.CARTIER New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: Richemont DNS Inc.
Application Downloaded On: 23 Jan 2014
String: CARTIER
Application ID: 1-1253-32739
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
Richemont DNS Inc.
- Address of the principal place of business
Hinterbergstrasse 22 Steinhausen - 6312 CH
- Phone number
+41 41 727 2303
- Fax number
+41 41 727 2356
- If applicable, website or URL
http://www.richemont.com
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Lorna Gradden
6(b). Title
Operation Director
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+44 207 421 8299
6(e). Fax Number
+44 870 011 8187
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Guillaume Pahud
7(b). Title
Director of Digital Projects, Richemont International SA
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+41 227 213 193
7(e). Fax Number
+41 227 213 486
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Corporation incorporated in Switzerland
8(b). State the specific national or other jurisdiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
Switzerland
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.
Richemont DNS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Richemont Holdings AG
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
Cedric Bossert DIRECTOR
FREDERICK WILLEM MOSTERT DIRECTOR
Ian Ross DIRECTOR
Sheila Henderson DIRECTOR
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
Name
Position
Richemont Holdings AG 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.
CARTIER
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.
As the applied-for gTLD string is not an IDN and is consistent with the requirements of the Applicant Guidebook Section 2.2.1.3.2 (String Requirements), Richemont DNS does not believe there are any known operational or rendering problems concerning the string. This answer is based upon consultation with Richemont DNSʹs selected back-end provider, Neustar, which has successfully launched a number of new gTLDs over the last decade. In reaching this determination, Neustar analyzed the following data:
- ICANN’s Security Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) entitled Alternative TLD Name Systems and Roots: Conflict, Control and Consequences (SAC009);
- IAB - RFC3696 “Application Techniques for Checking and Transformation of Names”
- Known software issues which Neustar has encountered during the last decade launching new gTLDs;
- Character type and length;
- ICANN supplemental notes to Question 16; and
- ICANN’s presentation during its Costa Rica regional meeting on TLD Universal Acceptance.
- 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.
Describe the Mission and Purpose of your gTLD
The content of this Answer to Question 18 set forth below which describes the plans for Richemont DNS’s registry constitutes the “purpose” of the registry as that term is used in paragraph 1.b. of Specification 9 of the Draft New gTLD Registry Agreement found in Module 5 of the Richemont DNS Guidebook dated January 11, 2012 (“the Purpose”). Richemont DNS will publish its Charter and its policies, guidelines, and other supporting documentation related to the implementation of the registry consistent with the Purpose, all prior to launch. All second level domain names registered by Richemont DNS on behalf of itself or an affiliate will be registered through an ICANN-accredited registrar and will be consistent with the Purpose. All registrants of second level domain names will be affiliates of Richemont DNS or will be parties operating under a written trademark license specifically allowing the registration of a second level domain name within this registry (the “Required License”).
Cartier International SA Geneve (“Cartier”) is a French luxury jeweller and watch manufacturer originally founded in 1847 in Paris, France, by the Cartier family who retained ownership until 1964. For more than 150 years, it has served celebrities and the leading royal families of the world among others and many of its historic pieces are famous. In 1904, it made one of the first functional wristwatches, the ‘Santos’.
Its ultimate parent company is Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A. (“CFR”), a Swiss luxury goods holding company, which was created in 1988. This application is being made by Richemont DNS Inc. (“Richemont DNS”), one of CFR’s indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. The group of companies whose ultimate parent company is CFR are referred to herein collectively as “Richemont”.
Richemont’s luxury businesses operate globally. The largest market is Asia-Pacific, which generates more than 40 per cent of sales. We believe the diversity of our geographical operations, with a lack of dependency on any one market, represents a long-term competitive advantage. Cartier, through its various divisions, operates through more than 1400 points of sale for watches and accessories in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Richemont directly employs more than 20,000 people worldwide and has employees based in all major regions of the world. Two-thirds of Richemont’s employees are based in Europe, but Asia-Pacific and the Americas are also significant and growing areas of employment. The majority of Richemont’s employees in Europe are based in Switzerland, France, and Germany, where the manufacture of luxury goods is concentrated. Asia and the Far East are growing markets. In all regions, employees are engaged in retail, distribution, after sales service and⁄or administrative functions.
Richemont ‘A’ shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. Richemont’s South African Depository Receipts are listed in Johannesburg, Richemont’s secondary listing. Richemont is the eighth largest company in the Swiss Market Index and, as of 2007, Richemont was the third-largest luxury goods company in the world by annual revenues. In the 2010⁄2011 financial year, Richemont sales were €6.892 billion, a rise of 33% on the previous year (at actual exchange rates) and our operating profit rose by 63% to €1.355 billion.
