.persiangulf Pre-Register Domain - .persiangulf Domain Information

There are in excess of a hundred million of Persians worldwide. They are a disparate group, yet they are united through their core beliefs. They are a group whose origins are found several millennia in the past, their ethnicity often inextricably linked with their heritage. Hitherto, however, there has been no way to easily unify them and their common cultural, linguistic and historical heritage. The .PERSIANGULF gTLD will help change this.
The origins of the ethnic Persians can be traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of the greater Indo-European linguistic family. The Ancient Iranian peoples arrived in parts of Iranian plateau around 2000-1500 BCE. The Old Persians were originally nomadic, pastoral people occupying the western Iranian plateau. By 850 BCE they were calling themselves the Parsa, and their constantly shifting territory Parsua for the most part localized around Persis (Pars), bounded on the west by Tigris River and on the south by Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is located in the southwest of the Asian Continent at 23 to 30 degrees northern latitude and 48 to 56 degrees longitude on the south side of the vast country of Iran, with a length of 1259 kilometers.
Although the Persian Gulf is not mentioned as a geographical name in to module 2 of the Applicant Guidebook, it is still well-known across the world, as is its location.
 The Persian Gulf has been a valuable waterway since the beginning of history and as the venue of the collision of great civilizations of the ancient east, it has a background of several millenniums. Since centuries ago, the Ilamites used the Port of Boushehr and the Kharg Island for dwelling, shipping and ruling over the coasts of the Persian Gulf as well as transaction with the West Indies and the Nile Valley. In the Latin American geography books the Persian Gulf has been referred to as More Persicum or the Sea of Pars. 

The Latin term ʺSinus Persicusʺ is equivalent to ʺPersicher golfʺ in French, ʺPersico qofʺ in Italian, ʺPersidskizalirʺ in Russian and ʺPerusha Wanʺ that all mean ʺParsʺ. 

Prior to the stationing of the Aryan Iranians on Iranʹs Plateau, the Assyrians named the sea in their inscriptions as the ʺbitter seaʺ and this is the oldest name that was used for the Persian Gulf. 

An inscription of Darius found in the Suez Canal, used a phrase with a mention of river Pars which points to the same Persian Gulf. 
During the years: 559 to 330 B.C. coinciding with the sovereignty of the Pars Empire over the Middle East area, especially the entirety of the Persian Gulf and some parts of the Arabian Peninsula, the name of Pars Sea has been widely written in the compiled texts.
In the travel account of Pythagoras, several chapters are related to description of his travels accompanied by Darioush, a king of Achaemenid, to Shoush and Perspolis, and the area is described. Among other writings from the same period, there is an inscription and an engraving from the fifth century BC installed at the junction of the waters of Arabian Gulf (Ahmar Sea), the Nile River and the ‘Rome River' (now known as the Mediterranean). In these writings, Darioush - the king of Pars Empire has named the region now know as the Persian Gulf as the Pars Sea. Other historical writings regarding the Persian Gulf include a world map drawn by Hecataeus (472 to 509 B.C.) within which the Persian Gulf and Arabian Gulf (Red Sea) have been clearly shown. Another map, drawn by Herodotus (the great historian of Greece (425-484 B.C.)), has survived and introduces Red Sea as the Arabian Gulf. Straben, the Greek historian of the second half of the first century BCE and the first half of the first century AD wrote: Arabs are living between the Arabian Gulf and the Persian Gulf. 
Equally, in the world map drawn by Diseark (285-347 B.C.), the Persian Gulf and Arabian Gulf can be clearly distinguished. Myriad other maps prepared up to the 8th century by the scientists and geographical researchers such as Hecataeus, Hiparek, Claudius Batlamious, Krats Malous, and in the Islamic period, Mohammad Ibn Mousa Kharazmi, Abou Yousef Eshagh Kandi, Ibn Khardazabeh, Harrani (Batani), Masoudi, Abou Zeyd Balkhi, Estakhri, Ibn Houghal, Aboureyhan Birouni and others, mention that there is a wide sea South of Iran named the Pars Sea, Pars Gulf, Fars Sea, Fars Gulf, Bahre Fars, Sinus Persicus and Mare Persicum and so on.
Today, the most common Arabic works refer to the sea in south Iran as the ʺPersian Gulfʺ, including the world famous Arabic encyclopedia `Al-Monjadʹ which is the most reliable source in this respect. 
While the .PERSIANGULF TLD ties back historically and culturally to the Middle Eastern people, it also has the potential to tie together the great number of people across the globe that may have any ties to or business in the region, including businesses, cultural institutions, civil society, NGOs and religious organizations.
A robust gTLD has the power to bring together people across national borders in a free-flowing exchange of information and commerce. There is not a .COM or .ORG equivalent of the .PERSIANGULF--a domain that has wide appeal across a common origin. ICANN is dedicated to creating more competition in the TLD space, and the introduction of those associating with the Persian Gulf through a .PERSIANGULF gTLD does so in one simple stroke.
Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. (AGITSys) was founded by individuals of Persian origin who derive a great sense of honor and pride from their community, history and ancestry. AGITSys' founders have gathered together a team with extensive experience in Persian language on the Internet, a daunting but critical task. No entity is better suited to manage the .PERSIANGULF gTLD, nor more dedicated to providing new online tools and services to facilitate the implementation and smooth-running of this gTLD. The .PERSIANGULF gTLD will increasingly open up the vast resources of the Internet and the associated global interconnectedness to those with a close affinity to the Persian Gulf, while stimulating the introduction of more online information and resources about Persian Gulf at the same time - and AGITSys will be at the helm of this change.
The proposed TLD is, quite obviously, the name of the Persian Gulf, a region in which many people live, and from which many benefit by way of resources. The total population of the countries in the Persian Gulf region exceeds 120 million people - and all of them have a sense of belonging to Persian Gulf. The .PERSIANGULF gTLD is the perfect way to easily and simply tie together these peoples of various nations, connected geographically and historically to the Persian Gulf.

