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Proposed
TLD Sponsorship Agreement
Posted:
29 August 2001
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TLD Sponsorship
Agreement
This TLD SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT
("Agreement") is by and between the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers, a not-for-profit corporation, and [insert
Sponsor's name], a [insert jurisdiction and type of organization].
1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
1.1.
The "Authoritative Root-Server System" means the constellation
of DNS root-nameservers specified, from time to time, in the file
<ftp://rs.internic.net/domain/named.root>.
1.2.
The "Charter" refers to Attachment 1.
1.3.
The "DNS" refers to the Internet domain-name system.
1.4.
The "Effective Date" is the date on which this Agreement
is first signed on behalf of both parties.
1.5.
"Eligibility and Name-Selection Services" or "ENS Services"
refer to (a) application of policies concerning eligibility of persons
or entities to receive new or renewal registrations of Registered
Names and (b) application of policies concerning selection of Registered
Names to be registered to particular persons or entities.
1.6.
The "Expiration Date" is the date specified in Subsection
5.1.1.
1.7.
"ICANN" refers to the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers, which is a party to this Agreement, or any assignee
of it under Subsection 5.11.
1.8.
An "ICANN-Accredited Registrar" is an entity or person accredited
by ICANN to act as a registrar for domain names within the domain
of the Sponsored TLD.
1.9.
The "Initial Policy Development and Demonstration Period"
is the period, if any, defined by the start-up plan described in Attachment
8. The Initial Policy Development and Demonstration Period is intended
to allow the Sponsor, working with the participation of the Sponsored
TLD Community, to develop and demonstrate the initial naming conventions
and other policies for the Sponsored TLD.
1.10.
"Personal Data" refers to data about any identified or identifiable
natural person.
1.11.
"Registered Name" refers to a domain name within the domain
of the Sponsored TLD, whether at the second or a lower level, about
which Registry Operator or an affiliate maintains data in a Registry
Database, arranges for such maintenance, or derives revenue from such
maintenance. A name in a Registry Database may be a Registered
Name even though it does not appear in a zone file.
1.12.
"Registered Name Holder" means the holder of a Registered
Name.
1.13.
"Registry Data" means all Registry Database data maintained
in electronic form, and shall include Zone-File Data, all data used
to provide Registry Services submitted by registrars in electronic
form, and all other data used to provide Registry Services concerning
particular domain name registrations or nameservers maintained in
electronic form in the Registry Database.
1.14.
"Registry Database" means a database comprised of data about
one or more DNS domain names within the domain of the Sponsored TLD
that is used to generate either DNS resource records that are published
authoritatively or responses to domain-name availability lookup requests
or Whois queries, for some or all of those names.
1.15.
"Registry Operator" refers to the entity or entities under
contractual obligation with Sponsor from time to time to provide Registry
Services for the Sponsored TLD, as described in Subsection 3.2.
1.16.
"Registry Services" means services provided as an integral
part of the operation of the Sponsored TLD, including all subdomains
in which Registered Names are registered. In determining whether a
service is integral to the operation of the Sponsored TLD, consideration
will be given to the extent to which the Sponsored TLD's Registry
Operator has been materially advantaged in providing the service by
its designation by the Sponsor. The development of technology, expertise,
systems, efficient operations, reputation (including identification
as Registry Operator), financial strength, or relationships with registrars
and third parties shall not be deemed an advantage arising from the
designation. Registry Services include: receipt of data concerning
registration of domain names and nameservers from registrars, provision
to registrars of status information relating to the Sponsored TLD,
dissemination of TLD zone files, operation of the Sponsored TLD zone
servers, dissemination of contact and other information concerning
domain-name and nameserver registrations in the Sponsored TLD, ENS
Services, and such other services required by ICANN in the manner
provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6. Registry Services shall not
include the provision of nameservice for a domain used by a single
entity under a Registered Name registered through an ICANN-Accredited
Registrar.
1.17.
"Sponsor" refers to [insert Sponsor's name] the Sponsoring
Organization for the Sponsored TLD, which is a party to this Agreement,
or any assignee of it under Subsection 5.11.
1.18.
"Sponsored TLD" refers to the [insert TLD label] TLD.
1.19.
"Sponsored TLD Community" means the community defined in
Subsection 3.1.
1.20.
"Term of this Agreement" begins on the Effective Date and
continues until the earlier of (a) the Expiration Date, or (b) termination
of this Agreement. This Agreement may be renewed according to the
provisions of Subsection 5.2.
1.21.
"TLD" refers to a top-level domain in the DNS.
1.22.
"Zone-File Data" means all data contained in a DNS zone
file for the Registry TLD as provided to nameservers on the Internet.
2. ICANN
OBLIGATIONS.
2.1.
Creation of Sponsored TLD. ICANN hereby agrees to establish
(to the extent it has the authority) and otherwise to use commercially
reasonable efforts to establish, in the Authoritative Root-Server
System, the Sponsored TLD for the purposes outlined in the Charter
attached as Attachment 1.
2.2.
Designation of Sponsor; Delegation of Policy-Development Responsibility.
ICANN hereby designates Sponsor as the sponsoring organization for
the Sponsored TLD during the Term of this Agreement. ICANN hereby
delegates to the Sponsor the authority to develop policies for the
Sponsored TLD consistent with the requirements of Section 4 and the
provisions of Attachment 2 of this Agreement.
2.3.
Recognition in Authoritative Root-Server System. During the
Term of this Agreement, Sponsor may, by notifying ICANN, request (a)
delegation of the Sponsored TLD to specified DNS nameservers and (b)
changes in that delegation. Any such request must be made by Sponsor,
or its authorized representative (which may be the Registry Operator)
designated in a written notice to ICANN, in a format, and otherwise
meet technical requirements, specified from time to time by ICANN.
The initial format and technical requirements are set forth in Attachment
3. Changes to the format and technical requirements may be made only
with the written consent of Sponsor (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
ICANN will use commercially reasonable efforts to have such requests
implemented in the Authoritative Root-Server System within five business
days of the submission.
2.4.
Recognition in the Root-Zone Contact Database. To the extent
ICANN publishes contact data regarding TLDs, during the Term of this
Agreement it will show the Sponsored TLD's sponsor as Sponsor and
the Sponsored TLD's registry operator, administrative contact, and
technical contact as requested from time to time by Sponsor. Any such
request must be made by Sponsor, or its authorized representative
(which may be the Registry Operator) designated in a written notice
to ICANN, in a format, include the elements of contact data, and otherwise
meet technical requirements, specified from time to time by ICANN.
