.SHELL New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: Shell Information Technology International Inc
String: SHELL
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-1090-40748
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
Shell Information Technology International Inc
- Address of the principal place of business
1500 Old Spanish Trail
Houston TX 77054-1818
US
- Phone number
+1 7132416161
- Fax number
- If applicable, website or URL
http:⁄⁄www.shell.com
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Ms. Lorna Jean Gradden
6(b). Title
Operations Director
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
+442074218263
6(e). Fax Number
+448700118187
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Mr. Andrew John South
7(b). Title
Business Systems Manager - Communications & Government Relations
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+44 7876 131995
7(e). Fax Number
7(f). Email Address
Proof of Legal Establishment
8(a). Legal form of the Applicant
Corporation
8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).
USA, State of Delaware
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.
Shell Oil 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
Cynthia Ann Pollock Deere Vice President (Finance), Shell Information Technology International Inc
Erik Thomas Betz President, Shell Information Technology International Inc
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Cynthia Ann Pollock Deere Vice President (Finance), Shell Information Technology International Inc
Erik Thomas Betz President, Shell Information Technology International Inc
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
Shell Oil Company 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.
SHELL
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.
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), the applicant does not believe there are any known operational or rendering problems concerning the string.
- (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 applicant, Shell Information Technology International Inc (“SITI Inc”), is a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc. The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this application for the .SHELL gTLD, “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” and likewise the words “we” and “us” have been used for convenience where specific reference to Royal Dutch Shell plc or its named subsidiary companies, including the applicant, Shell Information Technology International Inc, serves no useful purpose.
Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, headquartered in the Netherlands with its parent company, Royal Dutch Shell plc, incorporated in England and Wales. Shell strives to meet the world’s demand for energy in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways. It produces about 2% of the world’s oil and 3% of the world’s gas. Shell’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people inform every aspect of its work.
Shell’s businesses are:
- Upstream: explores for and extracts crude oil and natural gas
- Downstream: refines, supplies, trades and ships crude worldwide; manufactures and markets a range of products; and produces petrochemicals for industrial customers
- Projects & Technology: manages delivery of Shell’s major projects and drives the research and innovation to create technology solutions.
In 2010, Shell invested over USD 1 billion in research and development.
With over 90,000 employees spread across more than 90 countries, Shell is a global company. Shell relies upon the internet for the delivery of secure communications internally, between Shell operating companies, and externally with a wide range of third parties.
Investment in the .SHELL gTLD underscores Shell’s commitment to innovation and its policy of investing in research and development. Shell sees itself as a pioneer amongst brands that make innovative use of new communications technologies.
The Mission of the .SHELL registry is:
- To enhance secure internet communication between Shell and key audiences - including customers, partners, media, those affected by its business, and the public at large - while providing Shell with a platform for possible future innovation, and protecting the integrity of the Shell brand in the Domain Name System.
The Purpose of the .SHELL registry, which will be a standard registry as opposed to a community-based registry is:
- To provide a stable and secure platform for electronic communication that is within the direct control of Shell.
- To keep Shell at the forefront of internet technological development. Shell will use best-practice DNS configuration and functionality, and will monitor the development of new technologies so that it is in a position to exploit them as appropriate.
- To ensure that the integrity of the Shell brand is maintained.
- The .SHELL gTLD will reflect the Shell brand’s importance and global reach.
- Securing the term “Shell” in the top level of the DNS is a natural extension of Shell’s brand strategy for the second level of the DNS.
The success of the .SHELL registry will be judged by the security, stability and innovation it brings to Shell’s communications, and by enhancement of the equity that rests in the Shell brand. Its success will not be determined by the number of domains created, or by income generated by registrations.
18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
We anticipate that domains in the .SHELL registry will only be registered to Shell group companies or their employees.
However, the TLD will benefit a range of groups:
- Users outside the Shell group may be allowed to use (but not register) second level domains within the .SHELL gTLD, but under strict control and regulation set out in their registration agreement and separate licence documents.
- All internet users – who will regard a .SHELL domain as a sign of authenticity that can be trusted.
- As the registration and use of .SHELL domains will be strictly controlled, it is intended that they be recognised as reliable signposts to authorised information and communication.
- The ICANN community. Shell will be members of the Registry Operators constituency and, along with other Dot Brand owners, is hoping to provide a fresh perspective that may enhance ICANN’s policy development in areas such as the protection of IP rights.
- Shell’s global workforce, for whom a new gTLD will be a statement of innovation and brand reinforcement, as well as providing the peace of mind derived from a more secure communication channel.
What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of speciality, service levels or reputation?
Shell prides itself on the integrity of its brand and this will extend to its new gTLD. The goal will be to protect and enhance the reputation of Shell on the internet. Its service levels will reflect this goal.