The benefits of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD will be manifold, not just to registrants but also to many Middle Eastern internet users who seek a unique place to do gulf-related business or develop their identity in relation to it - as well as many others with an interest in or curiosity regarding Persian Gulf. The presence of a .PERSIANGULF gTLD will increase the volume of online resources regarding the region. It will also allow existing website registrants to extend their presence to the Persian-Gulf specific audience with new .PERSIANGULF sites, while brand new registrants will emerge from those Middle Eastern populations who are currently desirous of Persian Gulf specific gTLD - adding to the value of the Internet in ways not currently possible.
As the global population expands, more people become willing Internet users and seek out second-level domains. The .PERSIANGULF gTLD is flexible, and is thus capable of being used for sites focused on ecommerce, information dissemination, charitable endeavors and many more functions among Middle Eastern people. A transformation in competition is anticipated for web sites within .PERSIANGULF, to depart from conventional methods of attracting new customers in this expanding market. This is because it will encourage competitors, targeting the diverse group of Middle Eastern Internet users with a specific interest or business tie to the Persian Gulf region. This incentive doesnʹt currently exist in an online space devoid of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD, where competition amongst the already saturated existing TLDs is stagnant.
We expect there to be strong demand from media, traditional and nontraditional, as well as historical and cultural organizations who want to not only use .PERSIANGULF gTLD domains as a basis for generating content and interest about the region but to also show their affiliation with the Gulf region.
There is already widespread support within the Persian Community for AGITSysʹ application for .PERSIANGULF. Approximately 30,000 people have signed a petition to ICANN supporting our effort. As members of the Persian community, these people recognize the importance of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD to Persians and endorse this effort. The petition can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dot-pars/.
In terms of goals in the areas of specialty, service levels, and reputation for the proposed .PERSIANGULF gTLD, AGITSys is committed to offering choice in top level domain extensions among those interested in Persian-gulf specific domains. AGITSys is prepared to utilize its home market of Turkey as a leading source of registrants and sites, while incorporating the power of the web to connect with myriad other registrants and Internet users beyond Turkey. Further, we intend to adopt and follow the highest standards in registry operations exceeding service levels and expectations thus producing a consistent reputation.
The company is committed to bringing top-level domain registration services to registrants. To this end, AGITSys has contracted CoCCA Registry Services (NZ) Limited ("CoCCA") to provide hosted Registry Services for the .PERSIANGULF gTLD. CoCCA has over nine years experience authoring open source registry software systems and providing TLD registry support services. CoCCA was originally incorporated in Australia in 2003 as CoCCA Registry Services Limited, in January 2009 CoCCA re-located to New Zealand and trades as CoCCA Registry Services (NZ) Limited. CoCCA is a privately held NZ company.
CoCCA's clients are managers of county code top level domains (ccTLDs) as of 31 March 2012, 33 national country code top level domains ("ccTLDs") are have selected CoCCA's SRS technology or services to manage their critical infrastructure. Several other ccTLDs have committed to migration to CoCCA's "pamoja" EPP Shared Registry System ("SRS") in 2012 pending the outcome of re-delegations.
CoCCA's pamoja SRS is the most widely deployed, field-tested SRS in use today. CoCCA's SRS is a mature product that has grown organically over the past decade as new standards have been developed and published. It is doubtful any other Registry Services provider has accumulated CoCCA's level of experience operating multiple small to medium sized TLDs efficiently and securely.
AGITSys' team, including the technical advisor/member Dr. Shahram Soboutipour -who has been active on the Persian Script development for many years, is well-known in the ICANN community as a selfless champion of the interests of Persians around the world, including those who have a strong association with the Persian Gulf. We also have a long history of advising the Turkish internet industry. Our reputation is solid, and we have every incentive to maintain that reputation as we roll out the .PERSIANGULF gTLD.