The initial requirements for these requests are set forth in Attachment
4. Changes to the requirements for requests may be made only with
the written consent of Sponsor (which shall not be unreasonably withheld)
or in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
2.5.
Other Obligations of ICANN. During the Term of this Agreement,
ICANN shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
2.5.1.
maintain, or cause to be maintained, a stable, secure, authoritative,
and publicly available database of relevant information regarding
the delegation of the Sponsored TLD;
2.5.2.
generate, or cause to be generated, authoritative and accurate root
zone information from such database and operate, or cause to be
operated, the Authoritative Root Server System in a stable and secure
manner;
2.5.3.
maintain, or cause to be maintained, authoritative records and an
audit trail regarding delegations of the Sponsored TLD and records
related to these delegations; and
2.5.4.
inform Sponsor in a timely manner of any changes to ICANN's contact
information.
2.6.
Use of ICANN Name. ICANN hereby grants to Sponsor a non-exclusive,
worldwide, royalty-free license during the Term of this Agreement
(a) to state that it is designated by ICANN as the sponsor for the
Sponsored TLD, (b) to use a logo specified by ICANN to signify that
Sponsor is an ICANN-designated sponsor, and (c) to link to pages and
documents within the ICANN web site. No other use of ICANN's name
or logo is licensed hereby. This license may not be assigned or sublicensed
by Sponsor.
3. SPONSOR'S
OBLIGATIONS.
3.1.
Obligation to Maintain Representative Characteristics Justifying
Original Selection of Sponsor. During the Term of this Agreement,
Sponsor (a) agrees to ensure it remains at least as representative
of the Sponsored TLD Community as it was at the time of its selection,
and (b) shall be responsible for developing policies for, and providing
for the operation of, the Sponsored TLD in the interest of the Sponsored
TLD Community in accordance with Subsections 3.2 through 3.16 and
4.2. The "Sponsored TLD Community" means actual registrants
of names within the Sponsored TLD, individuals or entities qualifying
for registration under the policies applicable to the Sponsored TLD,
and any other affected parties included in the community description
contained in Attachment 5 to this Agreement.
3.2.
Obligation to Arrange for the Provision of Registry Services.
Sponsor shall, by contract with a third-party Registry Operator, provide
for the provision of Registry Services meeting the minimum functional
specifications described by Subsection 3.3 and the minimum performance
specifications described by Subsection 3.4. The obligations of this
Subsection 3.2 will commence on the schedule specified by the start-up
plan in Attachment 8.
3.3.
Minimum Functional Specifications for Registry Services. Registry
Services provided in the Sponsored TLD shall meet functional specifications
prescribed by Sponsor, which shall meet at least the minimum requirements
established from time to time by ICANN. The minimum functional specifications
initially required by ICANN are set forth in Attachment 6. Changes
to the minimum required functional specifications may be made only
in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.4.
Minimum Performance Specifications for Registry Services. Registry
Services provided in the Sponsored TLD shall meet performance specifications
prescribed by Sponsor, which shall meet at least the minimum requirements
established from time to time by ICANN. The minimum performance specifications
initially required by ICANN are set forth in Attachment 7. Changes
to the minimum required performance specifications may be made only
in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.5.
Start-Up Plan. Sponsor shall commence the offering of Registry
Services for the Sponsored TLD, including the provision of nameservice
for the Sponsored TLD, according to the schedule and procedures set
forth in the start-up plan in Attachment 8.
3.6.
Use of ICANN-Accredited Registrars. The Sponsor shall ensure
that all Registry Services are provided through one or more ICANN-Accredited
Registrars, except to the extent that (a) Attachment 2 delegates to
Sponsor the authority to provide or to arrange for the provision of
ENS Services by means other than ICANN-Accredited Registrars or (b)
the start-up plan in Attachment 8 provides for a different means of
providing Registry Services. Sponsor may select the ICANN-Accredited
Registrars eligible to obtain Registry Services according to the provisions
of Attachment 9. Sponsor shall enter its standard written agreement
authorizing the provision of Registry Services (its "Authorizing
Agreement") with any ICANN-Accredited Registrar so selected that
wishes to enter an Authorizing Agreement and is able to comply with
its terms. Sponsor shall require Registry Operator to provide equivalent
treatment with respect to Registry Services to all ICANN-Accredited
Registrars that are in compliance with a currently effective Authorizing
Agreement. All Registry Services shall be provided through ICANN-Accredited
Registrars strictly in accordance with the terms of their Authorizing
Agreements. The terms of the Authorizing Agreement shall be consistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, including specifications and
policies established according to Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.7.
Registration Requirements. Sponsor shall ensure that all registrants
in the Sponsored TLD have entered into contractual commitments, directly
enforceable by Sponsor, containing at least the provisions set forth
in Attachment 10. The commitments may be set forth either in a registration
agreement between the registrant and an authorized ICANN-Accredited
Registrar or in an agreement directly between the registrant and Sponsor.
Sponsor may require (in a manner consistent with Subsection 4.2) that
registrants make additional commitments as a condition of registration
in the Sponsored TLD, provided that those commitments are otherwise
consistent with this Agreement (including Section 4).
3.8.
Registration Restrictions Within Sponsored TLD.
3.8.1.
Except to the extent that ICANN otherwise expressly authorizes in
writing, Sponsor shall reserve from registration the domain names
specified by a schedule established by ICANN. The initial schedule
is attached as Attachment 11. Changes to the schedule may be made
only in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.8.2.
Sponsor shall also establish policies, in conformity with the Charter,
for the naming conventions within the Sponsored TLD and for requirements
of registration. Sponsor shall ensure the application and enforcement
of those policies in a manner consistent with Subsection 4.2.
3.8.3.
Sponsor shall establish procedures for enforcement of registration
requirements, and for challenges to particular registrations. Procedures
for challenges to names registered contrary to the requirements
of the Charter shall conform with the requirements set forth in
Attachment 12. Changes to those procedures may be made only with
the mutual written consent of ICANN and Sponsor (which neither party
shall withhold without reason) or in the manner provided in Subsections
4.3 through 4.6.
3.9.
