.erni New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: ERNI Group Holding AG
String: erni
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-949-56474
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
ERNI Group Holding AG
- Address of the principal place of business
Bahnhofstrasse 4
Baar 6340
CH
- Phone number
+41 41 227 35 00
- Fax number
+41 41 227 35 10
- If applicable, website or URL
http:⁄⁄www.erni.ch
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Mr. Tobias Ackermann
6(b). Title
Head of Marketing
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+41 41 227 35 00
6(e). Fax Number
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Daniel Liechti
7(b). Title
CEO
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+41 41 227 35 00
7(e). Fax Number
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Aktiengesellschaft (Ltd.)
8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
Switzerland, Canton of Zug
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
Andreas Gisler Member of the board of directors
Daniel Erni President of the board of directors
Jürg Wehrli Member of the board of directors
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Daniel Erni CEO
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
Daniel Erni CEO
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.
erni
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 .erni Registry (and CORE Internet Council of Registrars as its technical provider) ensured that there are no known operational or rendering problems concerning the applied-for gTLD string ʺerniʺ.
Since the gTLD string ʺerniʺ 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, CORE Internet Council of Registrars 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.
Since the registry does not support right-to-left scripts on the second level, bi-directional issues (like the ones described at http:⁄⁄stupid.domain.name⁄node⁄683) will not occur.
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, CORE Internet Council of Registrars set up a testing environment for the .erni TLD using the CORE 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.
The .erni TLD is applied for by ERNI GROUP HOLDING AG (ERNI), an international consultancy company for innovation, process and technology, for the exclusive use of the ERNI and its Affiliates.
ERNI supports successful companies in industry and service sector in improving their processes and technologies. ERNI also supports its clients in improving the added value of their services and products and in increasing the value of their enterprise. In short, we help to optimise their competitiveness.
By informatively improving processes and technologies, ERNI increases the maturity of the technology and business organisation. In this way, the company helps its clients to use their resources more efficiently, and shows how to reduce the complexity of project, while increasing speed and optimising cross-organisational measures.
Our clients value our competence, which is based on profound expertise and long-term experience in their industries.
ERNI’s core competence consists of using proven procedures and methods, in professionally supporting the client’s demanding assignments. The group combines fine-tuned services with its experience, in providing a pragmatic implementation. It focuses on different sectors of industry. ERNI takes responsibility for the engineering, and they combine it with the advantages of its consulting services. ERNI is familiar with different working processes and are experts in the used technologies. ERNI uses a smart mix of engineers and economists in their client projects, and this guarantees a decisive added value.
The group’s employees understand people and know how to motivate them. They use common sense and empathy to skilfully help in solving difficult project situations. Their methodical and structured manner of working does not stand in the way of ʹquick winsʹ and a speedy progress of the project, and their analysis, perception, description, improvement of the processes and implementation of a durable introduction of pioneering technologies is based equally on technical and economic factors.
The goals of the .erni TLD are:
- To facilitate digital communications between the Company, its providers, investors and stakeholders, institutions, clients and employees,
- To strengthen the image of ERNI in the on-line world,
- To unify the brand in the digital world,
- To facilitate access to ERNI’s information for users,
- To improve ERNI’s customer security, trust and loyalty,
- To control ERNIs Internet presence,
- New marketing opportunities.
- New business opportunities,
- Enhance brand recognition,
- To increase the value of ERNI, and hence, of its digital identity.
This is to be achieved by:
- Creating a platform between prospects, clients, partnerships, stakeholders, investors and employees,
- Creating an integrated virtual and physical service channel,
- Creating homogenized websites with all the company’s services.
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?
Specialty
The proposed TLD will also reinforce the company’s strategic positioning by offering high-end customized online services branded under its own TLD, which will leverage the brand equity and differentiate the entity online from its targeted competitors.
The .erni TLD will prove the company’s commitment, integrity, professionalism and teamwork as well as will enhance the trust of its customers, employees, shareholders, investors and society based on the highest quality services that will be provided by its different professional web sites comprised under its own Top Level Domain.
