URS Service Provider Application Process

The Uniform Rapid Suspension System is a rights protection mechanism that complements the existing Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) by offering a lower-cost, faster path to relief for rights holders experiencing the most clear-cut cases of infringement. Organizations seeking approval as URS service provider should demonstrate the ability to satisfy the requirements of the URS as provided in the following documents:

• URS Procedure [PDF, 168 KB] (Published 01 March 2013)
  Explains how to file a claim, what fees will be incurred and other information.
• URS Rules [PDF, 98 KB] (Published 28 June 2013)
  Describes how providers will implement the URS in a consistent manner.
• URS Technical Requirements 1.0 [PDF, 649 KB] (Published 17 October 2013)
  Describes how Registries and Registrars will implement the URS technical requirements in a consistent manner.

Experience Requirements

ICANN expects that applicant will, at a minimum, satisfy the following experience requirements:

1. Must possess a thorough knowledge of the URS, its purpose and intended function.
2. Have a demonstrated ability to handle administrative proceedings in an expedited, global, online context in an orderly and fair manner.
3. Have a team of globally diverse and highly qualified neutrals, with experience handling UDRP or similar complaints, to serve as examiners.
4. Have the ability to scale quickly to meet the demands of an unknown number of complaints while meeting the time requirements to resolve complaints.
5. Able to manage cases in multiple languages.
6. Have a demonstrated understanding of global intellectual property issues as they relate to the Internet.

Required Items in the Application

1. Company Information and Background

   • Applicant must provide the following information regarding the organization:
     • Name
     • Street Address
     • City, State & Zip
     • State/Country of Incorporation
     • Phone
     • Fax
     • Website
   • Please indicate if the organization is a subsidiary of any other company.
     • If so, please indicate the parent company and how you are managed by the parent (actively or autonomously).
   • List the responding organization's key senior management personnel and their titles.
   • Please indicate if you are an affiliate of any ICANN accredited registrar, registry or other contracted party or have any ownership interest in any ICANN accredited registrar, registry or other contracted party with ICANN.
   • Please indicate if you provide any advisory or consulting services to gTLD applicants or registry providers of gTLDs.
   • Describe the team that will manage and execute the URS process. Please include
     • The organizational structure of the team.
     • Roles and responsibilities for each key team member.
     • The name and description of any other organizations that will participate in the delivery of the services.

2. Executive Summary

   • What characteristics most distinguish your organization from your competitors?
   • Summarize the key points of the response including the benefits to the Internet community of engaging your organization.

3. Qualifications and Approach

   • Provide an overview of the global resources of your organization.
   • Describe your organization's qualifications to deliver the required URS services including addressing the experience requirements of examiners.
     • A list of at least twenty names and qualifications of the examiners your organization proposes to include on its published list, and a description of the screening requirements your organization has used in selecting examiners to be included on its list.
     • A commitment by your organization not to prevent or discourage any of its listed examiners from serving as panelists for domain-name disputes administered by other approved URS service providers.
   • Identify the internal processes which keep your organization abreast of relevant industry issues/trends including any thoughts on keeping the public informed of new trends related to cybersquatting and intellectual property abuse over the Internet.
     • Provide examples of any relevant thought leadership, industry participation, and publications that highlight your experience.
     • A description of training and educational measures your organization proposes to employ for the listed examiners with respect to domain-name disputes, the URS Procedure, and the URS Rules.
   • Describe the internal processes to be followed to effectively administer the URS, including guiding principles, critical events, and quality control mechanisms.
   • A copy of your organization's proposed supplemental rules (including fee schedule).
   • An overview of your organization's capabilities and background in providing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, including a description of your organization's track record of handling the administrative and clerical aspects of expedited ADR proceedings.
     • A description of how your organization proposes to administer proceedings, including its interactions with parties, ICANN, and other approved URS service providers.
     • Describe the communication processes that will keep ICANN, the complainant(s), the Registrant, Registry, and the public timely informed of complaints and outcomes.
     • A proposed schedule for your organization's implementation of its program for administering proceedings, including a statement of organization's administrative capacity in terms of number of proceedings initiated on a monthly basis.
     • A statement of any requested limitations on the number of proceedings that your organization handles, either during a start-up period or on a permanent basis.
     • A description of how your organization intends to publish decisions of panels in proceedings it administers and a commitment to provide ICANN with copies of all portions of decisions of panels not published.
   • A demonstration of the technological capabilities to accept complaint submission and process them in a timely manner meeting the rapid requirement of the URS. This should include discussions of meeting the URS Technical Requirements.
   • Evidence of Errors & Omissions Insurance in an amount of not less than USD 1,000,000.

Submission of Application

Please submit an electronic copy of your application to URS_EOI@icann.org.