.mma New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: MMA IARD
String: mma
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-1727-80321
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
MMA IARD
- Address of the principal place of business
14, Bd Marie et Alexandre Oyon
Le Mans 72030
FR
- Phone number
+33243417272
- Fax number
+33243417226
- If applicable, website or URL
http:⁄⁄www.mma.fr
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Mr. Matthieu Credou
6(b). Title
Business Manager
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+33139308378
6(e). Fax Number
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Mr. Stephane Daeschner
7(b). Title
Directeur de la marque et de la communication externe
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+33243416193
7(e). Fax Number
+33243416401
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Societe Anonyme
8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
French Law. Code de Commerce au chapitre V, titre deuxième.
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.
MMA COOPERATIONS
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
Alain Elie Administrateur
Anne Jose Fulgeras Administrateur
Daniele Bouchut Administrateur
Didier Gardinal Administrateur
Jean Claude Seys Administrateur
Philippe Rapicault Administrateur
Remy Verges Administrateur
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Christian Baudon Directeur General Non Administrateur
Christian Delahaigue Vice President Administrateur
Didier Bazzocchi Directeur General Delegue
Herve Frapsauce Directeur General Delegue
Michel Gougnard Directeur General Delegue
Philippe Renault Directeur General Delegue
Sophie Beuvaden Directeur General Delegue
Thierry Derez President
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
MMA COOPERATIONS Not Applicable
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.
mma
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 MMA TLD (and its Registry Back-end Service Provider, AFNIC) ensured that there are no known operational or rendering problems concerning the applied-for gTLD string ʺmmaʺ.
Since the gTLD string ʺmmaʺ is an ASCII-only string, it is safe to assume that, just like with existing ASCII-only TLD strings like .com, .net or .de, no operational or rendering problems may be expected.
In particular, the name consists only of ASCII characters that are already used for existing top level domains; all the characters in the name are even used in the leftmost position of existing TLD labels.
In order to confirm this, MMA IARDʹs Registry Back-end Service Provider has conducted a thorough research regarding whether operational or rendering issues occurred for any existing ASCII-only top level domain in the past.
The results of this research confirmed the assumption.
This means that bi-directional issues (like the ones described at http:⁄⁄stupid.domain.name⁄node⁄683) will not occur, also since the TLD string does not contain digits (which behaviour in bi-directional contexts can lead to rendering issues).
Moreover, the gTLD string exclusively uses characters from a single alphabet, does not contain digits or hyphens, and it contains characters that are not subject to homograph issues, which means there is no potential for confusion with regard to the rendering of other TLD strings.
Finally, MMA IARDʹs Registry Back-end Service Provider set up a testing environment for the MMA TLD using the MMA TLD target Registration System, including an EPP SRS, Whois and DNS servers, in order to conduct a series of tests involving typical use cases (like web site operation and e-mail messaging) for a TLD.
The tests revealed no operational or rendering issues with any popular software (web browsers, e-mail clients) or operating systems.
- (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.
Table of Contents
1 - Mission and purpose of .MMA
1.1 - Marketing opportunities
1.2 - Increased control
1.3 - Engage our community
1.4 - Innovative business model
1.5 - Costs
1.6 - Implications
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1 - Mission and purpose of .MMA
Our mission and vision is to establish .MMA as the most trusted top-level domain for MMA and⁄or MMAʹs community to launch, operate and use trusted destinations for MMAʹs and⁄or MMAʹs communityʹs related information, services and engagements on different levels.
While MMA is willing to seize the opportunities and rewards brought by the operation of .MMA, it is also aware of the responsibilities carried out in this project.
The framework of potential benefits, costs and implications for MMA appears as follows:
MMA, Franceʹs ʺfirst insurance social networkʺ considers the new top level domain .MMA as a new branding, marketing and strategic opportunity in line with its roots as a mutual insurance company, its new positioning and its willingness to use the 21st centuryʹs technology to foster and reinforce the social link between all members of its community. MMA also believes that .MMA is the most efficient path to enhance its brand name, to ensure a secure community for its partners and customers and to accelerate its development in all its markets (personal, professional and company insurance) and in all insurance fields (property, liability, individual and provident insurances, etc.). The top level domain .MMA will help further federate all of MMAʹs community members around the shared values of solidarity, humanism, compassion, caring, efficiency, dynamism and simplicity.
