.osaka Pre-Register Domain - .osaka Domain Information

Interlink has received the endorsement of the Osaka Prefectural Government for its application to ICANN to operate and manage the ".osaka" top-level domain (TLD). In its proposal to the government authority, Interlink made a sufficiently strong case suggesting that the registry operator for the TLD must offer the highest standards in technical and operational capabilities, and that it is imperative that the operator act as a steward on behalf of the local Internet community to promote the public interest.

Interlink strongly believes that a TLD for Osaka will play an important function in expanding the Internet, fostering communications, improving commerce, and growing the online communities of Osaka. Furthermore, Interlink is confident that its proposed structure, policies, technical solution, and operational capabilities will enable ".osaka" to become a viable geographic TLD that serves the needs of the Osaka community.

Over the past few years Interlink has held several discussions with officials from the Osaka Prefectural Government about the potential ".osaka" presents to the Osaka community. In preparation to operate the ".osaka" TLD, Interlink has received a letter of endorsement from the relevant government authority and has received several of letters of support from key organizations within the Osaka community. Interlink has established an office in Osaka and joined several community organizations in order to better serve the Osaka community. (Letters of support can be found as an attachment to Question 20).

The creation of the ".osaka" namespace is anticipated to facilitate numerous opportunities for development of new business models and methods for engagement among local online communities, individual users, businesses, organizations, and government bodies. The overall aim of ".osaka" is to provide a solid and secure platform for the Osaka community that inspires an environment where the Osaka brand can thrive. Interlink believes the following points are key factors in successfully achieving its mission.

　1. Operating a Safe, Stable, and Secure TLD for the Osaka Community
　2. Seek Convergence Among Geographic TLDs
　3. Create a Fair and Competitive Market


1. Operate a Safe, Stable TLD for the Osaka Community.

Interlink has closely evaluated existing policies in gTLDs and ccTLDs to determine the success factors in running a safe, stable, and highly secure TLD. In its analysis Interlink drew upon a report compiled by McAfee. The report, Mapping the Mal Web in 2010, shows that Internet criminals choose to register domain names in a TLD based on registration fees, registration regulations, and the overall ease of registration. This makes generic top-level domains and non-regulated, inexpensive country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) prime targets for cyber criminals. (The full report can be located at the following URL: http://www.mcafee.com/cf/about/news/2010/q4/20101026-02.aspx).

Both .JP and .CAT were rated as the safest TLDs in the world. According to JPRS, the .JP ccTLD manager, this is due to its strict eligibility requirements. In addition, Interlink believes that .JPs higher price point, compared with other ccTLDs, is another factor that deters abusive registrations.

During its analysis, Interlink found that proper implementation of registry policies is also a key factor in enabling a secure, community driven TLD. Interlink believes that the creation of a Nexus Requirement and promoting strict adherence to such a policy will play a key role in maintaining the stability of the operation as well as the utility it provides to the Osaka community. The Nexus Requirement is described in part B.

Finally, another key factor in running a safe TLD deals with the infrastructure the registry system is operated on. Interlink selected Neustar as the technical provider for ".osaka" based on the company's strong 13-year track record of providing solutions for demanding global businesses as well as its proven ability to run registry operations. With Neustar running the technical infrastructure, the Osaka community can be fully confident that when users access names under ".osaka" they will be accessing a safe, stable, and secure namespace.

The foundation of running a registry operation from a technical aspect should be grounded in long-term industry best practices using proven infrastructure and registry software. The ".osaka" TLD will stand for stability and longevity with a mission to serve the community of Osaka residents, individuals, businesses, organizations, and government bodies who choose to build an identity under the ʺ.osakaʺ brand.


2. Seek Convergence Among Geographic TLDs

Interlink anticipates that many geographic TLDs will be applied for in the first round of new gTLD applications. While the launch of geographic TLDs present many benefits to Internet users, Interlink believes that these benefits can only be fully achieved by overcoming several major challenges in the implementation stage, prior to launch.

In Japan alone, it appears that there will be applications for heavily populated areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Kyoto, and less populous areas like Okinawa. Interlink believes that in serving the Osaka community it also has a duty to serve the entire Japanese Internet community. Therefore, Interlink proposes that it is necessary to implement important similarities related to the structure of certain key names across geographic TLDs. This is especially true in Japan due to the close proximity of major cities and the propensity for community members to move in and out of certain areas.

Interlink is a strong advocate of the creation of a geographic TLD group within the ICANN community, and believes that such a group will provide invaluable information to help geographic TLD mangers better serve their communities. Interlink's staff has previously participated in a similar working group in 2008 and 2009 and actively endorsed a petition to start a geographic (city) TLD constituency.

Interlink will continue to seek to achieve convergence with other geographic TLDs in Japan to ensure user confusion is minimized, thereby enabling Japan to have a strong network of geographic TLDs that work in tandem for the benefit of the public.


3. Create a Fair and Competitive Market

Interlink envisions managing the ".osaka" TLD in a manner that strongly serves the public interest of the community. Interlink proposes the implementation of advisory committee to oversee registry operations and ensure that policies and regulations meet the needs of the community. Additional details regarding Osaka's community structure and the advisory committee can be found in response to Question 20.

Interlink proposes that customers who wish to register a domain name will directly deal with ICANN accredited registrars who have signed an agreement to sell ".osaka" names. Interlink will develop fair and non-discriminatory criteria for qualification to become a registrar. Some qualifications to become a registrar may include, but are not limited to, having a local presence (having an office in Osaka), provision of services in Japanese, and the passing of operational testing.

All registrars will be required execute an agreement with the registry operator and abide by its terms. Additionally, Interlink is committed to fully complying with the Registry Operator Code of Conduct as described in Specification 9 of the New gTLD Registry Agreement.

