.工行 New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
String: 工行
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-1011-2710
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
- Address of the principal place of business
No. 55 Fuxingmennei Avenue, Xicheng District
Beijing 100140
CN
- Phone number
+86 010 66108608
- Fax number
+86 010 66106139
- If applicable, website or URL
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Ms. qing peng
6(b). Title
business manager
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+86 010 64242299
6(e). Fax Number
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Ms. Xiaoxue Guo
7(b). Title
business manager
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+86 010 82096263
7(e). Fax Number
+86 010 82096262
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Joint Stock Limited Company
8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
Beijing, China
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.
Shanghai_Stock_Exchange;601398
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
Gao Jianhong Non-executive Director
Huan Huiwu Non-executive Director
Jiang Jianqing Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director
Kenneth Patrick Chung Independent Non-executive Director
Leung Kam Chung, Antony Independent Non-executive Director
Li Chunxiang Non-executive Director
Li Jun Non-executive Director
Li Xiaopeng Executive Director and Senior Executive Vice President
Li Xiwen Non-executive Director
Malcolm Christopher McCarthy Independent Non-executive Director
Qian Yingyi Independent Non-executive Director
Wang Lili Executive Director and Senior Executive Vice President
Wei Fusheng Non-executive Director
Wong Kwong Shing, Frank Independent Non-executive Director
Xu Shanda Independent Non-executive Director
Yang Kaisheng Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Executive Director and President
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Hu Hao Board Secretary
Lin Xiaoxuan Chief Information Officer
Liu Lixian Secretary of Party Discipline Committee
Luo Xi Senior Executive Vice President
Wang Xiquan Senior Management and General Manager of Human Resource Department
Wei Guoxiong Chief Risk Officer
Yi Huiman Senior Executive Vice President
Zhang Hongli Senior Executive Vice President
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
Central Huijin Investment Ltd Not Applicable
HKSCC Nominees Limited Not Applicable
Ministry of Finance 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.
工行
14(a). If an IDN, provide the A-label (beginning with "xn--").
xn--estv75g
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.
.工行 is a commonly used and wildly recognized Chinese abbreviation of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). It is an official registered trademark of ICBC.
14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (in English).
Chinese
14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (as referenced by ISO-639-1).
ZH
14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (in English).
Han (Simplified variant)
14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (as referenced by ISO 15924).
501
14(e). If an IDN, list all code points contained in the U-label according to Unicode form.
工: U+5DE5 行：U+884C
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.
The applicable IDN table is developed by the Chinese Domain Name Consortium (CDNC). CDNC is a collaboration among CNNIC, TWNIC, HKNIC and MONIC. CDNC oversees standardizing of all regulations and policies on Chinese IDN registrations, including standardization of the Chinese language tables, variant mapping policies, and registration policies.
Afilias is an invited member of CDNC and coordinates closely to design and execute on the latest advances in deployment of Chinese scripts.
Afilias evaluates IDN tables on 4 categories:
- Conformance to IDNA: Afilias was involved in efforts to evolve the IDNA standards to ensure they are more responsive to technical and social needs, as reflected in RFCs 5890, 5891, 5892, and 5893. Each Unicode character, including variants, that are captured within the IDN table are analyzed against the IDNA protocol to ensure full compliance; examples of incompatibility includes characters that are prohibited in IDNA. Incompatible characters are excluded from the tables.
- Completeness of the Table: Afilias determines whether the IDN table is complete, ensuring that there are no corner cases that may lead to confusion to end-users. In this process, specifically if variants exist, Afilias analyzes each character and its associated variants to ensure that each character produces the same set of variants. If all variant mappings and reverse mappings correlate, the IDN table is considered complete. Any exceptions are raised to CDNC for further evaluation and recommendations.
- Registration and administration policies: In the analysis of supporting Chinese IDNs, Afilias references 2 core RFCs; RFC3743: JET Guidelines for IDN Registration and Administration for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean and RFC4713: Registration and Administration Recommendations for Chinese Domain Names. Afilias also solicited recommendations from John Klensin, who led the development of RFC4713. After this analysis, Afilias determined that there were no outstanding issues regarding the Chinese IDN table.
