.mckinsey New gTLD Application
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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: McKinsey Holdings, Inc.
String: mckinsey
Originally Posted: 13 June 2012
Application ID: 1-1782-78035
Applicant Information
- Full legal name
McKinsey Holdings, Inc.
- Address of the principal place of business
555 California Street
San Francisco CA 94194
US
- Phone number
+1 404 335 3000
- Fax number
+1 404 521 1743
- If applicable, website or URL
http:⁄⁄www.mckinsey.com
Primary Contact
6(a). Name
Gretchen Olive
6(b). Title
Director of Policy & Industry Affairs
6(c). Address
6(d). Phone Number
01 3026365401
6(e). Fax Number
01 3026365454
6(f). Email Address
Secondary Contact
7(a). Name
Rohit Sareen
7(b). Title
IT Program Manager
7(c). Address
7(d). Phone Number
+1 212 415 1512
7(e). Fax Number
+1 646 307 6178
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).
Delaware, US
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.
McKinsey & Company, Inc
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
Thomas Barkin Director
11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners
Lucy Lopez Deputy, General counsel
Thomas Barkin Director
Virginia L. Molino General Counsel
Yuliya Levin Assistant Secretary⁄Corporate Paralegal
11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares
McKinsey & Company, Inc 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.
mckinsey
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.
Applicant anticipates the introduction of this TLD without operational or rendering problems. Based on a decade of experience launching and operating new TLDs, Afilias, the back-end provider of registry services for this TLD, is confident the launch and operation of this TLD presents no known challenges. The rationale for this opinion includes:
- The string is not complex and is represented in standard ASCII characters and follows relevant technical, operational and policy standards;
- The string length is within lengths currently supported in the root and by ubiquitous Internet programs such as web browsers and mail applications;
- There are no new standards required for the introduction of this TLD;
- No onerous requirements are being made on registrars, registrants or Internet users, and;
- The existing secure, stable and reliable Afilias SRS, DNS, WHOIS and supporting systems and staff are amply provisioned and prepared to meet the needs of this TLD
- (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.
(a) Describe the mission⁄purpose of your proposed gTLD
McKinsey Holdings, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McKinsey & Company, Inc. They are the trusted advisor and counselor to many of the most influential businesses and institutions in the world. McKinsey & Company, Inc. serves more than 80 percent of Fortune magazine’s list of the Most Admired Companies. McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global organization, with more than 90 offices in more than 50 countries. McKinsey & Company, Inc. employees speak over 120 languages and represent over 100 nationalities. McKinsey & Company, Inc. operates as one firm, bringing the best experts from around McKinsey and from the McKinsey & Company, Inc. external network to each engagement.
Leadership in the firm is not about rising above the rest, but helping others—consultants and clients—to exceed their own expectations. Individuals at McKinsey pursue this objective in many ways: by helping clients address their toughest challenges, developing ground-breaking knowledge, being entrepreneurs. McKinsey aspires to help leaders realize their full potential, while recognizing that every leadership path is unique.
Thus, Applicant is seeking the proposed .mckinsey gTLD to operate as a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD that would serve the purpose of enhancing and expanding Applicant and its affiliated entities’ ability to:
- create a connected digital presence and personalized brand experience;
- deliver product and service marketing⁄advertising;
- enable marketing campaign activation;
- facilitate secure interaction and communication with individuals and entities with whom Applicant has a business relationship;
- streamline business operations;
- simplify Internet user navigation to information about Applicant and affiliated entity products and services;
- further demonstrate its commitment to employee, customer, dealer, supplier data security and privacy; and
- meet future customer expectations and competitive market demands.
18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
- b) How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?
Answers should address the following points:
- What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation?
- The goal of the proposed .mckinsey gTLD in terms of specialty, service levels and reputation are:
o Specialty – Applicant’s company is a market leader in the consulting industry. With the continued growth of the online channel in importance and significance, it is critical that Applicant and its affiliated entities utilize all new online tools available to ensure current and potential product⁄service customers can quickly find authorized, accurate information. The proposed .mckinsey will help Applicant increase consumer confidence in online content it makes available through websites utilizing its gTLD and provide a trusted destination for consumers to research product offerings.
o Service levels –One of the key goals of the proposed .mckinsey gTLD is to create a restricted, exclusively-controlled online environment for employees, customers (current and potential), suppliers and other business partners which will increase customer confidence and trust in conducting business online. Through greater use of online tools by employees, customers (current and potential), suppliers and other business partners, Applicant’s company expects to further streamline business processes, reduce turn-around times, provide more personalized service and improve overall customer⁄client service.
o Reputation – Applicant’s company has a reputation of excellence in customer satisfaction and innovation. With the online channel growing in importance, one of the goals of the proposed .mckinsey gTLD is to position Applicant’s company to meet future customer expectations and competitive market demands to ensure it can continue to grow its reputation.
- What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?
- McKinsey Holdings, Inc. plans to operate the proposed .mckinsey gTLD as a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD and as such it will not be commercially offered for registration to the general public. Thus, McKinsey Holdings, Inc. will have exclusive ownership over all second-level registrations within the TLD. As a result, we believe the proposed .mckinsey gTLD will add to the current namespace in three (3) areas:
- Competition – As technology advances, so too do customer expectations of companies online. They expect that companies will utilize the latest and greatest technology and online practices to improve the user experience, protect their information and deliver quality service. Applicant anticipates that the proposed .mckinsey gTLD will enable it to communicate, interact and protect data in ways and under conditions not possible under the existing namespace, thus enabling Applicant and its affiliated entities to meet future customer expectations and competitive market demands.