ICANN has determined that the opening of the new gTLD program is unified with its mission to increase competition and innovation in the namespace. Interlink proposes that ".osaka" will play a vital role in expanding online communities in Osaka as well as promoting the Osaka brand. One of Interlink's overall goals is to ensure that the ʺ.osakaʺ top-level domain becomes a trusted, secure, and stable operation that benefits the Osaka community as described in the response to Question 18A. Running an operation that achieves this goal will allow Internet users in the Osaka community to take advantage of the benefits a geographic TLD can offer.

For example, ".osaka" will enable users to derive high value from easily identifiable websites for sharing information, collaborating in local communities and forums, promoting goods and services, and other innovative platforms. Names under the ".osaka" top-level will become the standard for finding local, relevant content. As local search and location based services become more and more prevalent ".osaka" will help usher in a new era of user behavior on the web in terms of finding goods, services, and relevant content aimed at the community.

The Osaka brand will benefit substantially by having its own specialized top-level domain name. Each time an Internet user searches for travel or sightseeing information about Osaka, the user will find a trusted ".osaka" domain name to guide them to the most relevant websites. As usage grows within the TLD, the Osaka brand will experience greater reinforcement locally, within Japan, as well as on an international scale.

In order to accomplish the goals of maintaining a strong platform for building strong branding opportunities, Interlink has been developing policies that will ensure that the name is used appropriately, and as part of its policies, intends to implement a Nexus Requirement for registrants in the "osaka" TLD. The Nexus Requirement is expected to minimize purely speculative registrations from non-community members and will prove to be a key in creating a highly useful, community-centered geographic top-level domain.

Interlink will run the ".osaka" TLD using a "community-first" philosophy as described in response to Question 20. The creative and structured implementation of the TLD in tandem with a community structure that works in the public interest will help build ".osaka" into a preferred platform among Osaka Internet users. As more and more governments move toward providing online services for citizens, the Osaka Government will have access to a new and intuitive platform for providing unrivaled online services for its citizens. Furthermore, citizens will be able to leverage the platform to find local information more easily, and visitors to Osaka will have the luxury of having the entire digital world of Osaka at their fingertips.


i. What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels, or reputation?

The ".osaka" top-level domain will be a safe and secure TLD for all Internet users connected to Osaka. By implementing a Nexus Requirement and enforcing registry policy and eligibility requirements, the TLD will be driven by the Osaka community. In planning for the ".osaka" top-level domain, Interlink proposes that it is important to build a roadmap and ensure that key names are allocated to users with the highest likelihood to maintain ongoing operations of those names in a consistent matter. Interlink will work with the Osaka Prefectural Government as well as the Osaka community in a highly transparent manner to map out a well-organized namespace that breeds trust among its users.

According to research and analysis that Interlink performed in building its business case for Osaka, it is not uncommon for generic or "open" TLDs to contain a lot of so-called "junk sites." As referenced in the response to Question 18A, relatively low price points and lack of clear rules creates an atmosphere for cyber criminals, squatters, and speculators. Interlink will work with the community to ensure that the TLD specializes in being a utility for the Osaka community.

Interlink has teamed up with Neustar, a world-class registry services provider and Iron Mountain, the industry's most trusted Registry Data Escrow provider in order to provide high service levels, and build and maintain a reputation as a safe and secure TLD. These providers are highly reputable, and together with their high quality services, Interlink can be confident that ".osaka" meets or exceeds all service level requirements. Teaming up with the best in the business allows Interlink to more fully focus its resources on building a sound structure that benefits the entire Osaka community.


ii. What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space, in terms of competition, differentiation, or innovation?

The ".osaka" TLD is designed to serve the Osaka community. Out of the current 22 gTLDs in use on the Internet today, there are only two TLDs that have a similar purpose; .CAT and .ASIA, both of which have strict policy enforcement policies and have been successful in their respective communities. Likewise, the aim of ".osaka" is to help build a community-driven namespace that benefits Internet users. Interlink is committed to producing a high quality namespace over creating a registration volume-centered registry, which is reflected in Interlinkʹs business case presented in response to Questions 45-50.

The current geographic naming scheme in the .JP zone is overly complex; consisting of four distinct labels. For example, individual users can currently register a name such as ʺUSER.taisho.osaka.jpʺ. The manager of the JP zone, Japan Registry Services (JPRS) has worked to remedy this problem and is currently planning to launch third-level geographic names as part of its offering under the .JP zone. Thus, registrants will be able to own names such as ʺUSER.osaka.jpʺ. It is anticipated that these names will be introduced to the public in the first quarter of 2012.

While this new program may be good for smaller cities and/or prefectures, these names are less intuitive for the average Internet user. A name directly under the ".osaka" top-level is intuitive, easy to remember, and will surely become the default name for users seeking information related to Osaka. A TLD for Osaka will allow registrants to connect with targeted audiences as well as be part of a new movement to grow online communities.

Interlink has a solid relationship with JPRS and intends to work together to ensure that minimal consumer confusion occurs with the introduction of ".osaka".


iii. What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?

Interlink has carefully considered various factors that will likely play a role in creating a successful TLD and a great user experience for the Osaka Community. In its research Interlink identified that the structure of the TLD before its launch is important to its long-term success.

The structure of ".osaka" will enable the community to proactively participate in programs to strengthen online communications and services, as well as other programs that will benefit the community. Interlink intends to implement a launch schedule that includes a timeframe for a founders program.

The founders program will be announced in the early stages after the delegation of the TLD in order to appeal to the community. Interlink plans to allocate a strong set of base registrations in the zone that are fully operational and contain useful content prior to the public launch of the TLD. These base registrations will be intricately planned with the assistance of government planning authorities, and the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee. Having a base of active registrations upon launch will enable users enjoy instant access to the relevant local information.