Expected benefits are mainly related to the following:
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1.1 - Marketing opportunities
We see the potential of .MMA to capitalize on our brand market strength. We are the fourth insurer spontaneously known on the French market: unaided awareness is up to thirty three point three per cent (33.3%) within France. We have one of the best brand images among French insurers and expect .MMA to give us a higher profile and greater visibility. Making our brand and our websites even more attractive will increase internet traffic and consequently boost return on our investments. The particular marketing advantage offered by .MMA is the image we will have of a dynamic and innovative insurer, always close to its community.
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1.2 - Increased control
We are aware that .MMA can ensure security benefits as it allows us to set the rules and policies for domain registrations: we will then have an increased control over who is eligible to register for a domain and on the content within our gTLD. Our community will then benefit from a unique, common and specific extension where all our existing websites will converge. Today there are a great number of websites, each corresponding to an agency representing MMA on the French territory and a number of other websites such as our official website (www.MMA.fr), our risk prevention websites (zerotracas.com, zerotracas.tv and zerotracas.mobi) and branding website (journee0tracas.fr).
Control is strengthened by the scenario set out by MMA, where only MMA will have the ownership of all domain names (ʺSingle Registrantʺ). MMA will then grant the use of its domain names to eligible third parties (ʺDomain usersʺ) and thus ensure a better control over and an increased security of its internet ʺislandʺ. We must highlight here that this structure is necessary since our applied for gTLD is related to a Community Brand, where protection of MMA brand is of essence.
A number of practical advantages may also arise through a better control of our investments: for example, .MMA will bring forward our communication and promotional campaigns such as advertising, direct communications and editorial communications.
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1.3 - Engage our community
.MMA will create a rallying point for MMAʹs community where all community members can gather in a secure and convenient way. This will reinforce relationships and encourage the community to unite around MMAʹs activities and values.
MMA has always been eager to involve its community in its activities and engagements. For instance, MMAʹs website today includes a forum where its community can participate to MMAʹs life by asking for information, giving their opinion and sharing their experiences (ʺShare within your communityʺ). The .MMA experience will give MMAʹs community a better place to unite and share on different levels and values. Corporate responsibility is an essential and integral part of MMAʹs operation and we are hoping that our gTLD will allow integrating responsibility into our communityʹs daily life and thus building a truly responsible community. The core of our business is to protect people and we trust that solid relationships within our community are paramount. Reinforcing corporate responsibility is the demonstration of our engagement for our community. We believe our role includes social responsibility where our mission of protecting people on the long term also consists on protecting the environment, supporting the community and helping the society in which we operate. We already committed to different causes (such as MMA foundation for disabled people) and we are counting on the new gTLD to go even further in our commitments toward society and environment.
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1.4 - Innovative business model
Through .MMA, our vision is to build an entirely innovative insurance company not only through possible new product and service offerings but most of all by aligning our efforts, resources and processes to enhance the value propositions we make, capture new market segments and thus foster competition.
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1.5 - Costs
We are aware that by entering the new gTLD program we will engage in a costly long process. Our plan takes into consideration the costs we will incur and thus we have anticipated the methods of getting a return on our investment. Our studies show that the financial benefits we will get from our project on the long term exceed the costs we will incur. We will mainly get our financial benefits from savings on our marketing campaigns and on our referencing costs that our new gTLD will make possible on the long term. Our investment in .MMA will also permit in the long term to significantly decrease our domain name portfolio management fees, not to mention other indirect benefits such as the increase in the number of our clients.