Service levels
Protecting the brand and having exclusive control of what can be done is a top priority for ERNI. It will help the group in controlling the brand presence online and will help the company to protect its trademark as well as the company reputation and will limit security risks, posed by scams based on counterfeit identities in the second level domain name registrations under any other existing TLD, that may be registered due to their possible similarities with ERNI that can be purchased and put to fraudulent use, tarnishing the brand’s reputation.
Reputation
Unquestionably, the .erni Top Level Domain will strengthen the brand and will enhance its recognition internationally, a fact that will naturally increase the value of the group as a result.
ERNI’s core competence lies in the innovation of processes and technologies. The company supports its customers with engineering and consulting services for achieving an innovative upgrade of working processes and software technologies on the business and technology side. The acquisition of a .erni Top Level Domain will reinforce ERNI’s core values and competences and will showcase ERNI GROUP HOLDING as an advanced and innovative group within its competitors.
The .erni TLD will represent:
* Commitment and responsibility,
* Long-term vision and strategy,
* Proximity to customers and key clients,
* Excellence in service,
* Technological innovation,
* Model of corporate governance,
* Sense of belonging for all our targeted audience.
- What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?
Competition
This new space will not only distinguish ERNI’ s identity, placing the company as a pioneer within the IT engineering consulting sector, but will help reaching new potential customers as well as expanding the target market internationally.
As important as logos, brand names and trademarks to be used in physical support have been, are and will be in the future, it is critical for a company specialising in innovation process and technology, and expanding internationally, to have a digital, unique, global identity. Our services are not embodied in physical products, but are basically embodied into digital communications. A Top Level Domain is hence the ideal expression of our digital identity on the Internet.
Differentiation
In terms of differentiation, ERNI’s core competitive advantages are on one hand its unique abilities in both enabling its customers to improve their processes with our consultancy and support, and, on the other. delivering concrete solutions, procures results that better fit their needs.
The .erni TLD will add a wide array of new ways of usage of the proposed string that will be intrinsically related to ERNI’s services and work methodology and will be enabled across diverse interfaces within the different requirements related to each process.
Innovation
The growing complexity of products along with the trend towards outsourcing is making requirements engineering increasingly worth wile, if not necessary. ERNI acts as a bridge between market and technology from business-driven development, to trendsetting products. Requirements engineering plays a key role in this process.
The freedom to create innovations has never been so great as it is today. Technological advances are enabling more and more innovative products with unique benefits for consumers.
The .erni TLD will be a significant amplifier of the holding’s branding and marketing endeavours by creating innovative marketing formulas for customers, stakeholders and employees worldwide. Some of the great challenges, benefits and innovative elements that the .erni TLD will bring to the company’s structure are:
* To strengthen its leadership internationally within the IT engineering consulting sector,
* To grow and be known internationally,
* To maintain a distinctive investment portfolio,
* To maintain financial strength,
* To improve on return of investments,
* To progress in organisational efficiency and flexibility,
* To develop and motivate talent,
* To communicate the aims of the holding group both inwards and outwards.
- What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
Compared to other already existing and open generic TLDs, the .erni TLD experience will greatly enhance mnemonics and security. The .erni TLD will simplify the way the customers find information about the company on the Internet by creating a more easy and understandable online identity and will drive customers into deeper levels of engagement with the company.
Internally, the .erni TLD will facilitate and enhance communications between departments, ERNI’s different business divisions and subsidiaries
- Switzerland,
- Germany,
- Spain,
- Slovakia,
- Philippines
This engagement will increase:
* Affinity
* Corporate identity
* Ease of use,
* Customer service efficiency.
The .erni TLD will adapt its internal and external communications structure and services to the possibilities of what the new string could offer, setting a fully-branded user experience for both, our costumers and our different internal departments and business divisions labelling services such as:
- Service Requirements Engineering (business analysis), a service that makes methods and tools available, which support ERNI’s Requirements Engineers during the entire requirements engineering processes.
- The service software engineering supports our customers in the professional software development. The service includes services that comprise the core area of state-of-the-art software development, covering the activities between the Services Requirement Engineering, Testing and Project Management.
- The ERNI testing Service, a service that organises and coordinates all testing activities with regard to software and applications. This service is based a test process, which consists of a planning, design, implementation and evaluation of tests.
- Project Management, which offers tools and methods making it possible for project managers to successfully manage their tasks, especially with regard to complex and unique projects.