- Registry policies: Upon successful evaluation of the IDN tables and its registration policies, Afilias considered additional policies to ensure consistency of implementation, as well as to prevent potential abusive behavior to ensure a high quality of service.
These policies include:
- Identifying the maximum allowable Unicode characters for a given domain registration. The maximum length may vary for different scripts and is enforced to ensure the A-label does not exceed the maximum label length. Afilias solicits feedback CDNC to ensure the limitation does not impact the registrar, registrant or user experience.
- Identifying the maximum allowable variants permitted per IDN registration. For Chinese IDNs, there are cases which may generate millions of variants. The maximum allowable variants prevent malicious use of IDN registrations that may impact the quality of the registry service.
15(c). List any variant strings to the applied-for gTLD string according to the relevant IDN tables.
Thereʹs no known variant for ʺ工ʺ (U+5DE5) . Thereʹs one known variant for ʺ行ʺ (U+884C), which is U+FA08.
- 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.
Afilias has reviewed and tested the TLD in the ICANN IDN wiki and determined that no additional operational, rendering or other general usability issues exist. Also, as no additional issues were found as it relates to IDN Tables, variant management, and string confusability against existing TLD⁄ISO3166⁄IDN-ccTLDs, we have established that this TLD will be a trusted and secure extension for Internet addresses.
Yet, given the method used in developing and implementing IDNs, some known operational, usability and rendering problems are to be expected. The three issues include:
- Application-level implementation: End-users expect to see the U-label version of the IDN; however this is not always the case. Due to security problems discovered in early IDN implementations, applications insert protection mechanisms for users typing or clicking on IDN links. As such, sometimes the A-label is displayed in the browser address-bars and some online forms will not accept U-label strings.
From an operational perspective, the IDN will resolve and e.g. the webpage for the domain will be displayed for the user, making the IDNs functional as web-addresses.
It is generally agreed that display of the U-label is the best possible result. To reach that result, Afilias will expand on existing relationships with application developers to ensure least possible impact for the TLD launch. Afilias will continue working with all major browser developers to streamline and assist in user-friendly IDN implementation and support ICANN’s work on Universal TLD Acceptance.
- Email usage issue: Afilias has been a pioneer in implementing support for IDN TLDs in email software. Afilias staff is chair of the Email Address Internationalization (EAI) working group and has been leading standardization efforts since 2006. The protocol for internationalized email is in its last stages of development; recently, core components have been standardized such as RFCs 6530, 6531, 6532, and 6533. As a result, not all email software providers have implemented support for IDN TLDs at this stage. Afilias will continue to conduct registrar training programs and supply information to facilitate in their outreach, marketing, and informational material to registrants.
- Jumping the digit issue: A known rendering issue with IDN TLDs is referred to as the jumping digit. This is a problem that occurs in certain situations where right-to-left directional scripts are used in conjunction with a digit placed in a string before the separator (dot) will at resolution “jump” to the other side of the separator. As a result, the resolving domain name is a completely different domain name than originally intended.
No such issue will take place with domains under this TLD as no right-to-left scripts are supported.
- (OPTIONAL) Provide a representation of the label according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/ipa/).
Gong Hang
Mission/Purpose
18(a). Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.
