.band Pre-Register Domain - .band Domain Information

Red Triangle, LLC, the applicant for the ".band" gTLD (the "Registry"), will serve all persons with an interest in music. Across the globe, there currently more than 8 million bands, powering a music industry that generates approximately $30 billion dollars in fan-driven commerce annually. With the market for music consumption increasingly shifting online and growing globally, bands now market themselves through websites, to connect with existing fans and further develop their base. Newly formed bands seek to develop their online presence. Consequently, the formation of a new band often results in the registration of a domain name and related website. Ideally, these websites create a platform for bands to connect with their fans, through band-related information, socialization and commerce; but in practice this process is fragmented an inefficient. By contrast, established bands have already created online communities, with whom they strive to communicate more effectively. The Registry will provide a mechanism for accomplishing this goal. As for the general public, the present structure of the music industry obscures the relationship between the performer and the listener. .band will allow for direct interaction. The Registry will thereby serve all who possess this most significant passion - a love of bands and their music.

The gTLD will become an online space dedicated to the fan experience and the efforts of bands to reach their fans through music, information and merchandise. Bands and their fans will now have a dedicated and dynamic online community. The Registry will also provide the bands themselves with an invaluable resource to protect and disseminate their original content. By building communities around bands, key geographies and music genres, the Registry will enhance communication, searchability and access to relevant information; thereby fostering innovation, job creation, economic growth and creative opportunities among registrants, internet users and other interested parties.

The .band gTLD will benefit proposed registrants, internet users, and others by offering a virtual community exclusively dedicated to bands and their fans. Band registrants will obtain higher visibility to their followers through intuitive searchability, the more efficient development of fan-based communities, and protection of respective band names against cyber-squatting. All registrants will gain better access to target markets through improved searches and the availability of shorter, more-relevant and brand-centric domain names, currently unavailable on other crowded gTLDs. Internet users will experience improved search functionality and increased access to legal content in a centralized, streamlined, geographic and genre-specific manner. Moreover, others will benefit from the economic development and innovation fostered by this niche community space.

(i) The goal of the proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation:
Specialty: The Registry will focus on bands and their fans, to support all parties involved with and interested in music and bands. Both fans and bands will have a dedicated online universe that they can shape and utilize to promote their respective musical interests. Bands as well as other providers of music merchandise, information and related services will gain expanded visibility and be able to better target their audience. Conversely, fans will have an enhanced user experience in locating the products, services, and information for their specific musical interests, through direct and relevant search results, greater access to meaningful information, and legal content.
Service Levels: Service levels provided by the .band gTLD will comply with required service levels defined in Specification 10 of the gTLD Registry Agreement detailed in the ICANN gTLD Applicant Guidebook.
Reputation: The Registry's priority is to establish its reputation as an innovative, stable, secure and accountable community; serving individuals, organizations and entities identifying themselves as connected to bands and their fans. ARI Registry Services ("ARI"), the Registry's selected provider of registry services, has an established reputation for providing and operating a robust and reliable back-end registry service that enables multiple registrars to provide domain name registration services in the top-level domain. ARI's system supports multiple registries and many registrars consistently and securely. ARI has a long history of meeting its service level agreements as evidenced in the Registry Operator's Monthly Reports that ARI files monthly with ICANN. These reports detail ARI's operational status and its compliance with applicable service level agreements. These monthly reports are accessible from the ICANN website at the following URL: http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/monthly-reports/. Moreover, the Registry has established a strategic relationship with industry-leading registrar Melbourne IT, thereby ensuring a first-rate consumer experience and compliance with all applicable industry policies and standards.

(ii) What the proposed gTLD anticipates adding to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation:
Competition: The proposed gTLD will promote competition by creating a digital environment dedicated to all social, informational and commercial aspects of bands and their fans. There are currently over 107,000 active domain names that include "band" in their string. Of these, "band." currently resides in roughly 66,000 registered domains immediately preceding various TLDs (e.g. www.rockband.com). The ".band" TLD will shorten the string length for these existing domains (e.g. www.rock.band) and provide an appealing and intuitive opportunity for registrants. With a dedicated platform for the band sector, new, improved, and/or shorter domain names will be sought by participants; thereby contributing to competition in the current space by offering consumers more choices and registrants more marketable domain names. Additionally, a huge market exists for newly formed bands to create their own band website and develop their own music communities with a .band TLD. As the public increasingly accepts new gTLDs, the Registry envisions registrants will seek out TLDs that describe their nature or activities. Accordingly, new bands will look to the .band TLD first, when establishing their web presence. These bands will register domain names as tools to collect and disseminate information to fans and service providers, plan concert tours, showcase their music, share photos and news, link to various social networks, sell merchandise, etcetera.
Differentiation: The fundamental difference between .band and all other gTLDs is its dedication to organizations and participants associated with musicians. The proposed gTLD will create a space exclusively devoted to musical artists and interests. To achieve this differentiation, beyond simply providing domain names, the Registry will, in accordance with Specification 9 of the Registry Agreement, proactively develop and maintain innovative websites to create and enhance industry specific communities dedicated to bands of all sizes and those who appreciate their music.
Innovation: The proposed gTLD will catalyze innovation by creating an online community devoted to bands, their music and their fans. Registrants and users will in turn take advantage of the opportunities for increased communication, access to information, visibility and commerce to develop new methods of advancing their interests. All will benefit from this vibrant and dynamic collaborative process. For example, category and geography-based search vehicles will connect more consumers, businesses and other resources, allowing for a more robust and efficient exchange of information. In addition, .band will allow for the following innovations:
• Search: optimized and customized
• Community-specific premium names that will be utilized for the benefit of all interested parties
• Targeted and more cost-effective advertising
• The ability to create and analyze community metrics
• Lay the foundation for a community-specific e-commerce platform
• The increasing use of domains for bands - as a planning, communication and commerce tool
• Intellectual Property protection mechanisms
• Development of interactive applications
These innovations will add new experiences and opportunities to the space, directly benefiting registrants and indirectly benefiting users and others.