Interlink has worked closely with its backend provider, Neustar, devise a viable plan to launch a successful registry which works to achieve Interlink's intended goals as described in Question 18A. Several factors were taken into account and have been implemented in Interlinkʹs business approach as described in Questions 45-50.


iv. Provide a complete description of the applicant's intended registration policies in support of the goals listed above.

Registration policies are a very important step in building up to a successful launch. Interlink has spend a considerable amount of time researching existing registry polices and believes that the construction and implementation of policies requires careful planning that will ultimately assist the registry in accomplishing its goals.

The primary objective of the launch policies and inclusion of a Nexus Requirement in the ".osaka" TLD is to maximize the user experience and utility for the Osaka community while minimizing any social costs. Interlink proposes the implementation of the following registration policies for ".osaka":

　1. Osaka Domain Name Eligibility Requirements
　2. Acceptable Use Policy
　3. Reserved Names
　4. Founders Program
　5. Sunrise Period
　6. Landrush Period
　7. ICANN Consensus Policies and Rights Protection Mechanisms


1. Osaka Domain Name Eligibility Requirements

The Osaka Domain Eligibility Requirements policy defines who or what entities can register a domain name, the types of names that may be registered, as well as the technical requirements for allowable labels in the ".osaka" top-level domain.

1a Eligible Registrants

All registrants will be required to abide by a Nexus Requirement. The Nexus Requirement will require registrants to be in compliance with the registration agreement and the Nexus Requirement at all times. The Registry will conduct scans of registration request information from time to time in order to ensure compliance with the registration requirements. Any failure of a registration request to satisfy the Nexus Requirement will result in the name being placed on a hold for an initial period of at least 30 days. The sponsoring registrar will be notified of such a hold and be given the opportunity to correct any information. If the registrant does not comply during the hold time frame, the domain name may be subject to deletion. Additional details about registration requirements can also be found in answer to Question 20C.

1b Eligible Domain Names

An acceptable domain name that is valid for registration is one that:

　• has not already been registered
　• has not been blocked or reserved
　• meets the technical requirements
　• does not construe an abusive or obscene meaning in Japanese
　• does not construe an abusive or obscene meaning in English or other languages

2b. Technical Requirements

The standard technical requirements of the domain name are described below:

　• Labels containing the letters a - z in the standard US ASCII character set.
　　Domain names may include the numbers 0 (zero) through 9 (nine) as well as a hyphen. (-).
　• The string my not begin with a hyphen (-)
　• The string my not contain a hyphen in both the third and forth positions unless it is a
　　valid Internationalized Domain Name (in their ASCII encoding)
　• The string may be a maximum of 63 characters in length


2. Acceptable Use Policy

The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is one of central policies of the ".osaka" registry and will be implemented to ensure that the registry maintains the rights to protect the integrity of its registry and achieve its goal of maintaining a safe and stable operation for the community. The policy further describes the process for applying for and registering, renewing, and transferring a domain name in the ".osaka" zone as well as any restrictions, and how the registry can enforce its policies. (The AUP is more fully described in the response to Question 28).


3. Reserved names

The registry will reserve names as required by the new gTLD Registry Agreement. These names will include:

　• The label ʺEXAMPLEʺ as required by ICANN
　• All two character labels will be initially reserved. Provisions for the release of these names
　　is further described in relation to question 22: Protection of Geographic Names.
　• Tagged domain names (labels with a hyphen (ʺ-ʺ) in the third or fourth positions will
　　only be allowed if they represent a valid internationalized domain name (IDN) in their ASCII encoding.
　• Second level names for registry operations, defined by ICANN as: NIC, WWW, IRIS, and WHOIS.
　• Country and territory names listed the following internationally recognized lists will be initially reserved:
　　　1. the ISO 3166-1 list including the short form and long form English versions,
　　　2. 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
　　　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

The registry plans to create a list of reserved names based on its work with the community and local governments to ensure that names that serve the public interest are allocated in the most efficient and beneficial way.


4. Founders Program

Interlink is dedicated to the long-term expansion and development of the ".osaka" top-level domain and plans to implement a founders program to encourage usage of the TLD.

Interlink is currently in the process of selecting names (singular names and groups of names) to be part of the Osaka Domain Name Allocation Program. Interlink will take necessary steps to ensure that generic terms or trademarked terms are not included. Interlink will work with the Osaka government as well as the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee to produce a list of names that will maximize public utility. Additional details regarding the implementation a founders program can be found in response to Question 20C.


5. Sunrise Period

Interlink is committed to implementing methods of rights protection in accordance with Specification 7 of the ICANN gTLD Agreement. As part of its compliance with this criteria, Interlink will offer a Sunrise period for a minimum of 30 days to allow trademark holders the opportunity to secure trademarked names under the ".osaka" TLD before the public launch. Interlink will employ the Trademark clearinghouse for this phase and will utilize the Trademark Notification Service for the life of the registry (A full description of the registry's compliance with specification 7 can be found in response to Question 29.)

At the time of application submission during the sunrise phase, requested domains are checked against registrations in the ICANN-mandated Trademark Clearing House (TMCH). (As of the submission date of this application the Trademark Clearinghouse is still in the early stages of development and the protocol is not yet known.)


6. Landrush Period

Interlink will offer a landrush period in which any interested party will be permitted to submit one or more applications to purchase high value domains at reasonable costs. Only domain names that have not been reserved, restricted, registered and follow all registration rules and policies will be available during this launch period. Applications in the landrush period will be accepted throughout the period and will be considered as accepted at the same time.