The intention of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ʺICBCʺ) in filing this application is to provide a trusted, hierarchical and intuitive namespace for businesses and consumers that use ICBC’s broad range of financial products and services. In addition to this IDN application for the .工行 string, ICBC will also be filing an ASCII application for the string (.工行) to provide a unified branding strategy for a global financial institution.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
工行 (ICBC) is a trademark of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (SEHK: 1398; , SSE: 601398). (simplified Chinese: 中国工商银行; traditional Chinese: 中國工商銀行; pinyin: Zhōngguó Gōngshāng Yínháng, more commonly known as 工行 Gōngháng). ICBC was incorporated in the Peopleʹs Republic of China on January 1, 1984 and is now one of the largest commercial banks in China, as well as around the world, with total assets in excess of RMB 15,476 billion, ICBC had 408,859 employees under payroll providing a wide range of financial products and services to 4.11 million corporate clients and 282 million individual customers through 16,648 outlets across China and 239 overseas subsidiaries at the end of 2011.ICBC was incorporated in the Peopleʹs Republic of China on January 1, 1984 and is now one of the largest commercial banks in China, as well as around the world, with total assets in excess of RMB 15,127 billion at the end of Q3 2011. At the end of 2010, ICBC had 397,339 employees under payroll providing a wide range of financial products and services to 4.12 million corporate clients and 259 million individual customers through 16,227 outlets across China and 203 overseas subsidiaries.
The following trademark portfolio is the inseparable part of ICBC’s businesses. It represents the past and on-going effort made by ICBC on intellectual property asset protection relating to the “ICBC” and “工行” brand.
“ICBC” and “工行” Trademark Information
（1） Greater China trademark registrations：
“工行” trademark
China:4138614,4138613,4138612,4138611,4138610,4138609,4138608,4138607,4138606,4138605,4138474,4138473,4138472,4138471,4138470,4138469,4138468,4138467,4138466,4138465,4138484,4138483,4138482,4138481,4138480,4138479,4138478,4138477,4138476,4138475,4138494,4138493,4138492,
4138491,4138490,4138489,4138488,4138487,4138486,4138485,4138504,4138503,4138502,4138501,4138500
Hong Kong: 300804609
Macau: N⁄026615
“ICBC” trademark
China:4140958,4140957,4140959,4140960,4140961,6766427,4140963,4140964,4140965,
4140966,4139917,4139918,4139919,4139920,4139921,4139922,4139923,4139924,
4139925,4139926,4139927,4139928,4139929,4139930,4139931,4139932,4139933,
4139934,4139935,4139936,4139944,4139946,4139945,6766426,6766424,6766423,
6766422,6766421,6766420,4140967,4140968,4140969,4140970,4140971,1149829,
Macao: N⁄013317 Hong Kong :1997B06436
（2）”ICBC” International in following countries:
“工行” trademark
Indonesia:2007002885
Malaysia:2007⁄01718
Singapore:T1015035B
Vietnam:4-2010-24059
France:103781984
“ICBC” trademark
Indonesia: IDM000050742
Korea :49297
Kazakhstan，Russia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain, Egypt：826388
Singapore: T97⁄08659G
United Arab emirates:101950
Kuwait:89146
Peru:00063863
India:1938584
Laos:22417
Qatar:56377
Burma:4⁄3382⁄2011
Brazil,:902445260
Thailand:765401
South Africa :2010⁄05937
Vietnam:4-2010-24056
France: 103781954
Cambodia: KH⁄40137⁄11
Argentina:3075590
Mexico: 1148826
Chile:939714
Pakistan:294516
Mongolia, Hungary, the Czech republic, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia： 1081128
Potential Business Models
ICBC is still analyzing potential use case options on the type of domain names that will be permitted to be registered and by whom. In undertaking this research, ICBC is leveraging its experience as global financial institution to ensure that its corporate and individuals clients are provided information and services in a safe and trusted environment. The current best thinking involves a three stage roll-out over a seven year period of time.
Stage One
The primary use of the .工行 gTLD will initially be primarily defensive in nature, with ICBC registering a limited number of second level domain names. This initial use will provide ICBC IT and security personal the ability to run a number of tests to ensure seamless and secure access to the ICBC website, and interoperability with various software and web-based applications. This will likely take one year, especially considering that ICBC will be seeking to integrate both an ASCII and IDN application.