Registrations Not Sponsored by Registrars. Sponsor may register
directly with the Registry Operator the domain names listed on Attachment
13 for its own use in sponsoring the Sponsored TLD. The total number
of domain names listed on Attachment 13 at any time shall not exceed
1000. At the conclusion of its designation by ICANN as the sponsor
for the Sponsored TLD, Sponsor shall transfer all such domain-name
registrations to the entity or person specified by ICANN, except for
registrations of those domain names that Attachment 13 specifically
indicates that the Sponsor may retain, subject to registration policies
applicable in the Sponsored TLD. As instructed from time to time by
ICANN, Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator maintains the registration
of up to 1000 domain names within the Sponsored TLD for use by ICANN
and other organizations responsible for coordination of the Internet's
infrastructure.
3.10.
Bulk Access to Zone Files. Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator
provides bulk access to the zone files for the Sponsored TLD as follows:
3.10.1.
to third parties on the terms set forth in the TLD zone file
access agreement established by ICANN. The initial terms of the
agreement are set forth as Attachment 14 to this Agreement. Changes
to the terms of the TLD zone file access agreement may be made only
with the mutual written consent of ICANN and Sponsor or in the manner
provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.10.2.
to ICANN on a continuous basis in the manner that ICANN may
from time to time specify.
3.11.
Publication of Registry Data.
3.11.1.
At its expense, Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator provides
free public query-based access to up-to-date data concerning domain-name
and nameserver registrations maintained by Registry Operator in
connection with the Sponsored TLD. The data elements reported, format
of responses to queries, data update frequency, query types supported,
and protocols through which access is provided shall be as established
by ICANN. The initial specification of the data elements reported,
format of responses to queries, minimum data update frequency, query
types supported, and protocols through which access is provided
are set forth in Attachment 15. Sponsor may request supplementation
of the specification to include additional data elements reported
or query types supported, in which event ICANN shall act to supplement
the specification in a reasonable manner within a reasonable time.
Other changes to the specification may be made only with the mutual
written consent of ICANN and Sponsor (which neither party shall
withhold without reason) or in the manner provided in Subsections
4.3 through 4.6.
3.11.2.
To ensure operational stability of the registry, Sponsor may allow
Registry Operator to temporarily limit access under Subsection 3.11.1
in which case Sponsor shall immediately notify ICANN of the nature
of and reason for the limitation. Sponsor shall not continue the
limitation longer than a period established by ICANN if ICANN objects
in writing, which objection shall not be unreasonably made. The
period shall initially be five business days; changes to that period
may be made only with the mutual written consent of ICANN and Sponsor
(which neither party shall withhold without reason) or in the manner
provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6. Such temporary limitations
shall be applied in a non-arbitrary manner and shall apply fairly
to all ICANN-Accredited Registrars authorized to register names
in the Sponsored TLD.
3.11.3.
In providing query-based public access to registration data as required
by this Subsection 3.11, Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator
does not impose terms and conditions on use of the data provided
except as permitted by policy established by ICANN. Unless and until
ICANN establishes a different policy, Sponsor shall permit use of
data it provides in response to queries for any lawful purposes
except to: (a) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission
by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial
advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's
own existing customers; or (b) enable high volume, automated, electronic
processes that send queries or data to the systems of Registry Operator
or any ICANN-Accredited Registrar authorized to register names in
the Sponsored TLD, except as reasonably necessary to register domain
names or modify existing registrations. Changes to that policy may
be made only in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.11.4.
To comply with applicable statutes and regulations and for other
reasons, ICANN may from time to time establish policies in the manner
described by Subsections 4.3 through 4.6 establishing limits on
the data concerning registrations that Sponsor, through Registry
Operator, may make available to the public through a public-access
service described in this Subsection 3.11 and on the manner in which
Sponsor may make them available. In the event ICANN establishes
any such policy, Sponsor shall abide by it within the time allowed
by Subsection 4.6.
3.11.5.
At its expense, Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator provides
bulk access to up-to-date data concerning domain-name and nameserver
registrations maintained by Registry Operator in connection with
the Sponsored TLD in the following two ways:
3.11.5.1
on a daily schedule, only for purposes of providing free public
query-based access to up-to-date data concerning domain-name and
nameserver registrations in multiple TLDs, to a party designated
from time to time in writing by ICANN. The content and format
of this data, and the procedures for providing access, shall be
as established by ICANN. The initial content, format, and procedures
are set forth in Attachment 16. Changes to that content and format
and those procedures may be made only with the mutual written
consent of ICANN and Sponsor (which neither party shall withhold
without reason) or in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through
4.6.
3.11.5.2
on a continuous basis, to ICANN in the manner which ICANN may
from time to time reasonably specify, only for purposes of verifying
and ensuring the operational stability of the Sponsored TLD, the
DNS, and the Internet The content and format of this data, and
the procedures for providing access, shall be as established by
ICANN. The initial content, format, and procedures are set forth
in Attachment 17. Changes to that content and format and those
procedures may be made only with the mutual written consent of
ICANN and Sponsor (which neither party shall withhold without
reason) or in the manner provided in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.12.
Data Escrow. Sponsor shall ensure Registry Operator periodically
deposits into escrow all Registry Data in an electronic format. The
escrow shall be maintained, at Sponsor's or Registry Operator's expense,
by a reputable escrow agent mutually approved by Sponsor and ICANN,
such approval also not to be unreasonably withheld by either party.
The schedule, content, format, and procedure for escrow deposits shall
be as established by ICANN from time to time. The initial schedule,
content, format, and procedure shall be as set forth in Attachment
18. Changes to the schedule, content, format, and procedure may be
made only with the mutual written consent of ICANN and Sponsor (which
neither party shall withhold without reason) or in the manner provided
in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6. The escrow shall be held under an
agreement, substantially in the form of Attachment 19, among ICANN,
Sponsor, Registry Operator and the escrow agent. In the event that,
after a good-faith search by ICANN and Registry Operator, no mutually
approved escrow agent agrees to the terms of Attachment 19, ICANN
and Sponsor shall, in conjunction with a mutually approved escrow
agent, negotiate in good faith for a substitute escrow agreement.
3.13.
Handling of Personal Data. Sponsor shall ensure that Registered
Name Holders are notified of the purposes for which Personal Data
submitted by Registered Name Holders is collected, the intended uses
and categories of recipients of such Personal Data, and the mechanism
for access to and correction of such Personal Data. Sponsor shall
take and shall ensure Registry Operator takes reasonable steps to
protect Personal Data from loss, misuse, unauthorized disclosure,
alteration or destruction. Sponsor shall not and shall ensure Registry
Operator does not use or authorize the use of Personal Data in a way
that is incompatible with the notice provided to Registered Name Holders.