At the end of the landrush period domain names for applications that do not have any competing applications will be approved and the domain name will be allocated to the registrant. Applications for domain names having one or more competing applications will be auctioned at prescribed date and time.

7. ICANN Consensus Policies and Proposed Rights Protection Mechanisms

Interlink is aware of, and understands, all current ICANN consensus policies listed at http://www.icann.org/en/general/consensus-policies.htm. As the registry operator for ".osaka", Interlink will ensure continuing compliance with all existing and future consensus policies.

Interlink understands that ".osaka" will be an important public resource for the Osaka community and has committed to ensuring that all rights holders have adequate protections for their intellectual property assets under the ".osaka" TLD and therefore, Interlink will implement all mandated rights protection mechanism as described below in Part C.


v. Will your proposed gTLD impose any measures for protecting the privacy or confidential information of registrants or users? If so, please describe any such measures.

All registrant data as required by the WHOIS policy and ICANN standards will be publicly available where the registrant does not use privacy registration services at their registrar of choice. Registrars will be responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the payment information used in conjunction with a domain name registration.

The Registry operator will notify each ICANN-accredited registrar of their requirement to adhere to specific consensus policies. Additionally Interlink is aware of the current work being done to analyze the current WHOIS model as well as the movement to improve it. Interlink's partners are involved deeply in the ICANN community and Interlink commits to implementing any and all new procedures as approved by ICANN.


vi. Describe whether and in what ways outreach and communications will help to achieve your projected benefits.

Interlink will promote a strategy for creating a strong brand, consumer awareness, sales, and use of the TLD by influential companies and people. While still under development, Interlink intends to:

　1. Create stronger awareness of domain names and the ".osaka" TLD
　2. Work with local registrars in marketing programs to grow the TLD.
　3. Strengthen the brand by promoting the usage of names by companies and influential community members

The first phase of the communications and outreach program will primarily be web-based with focus on engaging with the Osaka community through online social activities. This phase will last throughout the application evaluation process.

Interlink plans to gain the attention of Internet users by integrating Osakaʹs top companies in its communications strategies. The communications for the Founders Program will occur months before public launch, to gain awareness and convey the requirements to companies, and other organizations. The idea is to gain enough traction in the community to announce the public launch phase of the registry that already has useful registrations and websites already up and running. Interlink is confident that a strong base of active registrations at the public launch will help boost user confidence and awareness of the ".osaka" TLD.

The third phase in the communications plan will be to create awareness of the names registered under the founders program as they go live. This will help the registry build momentum as it progresses towards the public launch.

Interlink believes that a focused marketing strategy within the community will help the ".osaka" TLD become the center of the online community in Osaka.

Interlink has constructed a sound financial plan that correlates with marketing and operational plans to reach its goal of running a financially fit operation and ensure profitability within 5 years of operation.

Interlink believes having a strong financial plan is key to minimizing social costs. Interlink has committed to putting in place a financial instrument to ensure continued operations for three years in order to better protect its users. Interlink has fully issued a letter of credit that allows for fluctuations in registration volumes that exceed its projections. In addition, Interlink has deposited an equal amount into a separate account to further show its commitment in protecting registrants from a failed registry.

Interlink fully expects to be able to provide customers with top-notch services though its registrars. With the synergy created by working together with its registrar partners Interlink is certain to that ".osaka" will become an innovative domain name space that benefits the Osaka community.

According to the most recent JPRS Registry Report, for 12/31/2010 (last accessed Feb.2011), approximately 9.6% of all organizational/geographic names in the .JP zone originate in Osaka. Furthermore domain name registrants are responsible for 13% of general use ASCII names and 4.8% of IDN names registered in the .JP ccTLD. This is second to only Tokyo. (See http://jprs.co.jp/doc/report/registry-report-2010-e.pdf for the full report).

Based on information gathered by Interlink, the ".osaka" domain market is viable and Interlink as based its financial planning to support the TLD in a conservative matter. Addition details regarding Interlinks market projections and financial planning can be found in response to Questions 45 through 50 of this application.


Protection of Rights

Numerous parties have expressed concerns over the introduction of the new gTLD program with the belief that new TLDs could harm consumer welfare due to consumer confusion. Trademark holders have also brought up the issue of new TLDs imposing additional costs due to the necessity of participating in "defensive" registrations.

Interlink believes these concerns will be sufficiently addressed by its full implementation of ICANN's new Rights Protection Mechanisms (RPMs) and rules for new TLDs. Listed below is each policy that Interlink will implement, followed by a brief description, to minimize social costs:

　1. Trademark Clearinghouse
　2. Sunrise and Trademark Claims Process
　3. Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
　4. Uniform Rapid Suspension URS
　5. Other Rights Protection Mechanisms


1. Trademark Clearinghouse

The trademark clearinghouse is a mandatory RPM that has been developed in order to serve as a central repository for information to facilitate other RPMs such as the Sunrise Period and Trademark Claims process. Though this RPM is still under development, Interlink's partners, including its back-end registry services provider, Neustar, are actively playing a role on the IAG to ensure that protections afforded by the clearinghouse and associated RPMs are feasible and implementable. Further information regarding the implementation of this mechanism can be found in reference to Question 29: Rights Protection Mechanisms.


2. Sunrise and Trademark Claims Process

The Sunrise Period is a mandatory launch phase that a registry is required to implement for a minimum of 30 days. Interlink's back-end registry service provider, Neustar, has extensive experience in implementing sunrise registration periods, most recently under the .CO TLD.

