Draft RCRC-IOC Recomendation - 24 Feb 2012

Option 7:  Treat the terms set forth in Section 2.2.1.2.3 as “Modified Reserved Names,” meaning:

1. 1. The Modified Reserved Names are available as gTLD strings to the International Olympic Committee (hereafter the “IOC”), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (hereafter “RCRC") and their respective components as applicable.
   2. Applied-for gTLD strings, other than those applied for by the IOC or RCRC, are reviewed during the String Similarity review to determine whether they are similar to these Modified Reserved Names. An application for a gTLD string that is identified as too similar to a Modified Reserved Name will not pass this initial review. 
   3. If an application fails to pass initial string similarity review:
      1. And the applied-for TLD identically matches any of the Modified Reserved Names (e.g., ".Olympic" or ".RedCross"), it cannot be registered by anyone other than the IOC or the RCRC, as applicable.
      2. If the applied-for TLD is not identical to any of the Modified Reserved Names, but fails initial string similarity review with one of Modified Reserved Names, the applicant may attempt to override the string similarity failure by:
         1. Seek a letter of non-objection from the IOC or the RCRC, as applicable; or
         2. If it cannot obtain a letter of non-objection, the applicant must:
            1. claim to have a legitimate interest in the string, and demonstrate the basis for this claim; and
            2. explain why it believes that the new TLD is not confusingly similar to one of the protected strings and makes evident that it does not refer to the IOC, RCRC or any Olympic or Red Cross Red Crescent activity.
         3. A determination in favor of the applicant under the above provision (ii)(2) above would not preclude the IOC, RCRC or other interested parties from bringing a legal rights objection or otherwise contesting the determination.
         4. The existence of a TLD that has received a letter of non-objection by the IOC or RCRC pursuant to (ii)(1), or has been approved pursuant to (ii)(2) shall not preclude the IOC or RCRC from obtaining one of the applicable Modified Reserved Names in any round of new gTLD applications.