- Differentiation – While today companies, like Applicant’s company, can register brand strings at the second-level (e.g. mckinsey.com), the proliferation of cybersquatting and typo squatting has placed a great burden on consumers to carefully tread online because there is no guarantee on the face of the domain name string that what looks like a branded website is indeed an authorized website of the brand owner. The proposed .mckinsey gTLD will enable employees, customers, suppliers, other business partners and Internet users to distinguish, on the face of the domain name alone, whether the site is an authorized company site because the gTLD will be a restricted, exclusively- controlled online environment where only authorized company web properties and e-mail will exist and operate online.
Innovation - The proposed .mckinsey gTLD as a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD will provide Applicant’s company with a new platform on which to build future innovation of its online brand presence and products.
Innovation - The proposed .mckinsey gTLD as a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD will provide Applicant’s company with a new platform on which to build future innovation of its online brand presence and products.
- What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
- The Internet has been plagued by cybersquatting, typo squatting, phishing, pharming and identity theft scams. This malicious online conduct has shaken the trust and confidence of consumers to share information and transact business online. Thus, the proposed .mckinsey gTLD has the following user experience goals:
o Simplify purchase and unify the full breadth of products and services offered by Applicant and its affiliated entities;
o Improve and streamline manner in which employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners can interact with Applicant and its affiliated entities in the online digital space;
o Foster trust and confidence in online interactions by customers and other business partners with Applicant and its affiliated entities;
o Reduce the risk of Internet users being misled, believing and⁄or acting on erroneous, information about Applicant and its affiliated entities, its business partners and⁄or its products and services presented online by unauthorized 3rd parties; and
o Simplify online navigation to Applicant and affiliated entity products, services and information.
- Provide a complete description of the applicant’s intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.
The proposed gTLD will be a restricted, exclusively-controlled gTLD where only Applicant, affiliated entities and authorized business partners will be permitted to register second-level domains for Applicant business purposes only for a term of one to ten years. Affiliated entities who are part of the same corporate organization as the Applicant who seek registrations for second-level names under the TLD will be required to present evidence in writing to accredited registrar(s) for the TLD demonstrating explicit authorization from an officer of the Applicant company to register second-level names within the TLD to protect against unauthorized registration within the TLD by unaffiliated third parties. Applicants and affiliated entities owned and⁄or controlled by the same corporate parent company will supply corporate contact and ownership information, not personal information, for each registration obtained under the TLD for display in the TLD WHOIS.
To the extent second-level domain names are ever registered to Applicant’s business partners and⁄or affiliates that are not owned by Applicant or its corporate parent company, registrants will be required to execute a registration agreement that incorporates 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. Such registration may also be subject to additional terms and conditions under separate business partner and⁄or affiliate agreements with Applicant entity. Registrations by business partners or affiliates not owned by Applicant or its corporate parent company will require written, pre-approval by designated individual(s) at Applicant company, must provide corporate contact information, not personal information, for WHOIS purposes and must be made with Applicant’s registrar of choice. Registrants must not use the domain name in any way that may damage or diminish Applicants brand reputation, business relationships or other business interests. Failure to do any of the above will result in the immediate suspension of registrant’s registration agreement and⁄or all deletion of all domain names currently registered in the TLD.
- 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.
- The proposed .mckinsey gTLD will be a restricted, exclusively-controlled gTLD where only Applicant will authorize⁄issue registrations within the TLD to itself and affiliated entities for business purposes. Corporate contact information will be clearly listed in the WHOIS record for each registration within the TLD. Thus, there are no measures that need to be proposed to protect the privacy or confidential registration information of registrants of the TLD. However, Applicant is investing in the proposed .mckinsey gTLD to further demonstrate its commitment to data privacy (as evidenced by its current data privacy statement , http:⁄⁄www.mckinsey.com⁄Privacy_policy), as Applicant believes the utilization of the proposed new gTLD could position its company to more fully meet new online challenges related to online privacy in the future.
Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.
Prior to using the proposed .mckinsey gTLD for product and service marketing⁄advertising, marketing campaign activation, interaction and communication with individuals and entities with whom Applicant has a business relationship, and⁄or implementing new online navigation strategies, Applicant’s company anticipates conducting a multi-faceted outreach and communications campaign that will likely involve all communication channels, including but not limited to TV, radio, mobile, print, social media, direct mail, online advertising and marketing via our active, customer and affiliate-facing websites and other public relations activities to:
- Further communicate Applicant company’s commitment to online consumer safety and data privacy;
- Inform the market of Applicant’s ownership and planned use of the proposed .mckinsey gTLD;
- Clearly define the expected benefits to employees, customers, suppliers, other business partners and Internet users at large.
18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?
(C). 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?
Answers should address the following points:
- How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved, for example, by auction or on a first-come⁄first serve basis?
- There will not be multiple applications by members of the general public for a particular domain in the proposed .mckinsey TLD because this will be a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD where only Applicant will authorize⁄issue registrations within the TLD to itself and affiliated entities for business purposes.
- Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement (e.g., advantageous pricing, introductory discounts, bulk registration discounts).
- This question is not applicable to a restricted, exclusively-controlled TLD, like the proposed .mckinsey TLD.
- 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.
- The proposed .mckinsey TLD will be a self-funded, exclusively-controlled TLD available only to Applicant and affiliated entities. Thus, there will be no per domain name registration cost incurred by any party for this TLD and thus, no price changes and⁄or escalations for which registrants will need to be notified.