The Trademark Claims process is tied into both the Trademark Clearinghouse and the Sunrise Period and is also a mandatory RPM that is intended to provide ʺclear noticeʺ to a potential registrant(s) if he/she attempts to secure a domain name that matches a trademark that is registered in the Trademark Clearinghouse. Though only required by ICANN to implement for 60 days during open registrations, Interlink believes that implementing the service over the life of the registry will prove to be an effective tool in reducing the number of bad-faith registrations and other cases of abuse in the ".osaka" TLD. Interlink's back-end provider, Neustar became the first TLD with a Trademark Claims service with the launch of the .BIZ TLD in 2001 and Interlink plans to work closely with Neustar to ensure the service is run smoothly.

The sunrise implementation process is described in more detail above, and in response to Question 29: Rights Protection Mechanisms. More information about the implementation of the Trademark Claims process can be found in answer to Question 29: Rights Protection Mechanisms.


3. Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)

The UDRP is an ICANN Consensus Policy instituted by ICANN in 1998. The UDRP provides trademark holders an alternative method to resolve domain name disputes. Interlink will monitor UDPR decisions regarding domains in the ".osaka" TLD and take the necessary steps to ensure that decisions rendered by ICANN approved service providers, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), are correctly implemented by its registrars. In the event that the registry is notified by a trademark owner that a registrar failed to implement a decision Interlink will investigate the claim and take action by either notifying the registrar of its obligations or by proactively implementing the decision itself.


4. Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS)

During the planning and policy discussion that took place in the past few years regarding the New gTLD Program, trademark owners identified that the UDRP may not be the most cost effective means to protect trademark owners marks when there are hundreds of new TLDs in operation. Furthermore, the majority of UDRP cases were clearly cases of cybersquatting, however, the UDRP did not produce immediate results. The URS is the result of many discussions with rights holders and offers a more cost effective and speedy mechanism for trademark owners to enforce their rights.

The URS requires a greater deal of participation from the registry than the UDRP and Interlink is fully aware of the requirements involved in the URS.
According to the current draft procedures, Interlink will lock the name within 24 hours or receipt of the complaint from the URS provider in order to ensure the name is not transferred or deleted and to restrict all changes to the registration data. The name will continue to resolve as normal at this point.

Once a determination has been made, and the URS provider has received notification of such a decision, Interlink will act accordingly to implement the determination. Therefore, in the event of a decision for the complainant (trademark owner), Interlink will immediately suspend the name in accordance with the policy, which is currently for the balance of the registration period. Additionally, the name will no longer be allowed to resolve to the original website, thus the registry will change the nameservers to redirect to an informational page provided by the URS provider.

Finally, Interlink will take steps to ensure that the WHOIS information appropriately reflects the current status of the domain name. In doing so, Interlink will leave all the original registration data, except for the nameservers, in place, and clearly reflect that the domain name cannot be transferred, deleted, or modified for the remainder of the registration period.

The current draft policy states that there shall be an option for a successful complainant to the extent the registration period for one additional year at commercial rates.

Additional details regarding the implementation of the URS can be found in response to Question 29: Rights Protection Mechanisms


5. Other Rights Protection Mechanisms

Interlink will fully comply with the Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure (PDDRP) adopted by ICANN as described in the new gTLD Applicant Guidebook and Specification 7 of the Registry Agreement and other rights mechanisms approved and implemented by ICANN.


i. How will multiple applications for a particular domain name be resolved?

Multiple applications for names under the Founders Program will be handled by objectively reviewing the application against the criteria set forth in the RFP. At which time, the Registry shall make a final selection based on how well each applicant fulfilled the evaluation criteria.

Multiple applications for the same domain name in both the Sunrise and Landrush will respectively be resolved by an auction as described in section (iv) related to domain registration policies. The use of an auction to allocate names with multiple legitimate applications will benefit sunrise applicants because they will not have to rush in order to be the first to submit such an application. This also reduces the load to the systems as in past first-come, first-served launches, applicants have been known to place registration requests with several other registrars in order to optimize their chances of being the first in line.

Settling competing applications though an auction mechanism is more desirable than a first-come, first-served method. This is due to a number of factors; for example, sunrise applicants (trademark holders) should not have to rush to submit an application for a domain name. If an applicant is forced to try to be first in line, the applicant is likely to submit a registration request through multiple registrars. This causes a sub-optimal use of energy on behalf of the applicant, and causes unnecessary work on behalf of the registrars and registry. Another important factor in Interlink's decision to settle competing applications through an auction mechanism is due to the assumption that the highest bidder has more desire for the name, therefore, the winning applicant is likely provide more utility to Internet users.


ii. Explain any cost benefits for registrants you intend to implement.

The registry will allow local governments of protected geographic names (both local and international) the ability to register their names during a period of no less than a year. This will ensure that they have first rights to register their names for a minimal cost from an ICANN accredited registrar rather than have to dabble in the speculative markets.

As stated above, the registry will handle competing applications in the Sunrise and Landrush periods by implementing an auction mechanism. The auction mechanism is a fair way to solve the issue of competing applications. A traditional first-come first served mechanism will create more load for registrars as one prospective registrant may choose to place the same application for a domain name through several registrars. Additional issues with the first-come, first-served model in that there may be disputes of which registrar's connection hits the registry first for a certain name.

An auction at the early stages of a registry will benefit registrants by allowing them to purchase the domain name for much less that the cost that they would incur in the domain aftermarket. Furthermore, an auction will allow the users to place a value on the domain name. It can be assumed that the bidder who places the higher bid places a higher value on the domain name, and therefore will be more likely to develop the domain name to be beneficial for Internet users.


iii. Do you intend to make contractual commitments to registrants regarding the magnitude of price escalation?

As stated in draft Registry Agreement in the New gTLD Applicant guidebook, the ".osaka" registry will commit to only adjusting prices based on market conditions and staying consistent with the current inflation rate. The issue of price increases will be adequately reviewed on a biannual basis. Interlink will provide advanced written notice regarding any price adjustments in accordance with the new gTLD Registry Agreement.