Stage Two
Once appropriate security and stability issues have been satisfactorily addressed, ICBC will likely begin allocating domain name for internal corporate use. This will likely involve allocating second level domain names corresponding to individual branches and potentially financial products and services offered by ICBC. This phased roll-out will likely take place during years two thru three, but is subject to change depending upon a range of external factors. During this same period of time ICBC will evaluate potential strategies to migrate all traffic away from the current patch work network of second level domains registered in various TLDs, to ICBC’s ASCII and IDN gTLDs.
Stage Three
ICBC is still evaluating the potential to allow future registration of domain name to individuals and organizations outside of ICBC, e.g. select VIPS and SMEs. However, ICBC will likely not make any such determination until after the first three years of operation, and the ability of ICBC to survey how other global financial institutions that might apply for a gTLD are using it in the broader commercial marketplace. This proposed phased roll-out provides heighted guarantees that the identity and contact information of each .工行 domain name registrant will be known thus minimizing the start-up and operational costs of ICBC.
How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
ICBC believes that a proposed .工行 gTLD has the potential to offer the following benefits to Internet users and consumers:
- A trusted online marketplace for ICBC corporate and individual customers seeking to access ICBC’s financial goods and services online;
- Provide linguistic-friendly and memorable domain names that will facilitate the ease by which the Chinese-speaking consumers can locate information online;
Currently ICBC operates a number of corporate websites using a combination of second-level and top-level domain names. A representative sampling of regional ICBC websites and their corresponding domain names are listed below. However, for a full listing of all ICBC global websites and corresponding domain names please refer to the following URL on the ICBC main website, see http:⁄⁄www.icbc-ltd.com⁄ICBCLtd⁄About%20Us⁄Global%20Websites⁄
ICBC Canada- http:⁄⁄www.icbk.ca⁄
ICBC New York - http:⁄⁄www.icbkus.com⁄
ICBC Madrid – http:⁄⁄www.icbc.com.es
ICBC Paris - http:⁄⁄www.icbcparis.fr⁄
ICBC London - http:⁄⁄www.icbclondon.com⁄
ICBC Netherland -http:⁄⁄www.icbc.co.nl⁄
ICBC Doha - http:⁄⁄www.icbc.com.qa⁄
ICBC Middle East -http:⁄⁄www.icbcme.ae⁄
ICBC believes that a .工行 gTLD can provide an online single source identifying function for its current and future Chinese-speaking customers around the global, instead of the current mix-and-max approach that ICBC is currently forced to resort to as it expands into different markets around the world.
18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation?
The primary mission and purpose of the .工行 gTLD is to provide a trusted, hierarchical, and intuitive online marketplace for customers of ICBC’s financial products and services. As technologies for delivering financial services evolve, ICBC continues to evaluate opportunities to distribute its products and services to its current and future clients. ICBC believes that a .工行 gTLD has the potential to provide a virtual platform to offer interactive features to deepen and broaden its relationship with existing and future Chinese-speaking customers.
With regard to reputation, ICBC is driven by the following core corporate values:
ICBC’s Mission: Excellent for You
- Excellent service to clients
- Maximum return to shareholders
- Real success for our people
- Great contribution to society
ICBC’s Vision:
- A global leading bank with the best profitability, performance and prestige
ICBC’s Values: Integrity Leads to Prosperity
- Integrity, Humanity, Prudence, Innovation and Excellence
See http:⁄⁄www.icbc-ltd.com⁄ICBCLtd⁄About%20Us⁄Corporate%20Culture⁄
What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?
As a brand gTLD, the primary driving factors of ICBC are providing a safe and secure online marketplace for its corporate and individuals customers. The success of the TLD will not be measured by the number of domain name registered. Instead it will be measured by the level of consumer recognition and trust that is placed place in .工行 gTLD. Using this benchmark, ICBC strives to build consumer recognition and trust that rise to the level of that found in the .EDU and .中国 domain names.
As noted above, ICBC is a leading global financial institution that is increasing relying upon emerging technologies to deliver financial services to its consumers both domestically and abroad. A .工行 gTLD has the potential to serve as a cornerstone of this online strategy, if potential consumer benefits that ICANN experts have touted become a reality. However, any broader adoption of this strategic initiative will only be undertaken after ICBC has confidence that the concerns of various government and law enforcement regarding ICANN’s new gTLD process are properly addressed to its satisfaction. This evaluation is specifically reference in Stage Two in Section 18a.
