At-Large .PARIS - Introduction of Approved Launch Program Workspace

The City of Paris' application for an Approved Launch Program pursuant to Section 4.5.2 of the Trademark Clearinghouse Rights Protection Mechanism Requirements (the "TMCHRequirements") is being posted for comment to give the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback.

The City of Paris' application for an Approved Launch Program [PDF, 590 KB] pursuant to Section 4.5.2 of the Trademark Clearinghouse Rights Protection Mechanism Requirements (the "TMCH Requirements") is being posted for comment to give the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback.

Section 4.5.2 of the TMCH Requirements provides that Registry Operators may, prior to the start date of its Sunrise Period, apply to ICANN to conduct an "Approved Launch Program" not otherwise permitted by the TMCH Requirements. An Approved Launch Program may allow the Registry Operator to register certain domain names prior to the completion of the Sunrise Period for the TLD. A Registry Operator may submit an application to conduct an Approved Launch Program for its TLD (a "Launch Application") in accordance with the Approved Launch Program Application Process available at:http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-12nov13-en. Under Section 4.5.2 of the TMCH Requirements, ICANN reserved the right to submit any Launch Application for public comment.

Once a Launch Application is submitted to ICANN, ICANN reviews and analyzes the application pursuant to the Approved Launch Program Application Review Guidelines (the "Guidelines"). The Guidelines set forth ten factors ICANN takes into consideration during its analysis and review prior to reaching a final decision.

Detailed Information:

ICANN is seeking public comment on all aspects of the City of Paris' Launch Application. In particular, comments would be helpful with regard to the following factors:

• How might the applied for launch program affect consumer confusion?
• How might the applied for launch program affect intellectual property rights?
• What are the risks, if any, of not capping the number of domain names that may be registered under the launch program?
• Is the applied for launch program necessary to achieve the stated objectives of theRegistry Operator or could Registry Operator's objectives be similarly achieved through a Limited Registration Period? (See the TMCH Requirements for a discussion of Limited Registration Periods.)
• Is the applied for launch program necessary to achieve the stated objectives of theRegistry Operator in light of the fact that the Registry Operator is also planning on implementing the Qualified Launch Program? (Seehttp://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-10apr14-en for a description of the Qualified Launch Program.)

Section 4.5.2 of the TMCH Requirements provides that Registry Operators may, prior to the start date of its Sunrise Period, apply to ICANN to conduct an "Approved Launch Program" not otherwise permitted by the TMCH Requirements. An Approved Launch Program may allow the Registry Operator to register certain domain names prior to the completion of the Sunrise Period for the TLD. A Registry Operator may submit an application to conduct an Approved Launch Program for its TLD (a "Launch Application") in accordance with the Approved Launch Program Application Process available at:http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-12nov13-en. Under Section 4.5.2 of the TMCH Requirements, ICANN reserved the right to submit any Launch Application for public comment.

Once a Launch Application is submitted to ICANN, ICANN reviews and analyzes the application pursuant to the Approved Launch Program Application Review Guidelines (the "Guidelines"). The Guidelines set forth ten factors ICANN takes into consideration during its analysis and review prior to reaching a final decision.

• .PARIS Registry Agreement
• Rights Protection Mechanism
• The City of Paris' Launch Application [PDF, 590 KB]
• Approved Launch Program Application Process

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