Over time, Shell may decide to offer IDNs in the scripts listed in its answer to Question 44, where this will increase the usability of its domain names to its worldwide market.
What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space in terms of competition, differentiation or innovation?
Shell wishes to lessen its dependency upon third party domain registries to support effective internet communication. The .SHELL registry will be managed to standards designed to enhance stability and reduce risks.
Shell anticipates taking advantage of and leveraging the freedom of choice of second level domains it will have available for its use by virtue of controlling its own top level domain.
Currently there are no gTLD registries dedicated to brand owners. Shell looks forward to being amongst the first to apply.
What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
We hope that all our stakeholders and anyone else seeing information on Shell via the .SHELL gTLD with will recognise the efforts that we are making to communicate clearly and authentically by operating a .SHELL TLD and in doing so the efforts we are making to ensure that they can communicate securely with us across the internet, using various device formats – including mobile, fixed line devices.
Enquiries from ICANN representatives or from third parties in regard to domains in our registry or our policies will be managed in a timely fashion according to ICANN rules.
Provide a complete description of the applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals above
The .SHELL registry would be a “Dot Brand” single entity registry established by and for the use of Shell. Only companies within the Shell group would be allowed to register second level domains within the .SHELL TLD.
A specified project team made up of IP, IT and communications professionals is responsible for the development, maintenance and enforcement of policies on the use and development of the .SHELL gTLD and the registration and use of second level domains in it. The policies will, amongst other things, define the rules associated with eligibility, acceptable use, the allocation of domains and dispute resolution. This policies will be updated and revised from time to time, to reflect Shell’s commercial and strategic interests and evolution of ICANN policies. Registration of a .SHELL domain name will be undertaken in four steps: eligibility confirmation; naming convention check; acceptable use review; and registration.
Each registrant must be recognised as a member of the Shell group or one of its employees. It is unforeseeable that domains in the .SHELL registry will be assigned or registered to third parties. It is foreseeable, though, that third parties may be allowed use domain names in .SHELL, but under a strict IP licence regime.
At any time, SITI Inc may instigate an eligibility reconsideration process, which could result in the cancellation of a domain in the .SHELL registry – this will be contained in the registration agreement for second level domains in .SHELL.
All domains in the .SHELL registry will remain the property of Shell.
Checks will be undertaken to ensure that applied-for character strings conform to a set of .SHELL naming conventions that will be defined to reflect ICANN’s consensus policies.
Internationalized domain names may be supported in the .SHELL registry at the second level.
.SHELL domains may not be used in ways that knowingly infringe third party intellectual property rights.
.SHELL will not knowingly give rise to any moral or public order questions or in any way damage the strategic or commercial interests or reputation of Shell, .SHELL, ICANN or the Internet.
Registrants may not assign their registration agreements for domain names in the .SHELL gTLD to external organizations, institutions, or individuals.
All .SHELL domains will carry accurate and up to date registration records. And will comply with all ICANN WHOIS standards and requirements for the new gTLDs.
Will your proposed gTLD impose any measures for protecting the privacy of confidential information of registrants or users?
Shell will use its best endeavours to comply with all data protection and privacy laws and regulations relevant to operating a .SHELL gTLD.
Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits?
The .SHELL registry will be a Standard registry, closed to third party registrants, for use only by Shell companies and their employees and specified licensees. Nonetheless, outreach and communication will be undertaken to ensure that .SHELL domains are used in accordance with Shell’s objectives. For example, guidelines will be produced and published on the Shell intranet defining who can apply for a .SHELL domain and how it can be used.
To assist internet users beyond Shell to understand that .SHELL domains are genuine and can be trusted as signposts to authentic information or services, we intend to create a home page for the registry with clear messaging and an enquiry form.
18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?
One benefit the internet community will derive from the introduction of “Dot Brand” registries where domains are restricted is that social costs are minimised. We do not expect our registry will have any negative economic impact on internet users.
Shell is working with its back end registry service provider, Verisign, to eliminate adverse impacts on internet users in respect of its future implementation of IDNs by using its tested and established IDN tables and experience in this area.
How will multiple applications for a particular domain be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first come first served basis?
It is our intention that the .SHELL registry is a “Dot Brand” single entity registry established by and for the use of the members of the Shell group. Therefore, as there cannot be multiple applications for the same term, there is no need for resolution. And in any event Shell will run a registration process of: eligibility confirmation; naming convention check; acceptable use review; and registration, which would resolve any internal multiple applications for second level domains.
Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g. advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
There will not be a market in .SHELL domains so cost benefits are not applicable.
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?
We will comply with Section 2.10 of the Registry Agreement but we will not otherwise make contractual commitments relating to price escalation because registrants will all be members of the Shell group.
SITI Inc 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.