3.14.
Rights in Data. Neither Sponsor nor Registry Operator shall
be entitled to claim any exclusive rights in data supplied to Sponsor
or Registry Operator by or through any ICANN-Accredited Registrars
authorized to register names in the Sponsored TLD, provided that Sponsor
may claim the right to use such data for its purposes. In the event
that Registry Data is released from escrow under Subsection 3.12,
the released data shall automatically be transferred pursuant to an
irrevocable, non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, paid-up license
from Sponsor and Registry Operator to ICANN or to a party designated
in writing by ICANN.
3.15.
Registry-Level Financial Support of ICANN. During the Term
of this Agreement, Sponsor shall pay to ICANN the following fees:
3.15.1.
Fixed Registry-Level Fee. Sponsor shall pay ICANN the quarterly
Fixed Registry-Level Fee for the Sponsored TLD in an amount established
by the ICANN Board of Directors, in conformity with the ICANN bylaws
and articles of incorporation, not to exceed the Fixed Registry-Level
Fee Cap described in Subsection 3.15.4.
3.15.2.
Variable Registry-Level Fee. Sponsor shall pay ICANN a quarterly
Variable Registry-Level Fee in an amount calculated according to
a formula and method established from time to time by the ICANN
Board of Directors, in conformity with the ICANN bylaws and articles
of incorporation. The formula and method shall allocate the total
variable fee among all TLDs sponsored or operated under a sponsorship
or registry agreement with ICANN (whether the fee is collected at
the registry or registrar level) based on the relative size of the
registries for those TLDs. It shall be permissible for the formula
and method so established to do any of the following: (a) to measure
the size of a TLD's registry, at least once per year where feasible,
by the number of names under administration within the TLD by the
registry's operator, (b) to deem the number of domain names under
administration within the Sponsored TLD to be the number of Registered
Names, and (c) to provide for a deduction in computing a sponsor's
or operator's Variable Registry-Level Fee of some or all of that
sponsor's or registry operator's Fixed Registry-Level Fee. It shall
also be permissible for the formula and method to consider accreditation
fees collected from registrars as a credit applied to the Variable
Registry-Level Fee for the TLD to which the fees pertain. Groups
of registries for two or more TLDs may, with the agreement of their
sponsors or operators and ICANN, agree to allocate the variable
fee collected from them in a manner not based on the relative size
of the registries within the group, provided that the combined variable
fees collected for all the TLDs within the group is based on the
combined size of the registries in the group.
3.15.3.
Payments Must be Timely. Sponsor shall pay the quarterly
Fixed and Variable Registry-Level Fees within thirty days after
the date of ICANN's invoice for those fees. These payments shall
be made in a timely manner throughout the Term of this Agreement
and notwithstanding the pendency of any dispute between Sponsor
and ICANN. Sponsor shall pay interest on payments not timely made
at the rate of 1% per month or, if less, the maximum rate permitted
by California law.
3.15.4.
Fee Caps. The Fixed Registry-Level Fee Cap shall be US $50,000
per year until and including 30 June 2002; shall automatically increase
by 15% on July 1 of each year beginning in 2002; and may be increased
by a greater amount in the manner provided by Subsection 4.3. The
sum of the Fixed Registry-Level Fees and the Variable Registry-Level
Fees due to be paid in any year ending on any 30 June during or
within one year after the Term of this Agreement by all TLD sponsors
and registry operators having sponsorship or registry agreements
with ICANN shall not exceed the Total Registry-Level Fee Cap described
in the following sentence. The Total Registry-Level Fee Cap shall
be US $5,500,000 for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2002; shall
increase by 15% each fiscal year thereafter; and may be increased
by a greater amount in the manner provided by Subsection 4.4.
3.16.
Sponsor's Ongoing Obligation to Comply With New or Revised ICANN
Specifications and Policies. In addition to its other obligations
under this Agreement, Sponsor shall comply and shall cause Registry
Operator to comply, on a schedule consistent with Subsection 4.5,
with new or revised specifications and policies established by ICANN
on the topics described in Subsection 4.3, provided those specifications
and policies are established in the manner described in Subsection
4.4.
3.17.
Reports Provided to ICANN. Sponsor shall provide the following
periodic written reports to ICANN regarding the following:
3.17.1
Monthly Reports on Registry Operations. For each month during
the Term of this Agreement, Sponsor shall provide ICANN a written
report, giving information specified by ICANN, on operation of the
registry during the month. For months ending with fewer than 100,000
Registered Names, the report shall be provided to ICANN no later
than twenty days after the end of the calendar quarter. For months
ending with 100,000 Registered Names or more, the report shall be
provided to ICANN no later than twenty days after the end of the
month. The initial specification of information in the reports is
set forth in Attachment 20. Changes to that specification may be
made only with the mutual written consent of ICANN and Sponsor (which
neither party shall withhold without reason) or in the manner provided
in Subsections 4.3 through 4.6.
3.17.2
Data Related to Proof of Concept. Sponsor shall, for the
purpose of providing data concerning concepts to be proven by establishment
of the Sponsored TLD, provide reports concerning the Sponsored TLD's
operation on a schedule and with content specified in Attachment
21.
4. PROCEDURES
FOR ESTABLISHMENT OR REVISION OF SPECIFICATIONS AND POLICIES.
4.1.
General Obligations of ICANN. With respect to all matters that
affect the rights, obligations, or role of Sponsor, ICANN shall:
4.1.1.
exercise its responsibilities in an open and transparent manner;
4.1.2.
not unreasonably restrain competition and, to the extent feasible,
promote and encourage robust competition;
4.1.3.
not apply standards, policies, procedures or practices arbitrarily,
unjustifiably, or inequitably and not single out Sponsor for disparate
treatment unless justified by substantial and reasonable cause;
and
4.1.4.
ensure, through its reconsideration and independent review policies,
adequate appeal procedures for Sponsor, to the extent it is adversely
affected by ICANN standards, policies, procedures or practices.
4.2.