Interlink Co., Ltd., is submitting its application for the ".osaka" top-level domain as a Community TLD application for the Osaka Community as required by the Osaka Prefectural Government. Interlink received an endorsement letter from the Osaka Prefectural Government on February 21, 2012 based on the successful evaluation of its comprehensive proposal to create a namespace dedicated to serve the Osaka community. In its proposal, Interlink made a strong case for the selection of a registry operator capable of running a TLD with the highest technical standards. In addition, Interlink conveyed the importance of selecting a registry operator that is able to act as a steward on behalf of the Osaka community. The ".osaka" TLD will be established to serve the needs of the Osaka Community, hereafter referred to as the "community". The following is a description of the community in which Interlink intends to serve. Description and Formation of the Osaka Community The Osaka community has been in existence for thousands of years, and is known as Japan's oldest capital. Osaka has been an economic and cultural center of the Japan for over a long span of time, though formally, the geographic area that defines the community, Osaka Prefecture, was formally established in 1868. Osaka's culture is grounded in its long history of being a center for traditional performing arts known as the ʺkamigata culture". The community enjoys festivals and other customs that have been passed on from generation to generation. The community is best defined by its geographic boundaries. The Osaka Prefecture is currently the 3rd most populous area in Japan with a community of over 8.8 million people. Most community members speak the Osaka dialect of Japanese called known as "Osaka-ben" and have a distinct language style compared to other parts of Japan. Additional details regarding the history and culture of Osaka can be found that the following URL: http://www.pref.osaka.jp/en/introduction/index.html Community Structure As described above, the Osaka Community is largely defined by its prefectural borders and has a total population in excess of 8.8 million living in approximately 50 cities, towns, and villages. The capital city, Osaka city, and is a major city in the Kansai region and the largest city in the Osaka prefecture. The Osaka Prefectural government is the authoritative entity that has issued support to implement the ".osaka" name for the benefit of the entire Osaka community. Currently, there is a movement to drastically reform geographic borders with in Osaka. The Mayor of Osaka City (the former Governor of the Osaka Prefecture) and the current Governor of the Osaka Prefecture are leading a political party known as the Osaka Restoration Association (In Japanese: 大阪維新の会), which is behind the movement known as the "Osaka Metropolitan Movement." This movement is aimed combining 24 districts in Osaka city, 7 districts in Sakai city and 9 other cities to form a new Osaka Metropolis. The new metropolis will then be divided into 20 new districts. The unification of Osaka City and Osaka Prefecture will bring administrative efficiency to local government institutions thereby facilitating the provision of higher quality services to the Osaka community. Interlink believes that the ".osaka" TLD will be prove to be a vital tool for the community during the restructuring and re-branding of Osaka to help create a more unified community. Additional details about the Osaka Restoration Association can be found at the following URL: http://oneosaka.jp/ The establishment of the ".osaka" TLD will allow members of the community to effectively express themselves in their own online space. Delineation of the Osaka Community Members of the community are defined as those who are within the Osaka geographical area as well as those who self identify as having a tie to Osaka, or the culture of Osaka. Major participants of the community include, but are not limited to the following: 　• Legal entities 　• Citizens 　• Governments and public sectors 　• Entities, including natural persons who have a legitimate purpose in addressing the community. Structure and Constituency Parts Interlink proposes the implementation of advisory committee to oversee registry operations in the ".osaka" TLD. The advisory will be called the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee and will be part of a transparent structure in the management of ".osaka". The role of the committee will be to ensure that policies and regulations meet the needs of the community, and established policies are enforced. Currently there are three constituent parts to the advisory committee; a Government Constituency, a Business Constituency, and a User/Non-Profit Constituency. The Osaka Prefectural Government has provided an endorsement to Interlink for the provision of registry services under the ".osaka" TLD in order to the benefit of the Osaka community. Interlink is confident that its policies will be inclusive of the entire Osaka community and will be key in building a foundation to strengthen online communications within the community. As outlined in the attached endorsement letter, the government and Interlink will enter into a separate agreement pending the results of the new gTLD application evaluation period. Below is a brief description of the proposed constituency parts. Government Constituency The Government Constituency representative member(s) will be appointed by the Osaka government (pending final negotiations of Interlink's contract with the government after the delegation of the TLD). Business Constituency The Business Constituency will be open to all businesses and associations that have a presence within the Osaka community. User/Non-Profit Constituency The User and Non-Profit Constituency will be open to any individuals, non-profit organizations and educational institutions that have a presence within the Osaka community Interlink has began laying the foundation for the implementation of ".osaka" in a manner that fully supports and benefits the entire Osaka community. In its preparations for applying and managing the ".osaka" TLD, Interlink has taken the following steps: 　• submitted a proposal to the Osaka Prefectural Government, which was well received, and given subsequent approval; 　• developed policies and a comprehensive plan that benefits the community; 　• set up a physical presence in Osaka (which can be seen on Interlinkʹs business registration certificate); 　• presented its plan to key members of the Osaka community to gain additional support. Interlink's plan for ".osaka" was very well received by community members as evidenced by the additional support and endorsements provided by the following entities: New Business Conference Kansai（社団法人関西ニュービジネス協議会）- Established in 1987 with the support of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Osaka Prefectural Government, City of Osaka, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others. Currently consists of 200 local companies and organizations from various industries. Relevant URL: http://www.nb-net.or.jp/ Manufacturing Technology Association (社団法人生産技術振興協会) - Established in 1949 in collaboration with Osaka University and Local Industrial Companies to promote the development of Industrial Technology through the research of innovation in Science and Technology. Relevant URL: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~seisan/ Association of Encouraging Osaka（特定非営利活動法人大阪を元気にする会）- A non-profit organization established in November 2011 by Yusuke Saraya (Chairman of the Business Leaders group in the Osaka Restoration Association.) URL: http://www.sankeibiz.jp/macro/news/120318/mca1203180701000-n1.htm Machizukuri-net Kumatori (NPO法人まちづくりネット熊取) - A non-profit organization based in Osaka whose mission is help move Osaka towards being a biotope city. URL: http://kumatori.osakazine.net/

