involve credit-card issuance, cyber money, credit-card transactions and loan processes to credit-card owners. As such Yodobashi has a strong interest in ensuring a high level of privacy protection for its customers.
As the .goldpoint gTLD will only be available to affiliate entities of Yodobashi, initially, the amount of personal data that will be collected for the purposes of operating the gTLD and made publicly available in the WHOIS database will be very limited. Yodobashi will provide a publicly available and searchable WHOIS look up facility, where information about the domain name status, registrant information including administrative and technical contact details can be found in accordance with Specification 4 of the Registry Agreement. In order to prevent misuse of the WHOIS look up facility, Yodobashi will utilize measures including a requirement where any person submitting a WHOIS database query is required to read and agree to the terms and conditions in accordance with the registration policy. This will include the terms of use that the WHOIS database is provided for information purposes only and that the user agrees not to use the information for any other purposes such as allowing or enabling the transmission of unsolicited commercial advertising or other communication.
Yodobashi will deploy Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) which is intended to benefit both Yodobashi and its users interacting with Yodobashi online. DNSSEC provides additional security by validating information in the transmission, therefore it is intended to benefit those who publish information in the domain name system (DNS) and the users who retrieve information from the new .goldpoint gTLD. Yodobashi already implements measures to protect privacy or confidential information of its users against misuse, loss, alteration and unauthorized access. Such measures include:
- Implementing an appropriate security management measure to protect from unauthorized access, loss, alteration, damage and destruction of personal information; and
- Utilizing data encryption via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
Yodobashi will continue to apply all security measures currently implemented and will comply with all other policies and practices required by ICANN in the Registry Agreement and any relevant Consensus Policy for protecting the privacy and confidential information of registrants and users in the new .goldpoint domain space.
18(b)vi.
The proposed new gTLD will be publicized by a media plan to promote recognition of the new gTLD within the internet community to be a trusted site and as a sign of authenticity.
During the initial stage of the operation of the proposed new gTLD, it is anticipated that internet users will be re-directed to current websites.
However, over time, it is foreseen that communication to the internet community of the existence of the proposed new gTLD and encouragement to utilize the trusted site will contribute towards minimizing malicious abuses and protecting internet users.
18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?
As a restricted gTLD, registration will only be open to internal users (affiliate entities) at this stage and no third parties will be able to register domain names under the .goldpoint domain space. Therefore, it is not anticipated that third party trademark owners will incur costs in relation to the .goldpoint gTLD. The affiliate entities wishing to register domain names must ensure that all the policy requirements for registration are satisfied. Yodobashi will utilize the services of the proposed Trademark Clearinghouse to ensure that domain names registered and the use of those domain names, do not infringe any registered third party intellectual property rights.
No unaffiliated third party will be permitted to register domain names at this stage. It is estimated that time and money spent by consumers who have been targeted by malicious abuse in utilizing services on the internet will reduce over time as a result of the new, trusted .goldpoint gTLD.
18(c)i.
The initial use of the proposed new gTLD will be restricted to internal business use and Yodobashi and affiliate entities are intended to be the registrants under the .goldpoint gTLD. Therefore conflicts between multiple applications are not anticipated to occur.
18(c)ii.
This gTLD will be used for internal purposes only, at this stage, so pricing incentives are not applicable or relevant.
18(c)iii.
This gTLD will be used for internal purposes only, at this stage, so pricing incentives or pricing increases are not applicable or relevant as no additional fees are to be charged.