General Obligations of Sponsor. During the Term of this Agreement,
Sponsor shall, in developing or enforcing standards, policies, procedures,
or practices within the scope of its delegated authority with respect
to the Sponsored TLD:
4.2.1.
publish such standards, policies, procedures, and practices so they
are available to members of the Sponsored TLD Community;
4.2.2.
conduct its policy-development activities in manner that reasonably
provides opportunities for members of the Sponsored TLD Community
to discuss and participate in the development of such standards,
policies, procedures, or practices;
4.2.3.
maintain the representativeness of its policy-development and implementation
process by establishing procedures that facilitate participation
by a broad cross-section of the Sponsored TLD Community;
4.2.4.
ensure, through published procedures, adequate opportunities for
members of the Sponsored TLD Community to submit their views on
and objections to the establishment or revision of standards, policies,
procedures, and practices or the manner in which standards, policies,
procedures, and practices are enforced;
4.2.5.
ensure that any revenues received by Sponsor or any affiliated entity
directly or indirectly from the provision of Registry Services are
used solely for the benefit of the Sponsored TLD Community; and
4.2.6.
ensure that any contract with a Registry Operator precludes any
control by that Registry Operator over the policy-development process
of the Sponsored TLD.
4.3.
Topics for New and Revised ICANN Specifications and Policies.
ICANN may establish new and revised specifications and policies applicable
to the Sponsored TLD, according to the procedure stated in Subsection
4.4, on the following topics:
4.3.1.
issues for which uniform or coordinated resolution is reasonably
necessary to facilitate interoperability, technical reliability,
and/or operational stability of Registry Services, the DNS, or the
Internet;
4.3.2.
safety and integrity of the Registry Database;
4.3.3.
procedures to avoid disruptions of registration due to suspension
or termination of operations by a sponsor, registry operator, or
a registrar, including procedures for allocation of responsibility
for serving Registered Names affected by such a suspension or termination;
4.3.4.
maintenance of and access to accurate and up-to-date contact information
for registrants and Registered Names;
4.3.5.
registry policies reasonably necessary to implement Consensus Policies
relating to registrars;
4.3.6.
except to the extent policy-development responsibility is delegated
to Sponsor by Attachment 2, the following topics:
4.3.6.1
resolution of disputes regarding whether the particular parties
may register or maintain registration of particular domain names;
4.3.6.2
principles for allocation of Registered Names (e.g., landrush
procedures, timely renewal requirements, holding period after
expiration);
4.3.6.3
prohibitions on warehousing of or speculation in domain names
by registries or registrars; and
4.3.6.4
functional and performance specifications for the provision of
Registry Services;
4.3.7.
reservation of Registered Names that may not be registered initially
or that may not be renewed due to reasons reasonably related to
(a) avoidance of confusion among or misleading of users, (b) intellectual
property, or (c) the technical management of the DNS or the Internet
(e.g., establishment of reservations of names from registration);
and
4.3.8.
other matters as to which ICANN is authorized to develop new or
revised specifications or policies by other provisions of this Agreement.
4.4.
Manner of ICANN's Establishment of New and Revised Specifications
and Policies.
4.4.1.
"Consensus Policies" are those specifications or policies
established based on a consensus among Internet stakeholders represented
in the ICANN process, as demonstrated by (a) action of the ICANN
Board of Directors establishing the specification or policy, (b)
a recommendation, adopted by at least a two-thirds vote of the council
of the ICANN Supporting Organization to which the matter is delegated,
that the specification or policy should be established, and (c)
a written report and supporting materials (which must include all
substantive submissions to the Supporting Organization relating
to the proposal) that (i) documents the extent of agreement and
disagreement among impacted groups, (ii) documents the outreach
process used to seek to achieve adequate representation of the views
of groups that are likely to be impacted, and (iii) documents the
nature and intensity of reasoned support and opposition to the proposed
policy.
4.4.2.
In the event that Sponsor disputes the presence of such a consensus,
it shall seek review of that issue from an Independent Review Panel
established under ICANN's bylaws. Such review must be sought within
fifteen working days of the publication of the Board's action establishing
the policy. The decision of the panel shall be based on the report
and supporting materials required by Subsection 4.4.1. In the event
that Sponsor seeks review and the Independent Review Panel sustains
the Board's determination that the policy is based on a consensus
among Internet stakeholders represented in the ICANN process, then
Sponsor must implement such policy unless it promptly seeks and
obtains a stay or injunctive relief under Subsection 5.9.
4.4.3.
If, following a decision by the Independent Review Panel convened
under Subsection 4.4.2, Sponsor still disputes the presence of such
a consensus, it may seek further review of that issue within fifteen
working days of publication of the decision in accordance with the
dispute resolution procedures set forth in Subsection 5.9; provided,
however, that Sponsor must continue to implement the policy unless
it has obtained a stay or injunctive relief under Subsection 5.9
or a final decision is rendered in accordance with the provisions
of Subsection 5.9 that relieves Sponsor of such obligation. The
decision in any such further review shall be based on the report
and supporting materials required by Subsection 4.4.1.
4.4.4.
A specification or policy established by the ICANN Board of Directors
on a temporary basis, without a prior recommendation by the council
of an ICANN Supporting Organization, shall also be considered to
be a Consensus Policy if adopted by the ICANN Board of Directors
by a vote of at least two-thirds of its members, so long as the
Board reasonably determines that immediate temporary establishment
of a specification or policy on the subject is necessary to maintain
the operational stability of Registry Services, the DNS, or the
Internet, and that the proposed specification or policy is as narrowly
tailored as feasible to achieve those objectives. In establishing
any specification or policy under this provision, the ICANN Board
of Directors shall state the period of time for which the specification
or policy is temporarily adopted and shall immediately refer the
matter to the appropriate Supporting Organization for its evaluation
and review with a detailed explanation of its reasons for establishing
the temporary specification or policy and why the Board believes
the policy should receive the consensus support of Internet stakeholders.
If the period of time for which the specification or policy is adopted
exceeds ninety days, the Board shall reaffirm its temporary establishment
every ninety days for a total period not to exceed one year, in
order to maintain such specification or policy in effect until such
time as it meets the standard set forth in Subsection 4.4.1. If
the standard set forth in Subsection 4.4.1 is not met within the
temporary period set by the Board, or the council of the Supporting
Organization to which it has been referred votes to reject the temporary
specification or policy, it will no longer be a "Consensus
Policy."
4.4.5.
For all purposes under this Agreement, the policies identified in
Attachment 22 shall be treated in the same manner and have the same
effect as "Consensus Policies."
4.4.6.