While many customers of financial institutions are subject to a never ending barrage of spam and phishing activities, .工行 from day one will be a trusted source of goods and services for consumer looking for information regarding ICBC’s financial products and services.
What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
ICBC believes that the .工行 gTLD will provide a single trusted eco-system experience for the hundreds of millions of Chinese-speaking consumers both domestically and internationally that use its financial products and services. In addition to providing consumers with short, memorable, and intuitive domain names to help customer navigate the ICBC website, ICBC envisions best in class safeguards to minimize any potential phishing, pharming, or spam that have plagued the customers of other financial institutions.
As identified in Section 18a, ICBC’s mid-term goal (Stage Two) is to eventually begin migrating traffic from its existing conglomeration of domain names registered across multiple TLDs to a single online source under the .ICBC ⁄ .工行(ASCII and IDN) gTLDs. This will provide customers with a single online trusted source for ICBC financial products and services. This will also provide increase confidence and predictability for ICBC customers and partners as ICBC continues to expand into other markets around the world as a leading global financial institution.
Provide a complete description of the applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.
As documented in Section 18a, during the first three years of operation, ICBC is intending to restrict registration and use of domain names with the gTLD to limited number of CIU. Because of this condition precedent, any registration and use requirements are more appropriately vested in these corporate⁄subsidiary agreements and not in a domain name registration agreement. 工行 mark is a valuable brand whose protection is of paramount important, any registration and use (e.g. trademark quality control provisions) must vest in these other agreements.
Aside from these concerns, ICBC will incorporate all required ICANN consensus policies and other legal⁄policy requirements imposed on new gTLD applicants into the terms and conditions of the domain name registration agreement. Based on ICANN Registry Agreement, ICBC sets and enforces .工行 registration policies. General Registry Policies will be developed and made available prior to launch of TLD. Such policy decisions, based on ICANN Registry Agreement and relevant industry best practices, include but are not limited to:
- Registration eligibility requirements
- Which registrars may become accredited and sell domains
- Wholesale prices offered to registrars
- Reserved names
- Phased allocation (Sunrise, Landush, etc.) of the domain space at the second and third levels
- Dispute policies
- Technical policies, including SRS security and access.
This .工行 General Registry Policies pertain techno-operational policies in the following areas:
- Domain Registrations (Domain Objects) and the .工行 Zone File
- Domain Contacts (Contact Objects) and WHOIS Service
- Dispute Resolution Policies
- Obligations of Registered Name Holders
The General Registry Policies provides the framework for the general operations of the .工行 Registry. Other policies, such as the .工行 Eligibility, Reserved Name Policies, Sunrise Policies and other relevant policies are described separately in other documents published at the .工行 TLD registry Websites. Pricing and technical specifications are published for Accredited Registrars only and provided separately.
The ICBC TLD registry is committed to maintaining the integrity of the data within the .工行 Registry and to implement policies that deter infringements. The .工行 Registry adopts the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) for facilitating the resolution of disputes over the registration and use of a second-level domain name registered under the .工行 Registry. All domain name registrations must submit to the mandatory proceedings commenced under UDRP, which is available for review at http:⁄⁄www.icann.org⁄dndr⁄udrp⁄policy.htm. Complaints under the UDRP should be submitted to an approved dispute-resolution service provider listed at http:⁄⁄www.icann.org⁄dndr⁄udrp⁄approved-providers.htm.
Beyond the UDRP, all domain registrations must also submit to proceedings commenced under formally adopted dispute policies as set forth by ICBC from time to time and published on the .工行 TLD registry Website(s). Such dispute policies will take effect at the time they are announced on the .工行 TLD registry Website(s), with or without prior notice to registrars or registrants.