Under the shepherding of AGITSys, the .PERSIANGULF gTLD will increase competition, provide more online differentiation for customers and consumers, while driving digital innovation. The addition of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD will create new competition for names within the domain name space. Not only will the offering of .PERSIANGULF domains create competition within content providers for users of Persian Gulf related content, but it is expected that competition will be enhanced among the varying service providers that users require to deploy said content. As it is rolled out, the .PERSIANGULF gTLD will rapidly develop as the gTLD of choice among those interested in content from and about the region. The demand for content from this group isn't and wonʹt be satisfied by .COM or .ORG offerings within the current gTLDs and in fact these have hampered collaboration and innovation. The Middle Eastern people, including those who have a strong affinity with the Persian Gulf, demand content that is tailored to their own unique needs and wants, under the umbrella of a dedicated gTLD. As stated in 18(a) above, as Persian Gulf related content sites increasingly seek to differentiate themselves to consumers, and registrants seek to differentiate themselves to acquirers of second-level domains, the power to differentiate will come from innovative approaches to customer service and the creation of a trusted online environment.
It is AGITSys' mission that competition and differentiation of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD will be coupled with a user experience online that is reliable and predictable. To make this as likely as possible, AGITSys will work both with existing registrars seeking to reach new audiences, as well as new registrars that may emerge from within those with a strong interest in the Persian Gulf (be it for business or personal reasons), thereby supporting ICANNʹs mission to create more capacity in developing countries. AGITSys feels it can foster more competition at the registrar level by offering assistance and encouragement to new registrars in this way. We also believe that this should and will be coupled with a positive experience for Internet users. Indeed, this is critical to the success of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD. By working with the right registrars (who maintain the right, stringent) standards for adoption and use by their own customers, AGITSys can reach its goal of having the .PERSIANGULF gTLD become synonymous with a safe and trusted online experience.
Because of its dedication to those with an interest in or affinity with the Persian Gulf region, and the .PERSIANGULF gTLD which is intended to serve it, AGITSys will implement protection measures for registrations to ensure an abuse free environment whilst maintaining choice. This will be accomplished with Registration safeguards, wildcard alerts, name selection polices, all governed by an Acceptable Use Policy and post registration protections via Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy and Uniform Rapid Suspension. More details on these policies can be found in answer to Questions 28 and 29.
The privacy offered will be total, within the rules and procedures provided by ICANN. These policies will be transparent and rigorous, modeled after successful policies implemented by currently delegated TLDs and accompanied by vigilant processes and technologies to prevent unauthorized access to information. This is a manifestation of the larger goal of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD, that of a trusted source of safe online transactions, as stipulated in 18(a).
Privacy and security will be key elements of our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The AUP will govern how a registrant may use its registered name, with a specific focus on protecting Internet users. AUP language would specifically address privacy by prohibiting a registrant from using a domain for any activity that violates the privacy or publicity rights of another person or entity, or breaches any duty of confidentiality owed to any other person or entity. The AUP also would prohibit spam or other unsolicited bulk email, or computer or network hacking or cracking, as well as the installation of any viruses, worms, bugs, Trojan horses or other code, files or programs designed to, or capable of, disrupting, damaging or limiting the functionality of any software or hardware. We would maintain complete enforcement rights over the use of the domain name. Should a registrant find itself in breach of the AUP, we would reserve the right to revoke, suspend, terminate, cancel or otherwise modify their rights to the domain name.
In terms of outreach by the .PERSIANGULF gTLD, it is expected that the momentum around .PERSIANGULF will build quickly, given the pent-up demand that has been building for years within the ranks of the Middle Eastern people who have particular interests, or vested interests, in the Persian Gulf region. AGITSys, as its champion in gTLD discussions, knows full well how popular this service will be.
Augmenting this, AGITSys is also active in the business community within Turkey and Middle Eastern countries, and interconnected across the spectrum of the Persian-gulf affiliates due to its promotional efforts with ICANN and elsewhere. It will leverage that network to spread the word of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD in order to promote adoption. The best steps AGITSys can take to ensure the gTLDʹs adoption and growth, however, are to ensure a system encouraging robust, safe and dynamic second-level domain sites.