In the event that, at the time the ICANN Board adopts a specification
or policy under Subsection 4.4.1 during the Term of this Agreement,
ICANN does not have in place an Independent Review Panel established
under ICANN's bylaws, the fifteen-working-day period allowed under
Subsection 4.4.2 to seek review shall be extended until fifteen
working days after ICANN does have such an Independent Review Panel
in place and Sponsor shall not be obligated to comply ICANN with
the specification or policy in the interim.
4.5
Time Allowed for Compliance with Newly Established ICANN Specifications
and Policies. Sponsor shall be afforded a reasonable period of
time, (not to exceed four months unless the nature of the specification
or policy established under Subsections 4.3 and 4.4 reasonably requires,
as agreed to by ICANN and Sponsor, a longer period), after receiving
notice of the establishment of a specification or policy under Subsections
4.3 and 4.4 in which to comply with that specification or policy,
taking into account any urgency involved
4.6
Indemnification of Sponsor. ICANN shall indemnify, defend,
and hold harmless Sponsor (including its directors, officers, employees,
and agents) from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities,
costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses,
arising solely from Sponsor's compliance as required by this Agreement
with an ICANN specification or policy (including, without limitation,
a Consensus Policy) established after the Effective Date; except that
Sponsor shall not be indemnified or held harmless hereunder to the
extent that the claims, damages or liabilities arise from the particular
manner in which Sponsor has chosen to comply with the specification
or policy, where it was possible for Sponsor to comply in a manner
by which the claims, damages, or liabilities would not arise.
5. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS.
5.1.
Expiration of this Agreement.
5.1.1.
The Expiration Date shall be five years after the Effective Date.
5.1.2.
Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, unless ICANN and Sponsor enter
a new agreement continuing Sponsor's status as Sponsor of the Registry
TLD, Sponsor will cease to be the Sponsor for the Sponsored TLD
upon the earlier of (a) the Expiration Date or (b) termination of
this Agreement by ICANN pursuant to Subsection 5.4.
5.1.3.
Upon conclusion of its status as Sponsor for the Sponsored TLD,
Sponsor shall make (and shall require Registry Operator to make)
all commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with ICANN, and
with any party designated by ICANN to succeed Sponsor, to facilitate
prompt and smooth transition of the sponsorship and operation of
the Sponsored TLD.
5.1.4.
Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, except as expressly provided
by this Agreement, it shall not acquire any right in the Sponsored
TLD by virtue of its Sponsorship of the Sponsored TLD or the provision
of Registry Services in the Sponsored TLD.
5.2.
Procedure for Subsequent Agreement.
5.2.1.
Sponsor may, no earlier than eighteen and no later than twelve months
prior to the Expiration Date, submit a written proposal to ICANN
for the continuation of its sponsorship of the Sponsored TLD for
an additional term of five years (the "Renewal Proposal").
The Renewal Proposal shall contain a report of the Sponsor's sponsorship
of the Sponsored TLD and include a description of its effectiveness
in meeting the needs of the Sponsored TLD Community, proposed additions
to or deletions from (a) the Charter and (b) the delegation of policy-development
responsibility from ICANN to sponsor, and a certification that the
Sponsor has complied with all material terms of this Agreement or,
where that is not the case, a description of any failure to comply.
During a period of at least thirty days after receiving the Renewal
Proposal, ICANN shall post the Renewal Proposal for public comment.
5.2.2.
If ICANN does not receive, within forty-five days after the Renewal
Proposal is posted under Subsection 5.2.1, any objection(s) to renewal
deemed by ICANN to raise a substantial question about whether the
Sponsor's continued sponsorship would be in the best interest of
the Sponsored TLD Community and the global Internet community, ICANN
shall offer to enter into a new TLD Sponsorship Agreement with Sponsor
on the terms described by Subsection 5.2.5.
5.2.3.
If ICANN receives, within the forty-five day period described in
Subsection 5.2.2, one or more objection(s) to renewal deemed by
ICANN to raise a substantial question about whether the Sponsor's
continued sponsorship would be in the best interest of the Sponsored
TLD Community and the global Internet community, ICANN shall commence
a staff evaluation of whether (and, if so, on what terms) a continuation
of Sponsor's sponsorship of the Sponsored TLD is in the best interest
of the Sponsored TLD Community and the global Internet community.
The evaluation shall include consideration of whether the Sponsor
continues to be representative of the Sponsored TLD Community, whether
a different Sponsor would be more representative, the presence or
absence of material breaches of this Agreement by Sponsor, and other
information that is relevant to the determination of whether the
Sponsor's continued sponsorship would be in the best interest of
the Sponsored TLD Community and the global Internet community.
5.2.4.
A report of the staff evaluation shall be posted and the public
and the Sponsor shall be afforded at lease thirty days to comment.
After the completion of that comment period, the ICANN Board shall
evaluate Sponsor's sponsorship of the Sponsored TLD. The ICANN Board
shall consider, among other things, the Renewal Proposal, the staff
evaluation, and public comments. ICANN shall offer to enter into
a new TLD Sponsorship Agreement with Sponsor on the terms described
by Subsection 5.2.5 unless the ICANN Board determines, by a two-thirds
vote of those voting, that continuation of Sponsor's sponsorship
of the Sponsored TLD is not in the interest of the the Sponsored
TLD Community and the global Internet community.
5.2.5.
The terms of any extension of this Agreement shall be substantially
consistent with the terms of agreements between ICANN and sponsors
of other Sponsored TLDs then in effect.
5.2.6.
In the event that a person or entity other than the Sponsor is selected
as the successor sponsor for the Sponsored TLD upon the expiration
of this Agreement, ICANN shall require the successor sponsor to
pay to Sponsor within sixty (60) days after the Expiration Date
the actual cost the Sponsor can evidence in reasonably adjusting
to the change of sponsorship, such as payment of early termination
fees for any contracts, leases, loans, or other obligations and
severance pay for employees, but in no event shall the amount be
less than US $200,000. This liquidated amount reflects a reasonable
estimate of those costs which would likely be difficult to assess
definitively at the time of change in sponsorship.
5.3.
Condition to Performance. In the event that ICANN is unable,
through use of commercially reasonable efforts, to have the Sponsored
TLD delegated within the Authoritative Root-Server System to nameservers
designated by Sponsor within six months after the Effective Date,
then this Agreement shall be automatically terminated without liability
of either party to the other party and neither party shall have any
further obligation hereunder. Thirty days in advance of such an automatic
termination, either party may propose an extension of the time in
which delegation must occur, and in that event the other party shall
consult in good faith (but without obligation to agree) concerning
the proposal. No extension of the time in which delegation must occur
shall be effective unless embodied in a written amendment signed by
authorized agents of both parties to this Agreement.