- Process improvement. This process designs, improves and expands process management systems by using existing reference models. Existing processes are analysed and improved, especially through the use of successful best practices in the industry.
- Provide a complete description of the applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.
The .erni TLD will be for the exclusive use of the ERNI GROUP HOLDING’s services and purposes. ERNI does not contemplate at this stage opening the registration to any third party. Therefore, the mandatory registration agreement will refer to the following terms and conditions:
- a) Eligibility: The registrant will be ERNI GROUP HOLDING or any Affiliate.
- b) Name selection: .erni domain name registrations must be related to the ERNI GROUP HOLDING services and products.
- c) Use and content: .erni domain names may only be used in relationship to the ERNI GROUP HOLDING’s services and purposes, subject to the approval of ERNI. Domain names used must be commensurate to the role and importance of the ERNI services.
Considering that,
(i) ERNI GROUP HOLDING will register and maintain all domain name registrations within .erni its own exclusive use, and that
(ii) ERNI GROUP HOLDING will not sell, distribute or transfer control or use of any registrations in .the erni TLD to any third party that is not an Affiliate of ERNI and that;
(iii) Application of the Registry Operator Code of Conduct contained in Specification 9 of the Base gTLD Registry Agreement to .erni is not necessary to protect the public interest;
ERNI GROUP HOLDING will request the exemption to the above mentioned Registry Operator Code of Conduct, and expects ICANN to grant such exemption as ERNI provides reasonable satisfaction of the conditions hereof expressed. ERNI GROUP HOLDING may in the future consider extending the use of domain names for employees, customers and partners, but this is not foreseen neither allowed in the current description of the registration policies.
- 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.
ERNI GROUP HOLDING recognizes first-hand that this is a relevant issue and an evolving area of law in which there is no international standard. The protection of privacy and confidential information of registrants and users will comply with applicable Law, in particular the Swiss Data Protection framework and legislation, as well as any ICANN requirements in the area.
Nevertheless, the specific model of the .erni TLD and the registration policies as described above limit to a great extent the possible concerns on privacy, as no third parties and even less individuals will be allowed to register .erni names.
- Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.
Outreach and communications will be entirely done in-house for internal communication to inform ERNI GROUP HOLDING’s stakeholders in the four countries the group operates.
18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?
As explained in the registration polices above, the .erni TLD will only be open to registrations by ERNI GROUP HOLDING and its affiliates and the domain names will only be used for ERNI GROUP HOLDING legitimate services and products in a way that is commensurate to their role and importance within ERNI GROUP HOLDING’s strategy.
These rules guarantee that no costs need to be borne by trademark and other intellectual property rights owners in monitoring the .erni zone and protecting against abuses from registrations. This similarly applies to personal names, geographic names, Intergovernmental Organizations based in an International Treaty, and in general, any third parties interested in protecting their identity.
The .erni TLD uses related to ERNI’s IT engineering and consultancy activities and its affiliates will have a positive effect on security, both on ERNI’s own customers and over the Internet as a whole as it will greatly reduce the risks of effective phishing, or any other malicious conduct.
- How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first- serve basis?
Being the .erni TLD for the exclusive use of ERNI GROUP HOLDING and its affiliates, first-come, first served will be the only available and reasonably possible, should multiple applications for the same domain name happen, as unlikely as this appears for this TLD model.
- Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
In a model in which the Registry is the sole and exclusive registrant of the domain names in the TLD, ERNI does not believe that it makes sense to apply any such pricing measure.
- 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.
In accordance to Specification 9, point 6 of the Base gTLD Registry Agreement, as published in Module 5 of the Applicant Guidebook, ERNI GROUP HOLDING, taking into account that will operate the .erni for its exclusive use, will request an exemption to the Code of Conduct contained in Specification 9 of the Base gTLD Registry Agreement. ERNI GROUP HOLDING does not intend to provide any special contractual commitments to registrants, as the only allowed registrants will be ERNI and its affiliates within ERNI GROUP HOLDING.
Other than that, ERNI will comply with any of the TLD Registry Agreement’s obligations, such as offering registration of domain names for periods of one to ten years, and the pricing provisions as contained in the Agreement.