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1.6 - Implications
By obtaining the new gTLD .MMA, we will be able to secure our own space on the internet. For this, we are willing to implement and abide by all necessary measures and policies, such as:
* Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
* Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS)
18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
Table of Contents
1 - Benefit for Domain Users, internet users and others
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1 - Benefit for Domain Users, internet users and others
* As a reminder, please note that our structure is one of a ʺSingle Registrantʺ. To adjust your question to our scenario we think it is necessary to talk about the benefits of our new gTLD to ʺDomain Usersʺ (and not ʺregistrantsʺ). Our goal in term of benefit for Domain Users, internet users and others is first of all achieved by the expansion of our areas of specialty, the improvement of our service level and the enhancement of our reputation. Having our own gTLD will permit to target finite audiences through customized content. A better service level is achieved through a better online accessibility to products and services: .mma will be used as a restructuring tool of the online services. For instance, our new gTLD will allow a better access to content through a better search engine ranking results and through a more intuitive direct navigation. Having control over the top level domain gives us all possible latitude. From another point of view, developing our e-services makes possible the reinforcement of certain specialties in our activities via the capture of new market segments for example. All this, is the first step in developing our groupʹs international dimension on the long term. This expansion will enhance our reputational and notoriety boost and optimize the strategies of our brand.
* We are aware of the mission new gTLDs are given: fostering competition is also part of the vision we have of our new TLD. Winning new markets, widening our specialties through our .mma will increase the number of competitors in certain fields and thus encourage competition. Also, the business model MMA will offer (i.e. federation of its community and engagements it makes to its community) will set an example to other insurance companies in the French market by giving strong proof of its determination to be innovative and responsible on a corporate, social and environmental level. In the same time, in terms of differentiation, MMA will have the particularity of widening its fields of activity via .mma and offering secure and high level services to its customers. For instance, MMA can anticipate the evolution of its customersʹ behaviour by facilitating access to information via relevant key words and facilitating navigation within its websites and its Domain Users websites.
* Our proposed new gTLD will have a number of advantages in terms of user experience. Members of the MMA community, eligible for having the use of their own domain name under .mma extension (Domain Users), will receive a new legitimacy, ensuring and confirming that they share the values and expectations of MMAʹs community. Furthermore, communicating with the public via .mma provides Domain Users with a better visibility and a greater impact on internet users. Those end users will also benefit from the .mma experience: they will have a warranty as to the origin and quality of the services. Unauthorized sales and channel non-compliance will be more difficult within our gTLD since only authorized service providers will be granted the use of a second level domain. Customers will therefore confidently purchase legitimate services.
* Because we will own our gTLD, we can then set the domain registration policy and control who is eligible for a domain and what content is permitted. Thus, we can prevent unwanted activity by domainers and cybersquatters. The scenario through which we offer increased security is one where MMA will appear as the owner of all domain names (ʺSingle Registrantʺ) and consequently grant the use of such domain names to eligible Domain Users. This will secure a strengthened control over domain names and will add an extra measure allowing the protection of trademarks. This measure will form with the implementation of a Delegation Commission (controlling the eligibility requirements and awarding use of domain names to Domain Users), the Sunrise period and the trademark claims service a strong commitment to preserve third parties rights. A registration policy will be adopted, allowing MMA to reserve to itself not only the ownership but also the use of certain domain names i.e. domain names related to MMA trademarks, to geographical names, departments, services and group projects. Our registration policy will include the following usage eligibility requirements: First of all, the asked for domain name should not be one reserved by MMA (both ownership and use). The person or entity requiring the use of the domain name shall be a person or an entity which has or may have a privileged link with MMA (i.e. a social, economic and⁄or partnership relation). The application should be done in support of a project in relation to the activities and⁄or needs of MMA and⁄or MMAʹs community. In any case, the person or entity and project should be compliant with MMAʹs values otherwise MMA reserve the right to refuse the grant of a license to use. A list of documents shall be provided in support of the application such as: identification certificate of the applying person or entity, proof as to their honesty and integrity, proof of an oral or written agreement with MMA, project outline and in case of an applied for trademark, justify the ownership of such trademark.
* MMA is a French Group, we therefore commit to adopt privacy measures upon recommendation of CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Freedoms). Domain Users data will be kept by MMA for internal purposes only.
Finally, we would like to insist on the fact that our benefits may not be achievable without implementing our .mma project. At this point, and with all the changes new gTLDs will bring to the internet, it is mandatory for us to restructure our institutional websites in a pyramidal structure where MMA sits at the peak. Our new gTLD will permit efficient communication campaigns with our community and the general public.