AGITSys will endeavor to the utmost in order to minimize the social costs to registrants of a .PERSIANGULF second-level domain, not least because AGITSys has every incentive to encourage the adoption and growth of the .PERSIANGULF domain. AGITSys has chosen to adopt CoCCA's tested acceptable use based policy matrix, recommendations for minimizing harm in TLDs, and subject the TLD to the CoCCA Complaint Resolution Service ("CRS").
The CoCCA Best practice policy matrix has been developed over a decade and has currently been adopted by 16 TLDs. It was developed for (and by) ccTLDs managers that desired to operate an efficient standards-based SRS system complemented by a policy environment that addressed a registrant's use of a string as well as the more traditional gTLD emphasis rights to string.
A key element of CoCCA's policy matrix is that it provides for registry-level suspensions where there is evidence of AUP violations. The TLD will join other TLDs that utilize the CoCCA's single-desk CRS. The CRS provides a framework for the public, law enforcement, regulatory bodies and intellectual property owners to swiftly address concerns regarding the use of domains, and the COCCA network. The AUP can be used to address concerns regarding a domain or any other resource record that appears in the zone.
The CRS procedure provides an effective alternative to the court system while allowing for Complaints against domains to be handled in a way treats each complaint in a fair and equal manor and allows for all affected parties to present evidence and arguments in a constructive forum.
AGITSys is also currently developing procedures for competition resolution regarding multiple registrations for the same second-level domain in addition to offering the required Sunrise offerings through general availability. AGITSys will model these procedures after the techniques and approaches that have succeeded best to date.
In terms of cost, benefits, and incentives to registrants, AGITSys will offers will be fair and competitive. Competitive pricing and/or discounts will be used and adjusted accordingly to ensure the right incentive matches the phase of operation and business goals. AGITSys' business plan increases our confidence in offerings that will encourage growing adoption of the .PERSIANGULF gTLD.
Each year, AGITSys will review its financial goals versus actual performance of registry operations. Output from the analysis will include the consideration of pricing versus demand for registrations. As with any for-profit entity, adequate cash flow and predictable revenue streams are essential to successful operations. As such, AGITSys may adjust pricing of domain registrations to align with evolving business goals. Adjustments can include not only price increases, but perhaps price decreases, but only current market analysis will dictate change. Therefore, AGITSys will document in the Registrant Agreement domain price change procedures and how they can be expect to learn about changes through our communications platform. In the end, serving those with a clear affinity with the Persian Gulf through Internet technologies remains our first priority.

Protection of Geographic Names
Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. has chosen CoCCA Registry Services (NZ) Limited (CoCCA) as their registry services provider. CoCCA has over 12 years of experience in authoring registry software and providing registry support services. With 35 national TLDs relying on CoCCA's technology to manage critical infrastructure, the CoCCA EPP Shared Registry System (SRS) is the most widely deployed, field-tested SRS in use today. In many respects new niche market gTLDs are predicted to more closely resemble existing ccTLD name spaces than the current gTLD ones. CoCCAʹs commercial model and technology enables TLD Sponsoring Organizations to focus on operating the front end portion of the registry including sales, marketing and community relations while leaving the operational aspects to the proven team at CoCCA.
In addition to technology CoCCA has a considered and tested set of leading - practice policies designed to address security, stability, rights protection, abuse mitigation, privacy and other issues, CoCCA is a trusted partner for Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. to operate the .persiangulf in a manner that is fully compliant with all ICANN rules and regulations.
CoCCA, on behalf of the Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti., intends to implement the following measures to protect geographical names at the second and at all other levels within the TLD:

Reservation Measures for Geographical Names
Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. will adhere to Specification 5 of the proposed Registry Agreement, "Schedule of Reserved Names at the Second Level in gTLD Registries" / section 5 titled "Country and Territory Names." The geographic names listed in the following internationally approved documents will be reserved at the second level within the TLD and at all other levels where registrations occur:
(1.i.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
(1.i.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
(1.i.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.

Potential Release of Geographical Names
Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. is committed to working with governments and other stakeholders that may have a concern regarding the registration of names with national or geographic significance at the second level. If Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. decides to release reserved geographical names, Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. will abide by the process outlined in Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement by seeking agreement from the applicable government(s). Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. understands that any release of the geographical names may be subject to Governmental Advisory Committee review and approval by ICANN.

Review, Audit, and Updates to Policies
Policy management is dynamic in nature requiring continual management. The Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. in conjunction with CoCCA's assistance will be engaged in policy development efforts in general and with respect to protections of geographical domain names. Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. will review and consider suggestions or concerns from government, public authorities or IGOʹs regarding this policy. And as with all required policies, Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. will perform openly and transparent should updates to existing policy or the creation of new policy be required. Further, Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti.ʹ internal process continually reviews and manages its reserve lists as one part of the abuse prevention mechanisms described in greater detail within question 28, "Abuse Prevention and Mitigation."