Interlink is enthusiastic about the prospect ".osaka" presents for the Osaka Community and believes that a community structure for the TLD will maximize the benefits to Internet users in the community. Since the announcement of the new gTLD program, Interlink has engaged the Osaka Prefectural Government in discussions about the potential of a community driven TLD. The Government shares the vision of a community TLD for Osaka and has provided Interlink with the requisite support for its application and has clearly stated its intention for the TLD to be applied for and operated as a community TLD. Interlink is committed to implementing ".osaka" in a manner that benefits the interest of the community and has taken some important steps to ensure that community stakeholders are involved in the finalization of policies and launch plans for the ".osaka" TLD. As part of the Osaka community, Interlink will act as the Registry Operator for the ".osaka" TLD through its Osaka branch office registered in Kyobashi, Osaka. Interlink has began proactively laying the foundation for the establishment of a transparent accountability mechanism that ensures Interlinks accountability to the community for its actions in managing and operating the TLD. The accountability mechanisms are further described below. Interlink's plan to operate the TLD has been well received by the Osaka Government and by key members of the Osaka community as described in Part A above. Accountability Mechanisms Interlink has been working with community members in order to develop an strong accountability structure and had determined that the implementation of an overseeing committee within its structure will play a very positive role in accomplishing the overall mission of the ".osaka" TLD as described in detail in response to Question 18. The overseeing committee will be known as the "Osaka Domain Advisory Committee," and will play a crucial role in ensuring the ".osaka" domain is operated in a manner that maximizes the benefits and public interest of the Osaka Community. Interlink has earned the support from several community organizations, and is making a continual effort to increase awareness of its application. The Osaka Domain Advisory Committee will be a transparent organization that includes a wide range of members as described above in Part A. As Interlink's application moves forward in the New gTLD application process it anticipates that participation in this community will broaden and after the delegation of the TLD Interlink will publish an open call for participation in policy development and launch procedures. Information regarding the ".osaka" TLD as well as the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee will be available on the following website: http://dotosaka.jp. As part of being accountable to the community and ensuring that the community reaps the benefits of ".osaka", Interlink has committed to providing donations to the community from revenues derived from operations. This is further described below in answer to Part C. In addition, Interlink is committed to: 　• Abide by its contract with the Osaka Government (to be completed upon delegation of the TLD) 　• Maintain separate books of account specifically for ".osaka" 　• Transparency in its financial dealing with regards to ".osaka" Interlink will operate ".osaka" registry from its Osaka office, and will maintain separate books of account from its other business with regards to the operation of ".osaka". and will publish financial information to make sure that not only Osaka Domain Advisory Committee, but also each one of Osaka Community members will be able to audit our activities. After recovering the accumulative loss from the initial investment in starting operations for ".osaka", Interlink is committed to donating 50% of its net-profit after tax for the benefit of the community. The fund will be spent for social benefit of Osaka community such as the supporting of local Internet-related events and policing of the ".Osaka" name space etc. Osaka Domain Advisory Committee, which will be consisted by the representatives of the local communities, will decide the allocation of the donation to make sure that the donation will not be made by Interlink's sole discretion, but with the consent of entire community.

Interlink is confident that the creation of the ".osaka" namespace will create new and exciting opportunities for the development of new business models and methods for engagement among local online communities such as individual users, businesses, organizations, and government bodies. Interlink believes that a community-centered TLD will maximize the potential benefits from a ".osaka" TLD. In its proposal to the Osaka Prefectural Government, Interlink clearly showed its desire to operate ".osaka" on behalf of the community and received a letter of support to do so. As described in above in Part A, the ".osaka" TLD will be established to serve the needs of the Osaka Community and further extend community engagement online. Osaka has a population of approximately 8.8 million people, and Interlink expects to be able to engage is a comprehensive communication strategy to help more of the community participate in online communities. The intended registrants, without being exhaustive are: 　• Osaka municipalities and local governments 　• Public and private institutions in Osaka 　• Organizations, companies, and other businesses in Osaka 　• Residents of Osaka 　• Others community members who have a legitimate purpose for registering and using a ".osaka" domain The intended end-users for ".osaka" include the entire Osaka Community and those seeking information about Osaka. In collaboration with the government and the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee, users will be able to create a more intuitive online presence and participate in online communities on a much larger scale. Interlink will play an active role in the Osaka community though engagement in activities that strengthen the use of the Internet and technology. As described above in response to Part B, Interlink is committed to making contributions from registration revenues to be specifically allocated for programs to help benefit the Osaka community. It is anticipated that the funds will help in supporting of local Internet-related events, socio-technological initiatives, advancement of technology in education, community building events, research and development efforts that benefit the community, and similar activities that benefit the Osaka community. The Osaka Domain Advisory Committee will be fully developed to include a wide range of representatives from the community and will play a significant role in deciding how to allocate the funds. The overall aim of ".osaka" is to provide a solid and secure platform for the Osaka community that inspires an environment where the Osaka brand can thrive. Interlink strongly believes that a geographic TLD should belong to the community and the registry operator should be a steward to that community. Interlink's intent in including a domain name advisory committee in the management structure of the ".osaka" TLD is to create an environment where the TLD can be successful in the event that the registry operator changes. In order to fully engage the community Interlink will invite interested parties to join one of the constituencies in the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee to proactively contribute to the development of ".osaka". Interlink anticipates on entering negotiations for the ".osaka" contract with the Osaka government once the TLD passes though the evaluation process. As outlined in the attached support letter, the Osaka government will be able go through the Registry Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure or other applicable legal avenues to ensure compliance with its terms. Interlink is confident that its proposed structure for ".osaka" ensures that the TLD always belongs to the community, and is of lasting nature, even in the event that Interlink is no longer able to provide registry functions, for whatever reason.