(iii) Goals the proposed gTLD has in terms of user experience:
The Registry envisions a greatly enhanced user experience by providing resources to its constituents, including interest-specific information, communication channels, markets, together with new collaborative and business opportunities. The quality of the user experience will improve as the Registry provides resources to its constituents, including interest-specific information, communication channels, markets, collaborative, philanthropic and business opportunities. Registrants will have the opportunity to contribute their own content to the space, thereby enhancing the community nature of the gTLD. The goal of the .band TLD is to be the destination and home for all band-oriented online activity.
Moreover, ARI, the gTLD's registry service provider, will ensure that all pertinent services consistently meet the levels prescribed in Specification 10 of the Registry Agreement, guaranteeing a top quality user experience. In addition, ARI will comply with any other applicable ICANN policy or procedure, thereby ensuring the user experience provided is both secure and stable. Strategic partner Melbourne IT will ensure top quality consumer interface and policy compliance.

(iv) Description of the intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above:
The Registry will reach out to major bands and other music industry resources, as well as use community-building platforms to generate publicity for the proposed gTLD and will welcome all registrants seeking a ".band" domain. Following a Sunrise and Landrush period, the Registry intends to make domains available to anyone willing to complete the Registry's application process and comply with Registry policies and ICANN requirements. The Registry will collect limited demographic information from registrants, which will be used to streamline searches and target communications. Registration requests for available names will be allocated by the Registry through accredited registrars on a first come, first-served basis, subject to the Registry policies and ICANN requirements. The Registry will establish dispute resolution procedures concerning compliance with TLD registration policies and shall enforce such registration policies.
The Registry will seek out strategic partners to utilize premium names of significance to the community. It also plans to reserve the right to retain additional names on a reserve name list, in accordance with Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement, at any time at its sole discretion and to allocate such names in accordance with ICANN requirements and Registry polices.

(v) The proposed gTLD will impose measures for protecting the privacy and confidential information of registrants and users:
The Registry will protect the privacy and confidential information of registrants and users through industry standard security technology, provided by ARI and through a contractual privacy policy statement. ARI, the Registry's selected registry services provider, assures a comprehensive security solution - independently audited - to ensure that registrants' privacy and confidential information is protected. These measures include registry databases that are access-controlled, encrypted data escrow procedures, and a broad ranging security policy addressing physical, cyber, and personnel security threats. Further details of these security policies are provided in response to Question 30, Security Policy. In compliance with the Registry Agreement's Specification 4, data fields defined in the specification are made publically available through the Registry's Whois service offering.
User security is enhanced by the use of Domain Name System Security Extensions ("DNSSEC") providing an important layer of overall Internet security. ARI's DNSSEC implementations adhere to key security standards and guidelines as required by Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 Level 3. Through ARI's proven DNSSEC implementation, the .band TLD helps to protect the privacy and confidential information of its users.

(vi) Description of whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve projected benefits:
The Registry will engage in outreach by working with bands and their fans to promote the Registry to bands and band members, fans, and other stakeholders. The enhanced visibility of geographic and category-specific domains developed by the Registry and optimized for Search Engine Optimization ("SEO") will further help communicate the Registry's commitment to its mission. Targeted advertising will benefit both registrants and advertisers by promoting competition and facilitating efficient communication. The establishment of an e-commerce platform will similarly benefit the target demographic. The Registry envisions establishing strategic partnerships within the music space to further outreach and communications amongst registrants and users. Community-building platforms may be employed to enhance the development of communities oriented toward music. Moreover, the opportunities for better and greater communication amongst registrants themselves will help to establish the registry's community reputation and develop its base.