Under the Richemont brands, investments in research, development and innovation extend to watch movements, new product designs and marketing-related activities. The annual accounting charge for research and development costs is some €20 million. Cartier is a registered trademark in jurisdictions throughout the world. Richemont DNS intends to operate the .Cartier registry under a suitable license from Cartier and on Cartier’s behalf.
The .Cartier registry will be a standard, i.e. not a community-based, restricted registry. Its main purpose will be:
- To protect Cartier’s consumer base from confusion through the safeguarding of intellectual property and ensure that the integrity of its brand is enhanced at the highest possible level in the domain name system. As mentioned above, Cartier has a portfolio of registered intellectual property rights around the world and securing the term, .Cartier, will enable Cartier to harmonise its current brand protection policies and to mitigate counterfeiting, a scourge of the luxury goods industry, for government and consumers alike;
- To provide a platform for the delivery of secure, consolidated digital material for both industry professionals and consumers;
- To ensure Cartier remains at the forefront of innovation by keeping pace with internet technology developments; and
- To provide a single, trusted source of information for the press and governments regarding Cartier branded goods.
The success of the .Cartier registry will be determined by the enhancement in the equity of the Cartier brand and in terms of the security and stability it brings to our communications, not by the number of second level domain names that are registered.
18B. How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, internet users and others?
The registry will be stringently controlled by authorised Richemont DNS personnel on behalf of the Richemont company, Cartier, but it is predicted that it will also benefit the following stakeholders, all in the global public interest:
- Our customers: whether they are industry professionals or consumers, a new .Cartier registry will benefit them by becoming a location for authentic, accessible information about the company and its collections.
- Our employees: a new gTLD will reinforce our brand worldwide and provide a more secure communication channel.
- Our authorized dealers: a new gTLD will provide our authorized dealer network with a space that sets them apart from counterfeiters and provides them with the direct relation to Cartier in the minds of the public.
- Our investors seeking accurate information regarding Cartier’s goods and services.
- Law enforcement seeking information about genuine products.
What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of speciality, service levels
reputation?
At Richemont, we pride ourselves on the integrity of our group brands and the high quality of our luxury goods. This will be reflected in the treatment of the new gTLD on Cartier’s behalf. The goal is to position Richemont DNS, on behalf of Cartier, to exploit this latest internet advance in order to further enhance the CARTIER brand and reputation. We hope that this registry will be regarded by Cartier customers, as well as by the investors who follow our companies, as the authentic location for accurate information on Cartier’s collections and products.
What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space in terms of competition, differentiation or innovation?
Richemont DNS is eager to operate a registry with shorter domain names that are universally applicable across the globe. We feel it offers clarity, simplicity and will enable our customers to place their trust in our registry while also providing potential for enhanced communication with them and with staff.
Richemont DNS looks forward to utilising the new registry in conjunction with Cartier’s current domains and are particularly keen to market under the term .Cartier in the future if the new gTLD process is a success. This new gTLD also enables brands to potentially leave behind complex naming hierarchies inherent in country code extensions.
What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
Cartier hopes that its customers and others who visit to communicate with Cartier know they are in a trusted and authentic destination once they arrive at the new gTLD. We want them to be confident that they will receive accurate information and that their sensitive personal details will be protected in accordance with applicable laws as interpreted and applied.
Provide a complete description of the Richemont DNS’s intended registration policies in support of the goals above
Richemont DNS will be the operator of the .Cartier registry and is the Richemont DNS entity in the ICANN process. The Richemont DNS Domain Name Management team will be responsible for the development, maintenance and enforcement of the Richemont DNS Domain Management Policy. This policy will define the rules associated with eligibility and domain name allocation, will set out the license terms governing the use of a .Cartier domain name and will describe the dispute resolution policies for the Cartier gTLD. This policy is intended to be updated and revised regularly to reflect Cartier’s commercial and strategic interests and, where appropriate, ICANN consensus policies as they develop.
Registration of a .Cartier domain name will be undertaken in four steps: Eligibility Confirmation, Naming Convention Check, Acceptable Use Review, and finally Registration. All domains in the .Cartier registry will remain the property of Richemont.
Each applied for A-label character string must conform to the .Cartier rules of eligibility. Each .Cartier name must:
- Be at least 1 character and no more than 63 characters long
- Not contain a hyphen on the 3rd and 4th position (except IDNs)
- Contain only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens or a combination of these
- Start and end with an alphanumeric character, not a hyphen
- Not match any character strings reserved by ICANN
- Not match any protected country names or geographical terms
Internationalized domain names (IDN) may be supported in the .Cartier registry at the second level.