5.4.
Termination by ICANN. This Agreement may be terminated before
its expiration by ICANN in any of the following circumstances:
5.4.1.
There was a material misrepresentation, material inaccuracy, or
materially misleading statement, made with knowledge of its falsity,
inaccuracy, or misleading nature or without reasonable cause to
believe it was true, accurate, and not misleading, of then existing
fact or of Sponsor's then-existing intention in its application
for the Sponsored TLD or any written material provided to or disclosed
to ICANN by the Sponsor in connection with the application. The
foregoing shall not apply to projections or forward-looking statements
(other than statements, not made in good faith, about Sponsor's
then-existing intentions) in the application or materials.
5.4.2.
Sponsor:
5.4.2.1
is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony
or other serious offense related to financial activities, or is
the subject of a determination by a court of competent jurisdiction
that ICANN reasonably deems as the substantive equivalent of any
of those offenses; or
5.4.2.2
is disciplined by the government of its domicile for conduct involving
dishonesty or misuse of funds of others.
5.4.3.
Any officer or director of Sponsor with responsibility for the Sponsored
TLD is convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor related to financial
activities, or is judged by a court to have committed fraud or breach
of fiduciary duty, or is the subject of a judicial determination
that ICANN deems as the substantive equivalent of any of these,
and such officer or director is not immediately removed in such
circumstances.
5.4.4.
Sponsor fails to cure any material breach of this Agreement (other
than a failure to comply with a Consensus Policy adopted by ICANN
during the Term of this Agreement as to which Sponsor has obtained
a stay under Subsection 5.9) within fifteen business days (or such
longer reasonable period as may be necessary using best efforts
to cure such breach) after ICANN gives Sponsor written notice of
the breach.
5.4.5.
Sponsor's action or failure to act has been determined by arbitration
under Subsection 5.9 to be in material violation of this Agreement
and Sponsor continues to act or fails to act in the manner that
was determined to materially violate this Agreement for a period
stated in the arbitration decision, or if no period is stated, fifteen
business days.
5.4.6.
Sponsor acts or continues acting in a manner that ICANN has reasonably
determined endangers the stability or operational integrity of Registry
Services, the DNS, or the Internet after receiving three days notice
of that determination.
5.4.7.
Sponsor becomes bankrupt or insolvent.
This Agreement may be terminated
in the circumstances described in Subsections 5.4.1 through 5.4.6
above only upon thirty calendar days written notice to Sponsor (in
the case of the circumstances described in Subsections 5.4.4, 5.4.5,
and 5.4.6 occurring after Sponsor's failure to cure), with Sponsor
being given an opportunity during that time to initiate arbitration
under Subsection 5.9 to determine the appropriateness of termination
under this Agreement. In the event Sponsor initiates arbitration concerning
the appropriateness of termination by ICANN, Sponsor may at the same
time request that the arbitration panel stay the termination until
the arbitration decision is rendered, and that request shall have
the effect of staying the requirement until the decision or until
the arbitration panel has granted an ICANN request for lifting the
stay. In the circumstances described in Subsection 5.4.6, ICANN may
suspend this Agreement for five calendar days pending ICANN's application
for a more extended stay or injunctive relief under Subsection 5.9
and may terminate this Agreement immediately in the event Sponsor
fails to comply with any resulting injunction order. This Agreement
may be terminated immediately upon notice to Sponsor in the circumstance
described in Subsection 5.4.7.
5.5.
Representations and Warranties of Sponsor. Sponsor represents
and warrants to ICANN that:
5.5.1.
it is a [insert Sponsor's type of organization] duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of [insert
jurisdiction];
5.5.2.
it has all requisite organizational power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement;
5.5.3.
the execution, performance and delivery of this Agreement has been
duly authorized by Sponsor; and
5.5.4.
subject to Subsection 5.3, no further approval, authorization or
consent of any governmental or regulatory authority is required
to be obtained or made by Sponsor in order for it to enter into
and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
5.6.
Additional Covenants of Sponsor. Throughout the Term of the
Agreement, Sponsor shall comply, in all material respects, with the
covenants contained in Attachment 23.
5.7.
Indemnification of ICANN. Sponsor shall indemnify, defend,
and hold harmless ICANN (including its directors, officers, employees,
and agents) from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities,
costs and expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses,
arising out of or relating to: (a) the selection of Sponsor to sponsor
the Registry TLD; (b) Sponsor's selection of Registry Operator; (c)
the entry of this Agreement; (d) establishment, operation, or sponsorship
of the Sponsored TLD; (e) Registry Services; (f) collection or handling
of Personal Data by Sponsor or Registry Operator; (g) any dispute
concerning registration of a domain name within the domain of the
Sponsored TLD; and (h) duties and obligations of Sponsor in operating
the Sponsored TLD; provided that, with respect to items (b) through
(h) only, Sponsor shall not be obligated to indemnify, defend, or
hold harmless ICANN to the extent of ICANN's indemnification of Sponsor
under Subsection 4.6 and provided further that, with respect to item
(h) only, Sponsor shall not be obligated to indemnify, defend, or
hold harmless ICANN to the extent the claim, damage, liability, cost,
or expense arose due to a breach by ICANN of any obligation contained
in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Subsection
5.7 shall be deemed to require Sponsor to reimburse or otherwise indemnify
ICANN for the costs associated with the negotiation or execution of
this Agreement, or with the monitoring or management of the parties'
respective obligations under this Agreement.
5.8.
Indemnification Procedures. If any third-party claim is commenced
that is indemnified under Subsections 4.6 or 5.7, notice thereof shall
be given to the indemnifying party as promptly as practicable. If,
after such notice, the indemnifying party acknowledges its obligation
to indemnify with respect to such claim, then the indemnifying party
shall be entitled, if it so elects, in a notice promptly delivered
to the indemnified party, to immediately take control of the defense
and investigation of such claim and to employ and engage attorneys
reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party to handle and defend
the same, at the indemnifying party's sole cost and expense, provided
that in all events ICANN shall be entitled to control at its sole
cost and expense the litigation of issues concerning the validity
or interpretation of ICANN policies or conduct. The indemnified party
shall cooperate, at the cost of the indemnifying party, in all reasonable
respects with the indemnifying party and its attorneys in the investigation,
trial, and defense of such claim and any appeal arising therefrom;
provided, however, that the indemnified party may, at its own cost
and expense, participate, through its attorneys or otherwise, in such
investigation, trial and defense of such claim and any appeal arising
therefrom. No settlement of a claim that involves a remedy affecting
the indemnifying party other than the payment of money in an amount
that is indemnified shall be entered into without the consent of the
indemnified party. If the indemnifying party does not assume full
control over the defense of a claim subject to such defense in accordance
with this Subsection, the indemnifying party may participate in such
defense, at its sole cost and expense, and the indemnified party shall
have the right to defend the claim in such manner as it may deem appropriate,
at the cost and expense of the indemnifying party.