Such dispute policies may include for example, but not limited to, expedited processes for suspension of a domain name by claims sought by intellectual property right holders (URS), Internet engineering and security experts or other competent claimants in the purpose of upholding the stability, security and integrity of the .工行 Registry. Dispute policies may also include for example challenge processes adopted by the .工行 Registry for special programs when occurred.
Moreover, based upon ICBC’s commitment and established track record in providing a safe eco-system for businesses and individuals, ICBC intends to provide best in class safeguards that will evolve over time.
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
s a global financial company, ICBC recognizes first hand that this is an evolving area of law in which there is no international standard. However, due to fact that every domain name will initially be registered to ICBC or a subsidiary in Stages One and Two (see Section 18a), ICBC has a vested interested to make sure that accurate and current domain name information is readily available in connection with each .工行 domain name.
Because the proposed business model set forth in Section 18a envisions a potential expanded use of .工行 domain names to non-corporate registrants, ICBC has a vested interested to make sure that accurate and current domain name information is readily available in connection with each domain name. If individuals and or companies are eventually permitted to register domain names in the .工行gTLD, ICBC will re-evaluate its policies at that time to ensure that its policies are in compliance with best-in-class policies at that time.
Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.
As noted above ICBC’s driving factor in securing a .工行 gTLD in ICANN’s first round is primarily defensive in nature, and while ICBC sees the potential for this gTLD to serve as a cornerstone for its future online strategic initiative, there are a number of unanswered questions concerning consumer recognition, security and stability, and broader industry adoption of new gTLDs within the marketplace that must be satisfactorily answered first. Once these concerns have been answered to ICBC’s satisfaction, ICBC is committed to making prominent use of the .ICBC⁄.工行 (ASCII and IDN) gTLDs in printed and online material as well as across its over 16,648 outlets that serve over 4.11 million corporate clients and 282 million individual customers in 2011. As leading global financial company, ICBC currently spends over RMB 42.5 million annually in network marketing and advertising.
18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?
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)?
ICBC believes the proposed operating rules to initially limit registration to ICBC and its subsidiaries in Stages One and Two (see Section 18a) will provide a trusted online environment for consumers of ICBC’s financial products and services. Therefore there is no need for other trademark and brand owners to defensive register in the gTLD. This verified eco-system also provides consumers with a single trusted source for ICBC with a substantially lower risk of fraud and⁄or scams for its customers. ICBC also believes that the safeguards set forth in the Applicant Guidebook and the proposed business modeled outlined in Section 18a will minimize and potential negative social costs.
What other steps will you take to minimize negative consequences⁄costs imposed upon consumers?
ICBC believes that the proposed operation of the .工行 gTLD as set forth in this application has no known negative consequences or cost implications on consumers. To the contrary, the proposed operation of this registry will likely lead to direct and quantifiable benefits to consumers. ICBC believes that by following the core corporate values as identified in Section 18b it will be able provide real value to consumer, and minimize any potential negative consequences⁄costs.
How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first-serve basis?
ICBC does not envision multiple applicants for the same domain name, as domain names will initially only be allocated to ICBC and its subsidiaries. If and when ICBC decides to permit third party registrations within the gTLD during Stage Three (See 18a), ICBC will evaluate and decide upon a best in class allocation mechanism consistent with its strategic corporate interests.
Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
ICBC does not envision any pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts because these marketing⁄commercial initiatives are inconsistent with the mission and purpose of the .工行 gTLD as a trusted online source identifier. Moreover, it is the current best thinking of ICBC that .工行 domain name registrations will be provided to ICBC subsidiaries at no-cost.
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.
ICBC is committed to providing the domain name registration periods set forth in the registry agreement. However, as noted above as .brand gTLD the registration and use of the domain name is conditioned upon the registrant being a subsidiary of ICBC. Therefore providing contractual commitments in a domain name registrant agreement regarding the magnitude of price escalations does not seem relevant or appropriate. Additionally, as noted above, the current best thinking of ICBC that .工行 domain name registrations will be provided to ICBC subsidiaries at no-cost.