Users of .Cartier names must utilise their domains solely for purposes that enhance Cartier’s strategic or commercial interests. .Cartier domains may not be used in a way which knowingly infringes any third party intellectual property rights or gives rise to moral or public order questions.
Users of .Cartier names may not delegate or assign any rights in .Cartier domains to external organizations, institutions, or individuals.
All .Cartier domains will carry accurate and up to date registration records.
The Richemont DNS Domain Name Management Team may revoke a .Cartier domain name at any time in line with Richemont’s corporate and strategic interests. Cancellation of any Required License will result in revocation of any second level domain name that was registered under any such Required License.
The .Cartier registry will be ICANN compliant: the registry will interface with the Trademark Clearinghouse, operate a Sunrise and IP Claims and all registrants must comply with the UDRP and the URS and other relevant consensus policies.
Will your proposed gTLD impose any measures for protecting the privacy of confidential information of registrants or users?
As a global luxury goods brand with a high profile, we take our responsibility to protect the confidential information of customers and staff very seriously.
The .Cartier registry will continue our policy of protecting confidential information. Richemont DNS will comply with the Personal Data obligations of the ICANN Registry Agreement and all applicable data protection laws as interpreted and applied. As required, approved representatives will be registered as data handlers and trained to ensure compliance with ICANN’s requirements.
We will:
- Document policies and procedures including an escalation process
- Use appropriate levels of encryption and physical security
- Train key staff and ensure responsibilities are understood and documented in rules of conduct
- Limit access to records only to those employees or service providers who need access for the performance of their job duties
- Test procedures
- Monitor best practice and ICANN’s mandated and recommended policies
- Audit the work of providers including the Escrow provider and checking data.
Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits?
We will produce and publish guidelines for internal use. These are intended to provide clarity on who can apply for a .Cartier second level domain and how any such second level domain name is to be used. This is a standard registry closed to third parties so these guidelines should ensure that .Cartier domains are used in accordance with Cartier’s objectives by authorised Richemont DNS representatives. For example, it will be necessary to create a home page for the registry using straightforward messaging for the benefit of internal users so that our policies and the rules of eligibility are clearly understood.
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?
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?
As previously stated, the .Cartier registry will be a standard registry closed to third parties for use only by pre-validated representatives of Cartier having the Required License or appropriate affiliates. Social costs and negative consequences on customers are therefore likely to be minimised and possibly even eliminated. It is not intended at this time that .Cartier domains will be made available to anyone beyond Richemont, Richemont DNS or Cartier. It could be that we will use .Cartier domains to promote recognition of Cartier’s affiliated network of authorized dealers in time but again Richemont DNS will be in control. As discussed in greater detail above, one major goal of the .Cartier registry is the protection of consumers from confusion. In a sense, the .Cartier registry is itself a tool to eliminate or minimize that particular social cost. Further, since consumers may, in time, come to view .Cartier as the single trusted source for information regarding CARTIER goods and services, eventually cybersquatting involving the CARTIER brand in open TLDs, such as .com, may become reduced or eliminated due to the lack of traffic that such infringing domain names will be able to attract. By reducing the need to access arbitration services, the courts, and compliance personnel within registrars, it is hoped that Richemont will be further minimizing social costs through the introduction of the .Cartier gTLD.
- How will multiple applications for a particular domain be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first come first served basis?
We have no plans to sell .Cartier domains. We are applying to protect and enhance Cartier’s position as a leading jewelry and watchmaking brand of the highest quality. There will be no market in .Cartier domains. Therefore we will not receive multiple applications for a particular domain and so there will be no need for any resolution. We will control eligibility very strictly.
- Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g. advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
We currently plan to register all .Cartier domain names to Richemont, Richemont DNS and Cartier. Although we anticipate that our affiliated network of authorized dealers will benefit from the .Cartier registry in terms of heightened profile, we do not see the need to devise cost benefits for registrants because we will be the registrant.
- 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 10 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?
While we will comply with all ICANN consensus policies, the term of registration is the choice of the registrant of a second level domain name, not the choice of a registrar. The Richemont DNS Domain Name Management Team, as registrant, will set the period of registration for .Cartier domains. We are applying for .Cartier to support Cartier’s strategic goals and to protect Cartier’s IP, not to generate revenues from selling domains. Therefore there will be no need to make contractual commitments, nor to consider issues around pricing including price escalation, though we will comply with the provisions of Section 2.10 of the Registry Agreement.
Before launching this TLD, Richemont DNS will develop and publish its Charter, policies and guidelines, setting out full details of how the registry will implement its vision and Purpose as set out in this answer. Richemont DNS, on behalf of Cartier, may adapt its policies and proposed use of the gTLD, in a manner consistent with the Purpose, to reflect changes in its business and the adoption of new gTLDs by the community.