5.9.
Resolution of Disputes Under This Agreement. Disputes arising
under or in connection with this Agreement, including requests for
specific performance, shall be resolved through binding arbitration
conducted as provided in this Subsection 5.9 pursuant to the rules
of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber
of Commerce ("ICC"). The arbitration shall be conducted
in the English language and shall occur in Los Angeles County, California,
USA. There shall be three arbitrators: each party shall choose one
arbitrator and, if the two arbitrators are not able to agree on a
third arbitrator, the third shall be chosen by the ICC. The parties
shall bear the costs of the arbitration in equal shares, subject to
the right of the arbitrators to reallocate the costs in their award
as provided in the ICC rules. The parties shall bear their own attorneys'
fees in connection with the arbitration, and the arbitrators may not
reallocate the attorneys' fees in conjunction with their award. The
arbitrators shall render their decision within ninety days of the
initiation of arbitration. In all litigation involving ICANN concerning
this Agreement (as provided in the remainder of this Subsection),
jurisdiction and exclusive venue for such litigation shall be in a
court located in Los Angeles, California, USA; however, the parties
shall also have the right to enforce a judgment of such a court in
any court of competent jurisdiction. For the purpose of aiding the
arbitration and/or preserving the rights of the parties during the
pendency of an arbitration, the parties shall have the right to seek
a temporary stay or injunctive relief from the arbitration panel or
a court located in Los Angeles, California, USA, which shall not be
a waiver of this arbitration agreement.
5.10.
Limitation of Liability. ICANN's aggregate monetary liability
for violations of this Agreement shall not exceed the amount of Fixed
Sponsor-Level Fees or Variable Registry-Level Fees paid by Sponsor
to ICANN within the preceding twelve-month period under Subsection
3.15. Sponsor's aggregate monetary liability for violations of this
Agreement shall be limited to fees due to ICANN under this Agreement.
In no event shall either party be liable for special, indirect, incidental,
punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement or the performance or nonperformance
of obligations undertaken in this Agreement.
5.11.
Assignment. Any assignment of this Agreement shall be effective
only upon written agreement by the assignee with the other party to
assume the assigning party's obligations under this Agreement. Moreover,
neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written
approval of the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party
may assign this Agreement by giving written notice to the other party
in the following circumstances: (a) Sponsor may assign this Agreement
if such assignment is approved in advance by ICANN pursuant to its
procedures, and (b) ICANN may assign this Agreement (i) in conjunction
with a reorganization or reincorporation of ICANN, to another non-profit
corporation organized for the same or substantially the same purposes
as ICANN, or (ii) as required by Section 5 of Amendment 1 (dated 10
November 1999) to the 25 November 1998 Memorandum of Understanding
between ICANN and the United States Department of Commerce.
5.12.
Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable to the other for
any loss or damage resulting from any cause beyond its reasonable
control (a "Force Majeure Event") including, but not limited
to, insurrection or civil disorder, war or military operations, national
or local emergency, acts or omissions of government or other competent
authority, compliance with any statutory obligation or executive order,
industrial disputes of any kind (whether or not involving either party's
employees), fire, lightning, explosion, flood subsidence, weather
of exceptional severity, and acts or omissions of persons for whom
neither party is responsible. Upon occurrence of a Force Majeure Event
and to the extent such occurrence interferes with either party's performance
of this Agreement, such party shall be excused from performance of
its obligations (other than payment obligations) during the first
six months of such interference, provided that such party uses its
best efforts to avoid or remove such causes of nonperformance as soon
as possible.
5.13.
No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not be construed
to create any obligation by either ICANN or Sponsor to any non-party
to this Agreement, including any registry operator, registrar or Registered
Name Holder.
5.14.
Notices, Designations, and Specifications. All notices (including
determinations, designations, and specifications) to be given under
this Agreement shall be given in writing at the address of the appropriate
party as set forth below, unless that party has given a notice of
change of address in writing. Any notice required by this Agreement
shall be deemed to have been properly given when delivered in person,
when sent by electronic facsimile, or when scheduled for delivery
by an internationally recognized courier service. Designations and
specifications by ICANN under this Agreement shall be effective when
written notice of them is deemed given to Sponsor.
If
to ICANN, addressed to:
Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers
4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
Marina Del Rey, California 90292
Telephone: +1 310 823-9358
Facsimile: +1 310 823-8649
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
If to Sponsor, addressed
to:
[_____________________]
Telephone: _____________
Facsimile: ______________
Attention: _______________
5.15.
Dates and Times. All dates and times relevant to this Agreement
or its performance shall be computed based on the date and time observed
in Los Angeles, California, USA.
5.16.
Language. All notices, designations, determinations, and specifications
made under this Agreement shall be in the English language.
5.17.
Amendments and Waivers. No amendment, supplement, or modification
of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be binding unless
executed in writing by both parties. No waiver of any provision of
this Agreement shall be binding unless evidenced by a writing signed
by the party waiving compliance with such provision. No waiver of
any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute
a waiver of any other provision hereof, nor shall any such waiver
constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
5.18.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5.19.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including its Attachments,
which form a part of it) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties
hereto pertaining to the operation of the Sponsored TLD and supersedes
all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, between the parties on that subject. In the
event of a conflict between the provisions in the body of this Agreement
(Section 1 to Subsection 5.19) and any provision in its Attachments,
the provisions in the body of the Agreement shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate by their
duly authorized representatives.
INTERNET CORPORATION FOR
ASSIGNED NAMES AND NUMBERS
By:
M. Stuart Lynn
President and CEO
Date:
[______________________________]
By:
[Name]
[Title]
Date:
Prior draft:
20
August 2001
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(c) 2001
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
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