The Registry will enact rules to eliminate social costs associated with the creation of a new TLD. The proposed gTLD may adopt policies that preemptively address negative consequences, in addition to analyzing market trends to identify issues as they emerge. The Registry's evaluation of the market and its potential registrants suggests that registrations of .band domains will be active rather than defensive in nature, as with .com and other open TLDs. Due to the existence of significant communities of interest relating to music and bands, the TLD presents registrants with opportunities aligned to their pursuits. Registrants will have the opportunity and the incentive to work together in promotion of their shared interests.
The Registry will be compliant with all relevant laws and statutes, and all ICANN policies and procedures, including without limitation, the Digital Millenium Copyright Act ("DMCA"), Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy ("URDP"), and Uniform Rapid Suspension system ("URS"). The Registry will also adopt protection mechanisms against spam, phishing, data theft, IP infringement, and Domain Naming System ("DNS") attacks.

(i) Method for resolving multiple applications for a particular name:
During the Sunrise period, multiple applications for a particular domain, assuming all are properly listed in the Trademark Clearinghouse and/or otherwise verified in accordance with ICANN policies and procedures, will be resolved through an auction.
During the Landrush period, multiple applications for a particular domain name will be resolved through an auction process.
During the general registration process, multiple applications for a particular domain name will be resolved on a first come first serve basis.

(ii) Cost benefits to registrants intended for implementation:
The Registry reserves the right to offer introductory discounts and advantageous pricing to industry leaders or other entities that enhance the professional reputation and visibility of the gTLD.
The Registry may coordinate with registrars to offer price discounts for bulk domain purchases.

(iii) Intended contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation:
The Registry will comply with the Registry Agreement and will make contractual commitments to registrants regarding its pricing policy(ies). This includes complying with all pricing requirements detailed in Article 2.10 of ICANN's New gTLD Registry Agreement. The gTLD may from time to time increase prices in accordance with market rates throughout the internet community.

Red Triangle, LLC, the applicant applying for the ".band" gTLD (the "Registry"), plans to temporarily reserve a list of geographic names as required in Specification 5 of the draft Registry Agreement, and also intends to adopt policies for releasing and registering these reserved names with the further approval of ICANN and/or relevant members of ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (the "GAC").

Reserved Names: The Registry intends to initially reserve the country and territory names contained in the following internationally recognized lists (the "Geographic Names"), at the second level and at all other levels within the TLD at which the Registry provides for registrations:

1. The short form (in English) of all country and territory names contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, as updated from time to time, including the European Union, which is exceptionally reserved on the ISO 3166-1 list, and its scope extended in August 1999 to any application needing to represent the name European Union
〈http://www.iso.org/iso/support/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/iso-3166-1_decoding_table.htm#EU〉;

2. The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names, Technical Reference Manual for the Standardization of Geographical Names, Part III Names of Countries of the World; and

3. The list of United Nations member states in 6 official United Nations languages prepared by the Working Group on Country Names of the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names

A corresponding list of geographic names will be made available to the public via the ARI Registry Services ("ARI")'s website in order to inform Registrars and potential Registrants of the reserved status of such names. The lists previously noted, will be regularly monitored for revisions and the reserved list, both within the registry and publicly facing, will continually be updated to reflect any changes.
In addition to these requirements, ARI is able to support the wishes of the Registry in regards to the reservation of additional terms on a case by case basis. The managed TLD registry allows such additions to the reserved list to be made by appropriately authorized staff, with no further system development changes required.
The following applies to all Domain Names contained within the managed TLD registry reserved list:
-Attempts to register reserved Domain Names will be rejected;
-Whois queries for listed Domain Names will receive responses indicating their reserved status;
-Reserved names will not appear in the TLD zone file; and
-DNS queries for reserved domain names will result in an NXDOMAIN response.

2. PROCEDURES FOR RELEASE
We understand that if and when the Registry wishes to release any reserved names at a later date, this will require further approval from ICANN.
In order to release reserved names, the Registry will have in place a special release mechanism, described below.

Consistent with the .info release of geographic names, as referenced in the New GTLD Application, the Registry will present the GAC Representatives with an option, at no charge, of objecting to release and use of any initially reserved names. The Registry reasonably believes that very few GAC Representatives, if any, would exercise this option. Nevertheless, the at-no-charge objection will remain an option for the GAC Representatives, in compliance with current ICANN requirements regarding geographic reserved names. The Registry will reserve the Geographic Names for a temporary reservation period of one year following the delegation of the gTLD. When the temporary reservation terminates, those country names that have not been registered at that time will be made available for use by the Registry or auction. Those not selling at auction will fall into the pool of available names for private registration on a first-come-first served basis.
Generally, it is extremely unlikely that the Registry's authorized use of any geographic ".band" domain name could be confusing to users, or otherwise offensive to any country. To the extent that use of any such domain was ever deemed confusing or offensive, the Registry is likely to have a strong desire to resolve the situation quickly and respectfully to any affected country's sovereign interests. At minimum, the Registry will ensure that its designated abuse contact is aware of the additional sensitivities that may potentially arise with respect to use of such domains, such that any complaints of this nature are prioritized accordingly.