In order to maintain a safe, stable, and reliable environment for registrants and users of the Osaka domain space, Interlink proposes the implementation of clearly defined registration and eligibility requirements. In addition, Interlink will also implement a strict Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to protect the community from abusive registrations. Furthermore, Interlink believes that registrants in the ".osaka" TLD should have nexus with the community and proposes compliance with a nexus requirement. Below is a description of each registry policies as they relate to the community. 1. Eligibility Requirements An eligible registrant of a ".osaka" domain name, is defined by the nexus policy. Draft language of Interlinkʹs nexus policy is shown below: Draft Language of the Osaka Nexus Requirement: The ".osaka" Nexus Requirement is designed to maintain an Internet namespace that is for persons, or entities that have a substantive connection to the Osaka community. Only those who fulfill the Nexus Requirement will be allowed to register and operate a domain name in the ".osaka" top-level domain (TLD). All registrants of an ".osaka" name must satisfy at least one the following: 　• Osaka municipalities and local governments 　• Public and private institutions in Osaka 　• Organizations, companies, and other businesses in Osaka 　• Residents of Osaka 　• Others community members who have a bona fide purpose for registering and using a ".osaka" domain Registrants who purchase ".osaka" names will be required to certify that meet one of the categories above. Meeting these requirements is on a continual basis, and therefore the registrant re-certifies compliance with the above during each subsequent renewal term. In other words, registrants must ensure they remain in compliance with the Nexus Requirement. The Registry will: 　• Require that registrars enforce the Nexus requirement upon registration and each subsequent renewal of a ".osaka" domain name. 　• Conduct scans from time to time of registration request information to verify compliance with applicable registration policies. 　• Conduct random checks on registrant information to verify compliance with applicable registration policies. Any failure of a registration to satisfy the Nexus Requirement will result tin the name being placed on a hold for an initial period of 30 days. The sponsoring registrar will be notified of such a hold and be given the opportunity to correct any information. If the registrant does not comply during the hold time frame of 30 days, the domain name will be subject to deletion and returned to the pull of available domain names. No refund of registration fees will be granted in such cases. Compliance with the information correction request will result in the name being registered or re-activated immediately. * This document is in draft form and is subject to approval of the Osaka Domain Advisory Committee. Acceptable Domains Acceptable Domain Registration Applications are defined as the types of names that maybe registered within the ".osaka" top-level domain. An acceptable domain name that is valid for registration is one that: 　• has not already been registered 　• has not been blocked or reserved 　• meets the technical requirements 　• does not construe an abusive or obscene meaning in Japanese 　• does not construe an abusive or obscene meaning in English or other languages Interlink will reserve names as required by the new gTLD Registry Agreement and, in addition, plans to create a list of reserved names based on its work with the community and local governments to ensure that names that serve the public interest are allocated in the most efficient and beneficial way. Processing Applications for Registration All registrations requests must be submitted through an ICANN accredited registrar that has entered into an agreement with Interlink, the registry operator. All accredited registrars will be required to ensure that the registrant warrants that all information provided is true and accurate; the registration is in good faith and does not infringe on the rights of any third party, the registrant meets the eligibility requirements (nexus requirement), and the registrant understands, accepts, and will abide by all registry policies. Registrations in both the sunrise and landrush phases, as described in response to Questions18 and 29. Acceptable Content Interlink is in agreement with the Osaka Prefectural Government's desire that pornographic, vulgar and highly objectionable content is adequately monitored and removed from the namespace. This type of content will be strictly prohibited in the ".osaka" TLD. In order to strictly enforce this registration policy, Interlink will implement an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) as well as include an Abuse Point of Contact on its website as a means to provide a method for users to submit complaints of abuse to Interlink. Interlink believes that a strong abuse prevention policy in the ".osaka" TLD is a very important benefit to the Osaka Community and will ensure that contracted parties adhere to its policies. The AUP will be incorporated into the Registry-Registrar Agreement and give the registry the right to take any appropriate actions needed to remedy a particular type of abuse. All ICANN accredited registrars which enter into an agreement with the registry will be required to pass through the Acceptable Use Policy to its Resellers (if applicable) and finally, to all registrants. The AUP, and Interlinks implementation of an Abuse Point of Contact are further described in the response to Question 28. Registry's Right to Enforce Policies It is the responsibility of each accredited registrar to ensure that registrants understand and acknowledge that Interlink, as the registry operator, has the right to accept and reject requests for domain registrations, monitor the name space for names that do not meet the criteria for acceptable domains, and monitor domain names containing prohibited content as described above. Interlink will be accountable to the community for proper enforcement of its policies to ensure that it works to maintain a safe, secure, and stable domain space for the Osaka Community. Interlink is confident that is proposed policies will be further developed and enhanced to fully meet the needs of the Osaka community.

Interlink Co., Ltd, (Interlink) will implement strict policy restrictions concerning the registration and use of geographic names under the ".osaka" top-level domain and will work closely with the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and ccTLD managers to ensure that geographic names are adequately protected.


Two-Letter Domain Names

Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) are two letter strings on the right side of the dot that correspond to the two-letter country codes for each country listed on the ISO 3166-1 list. The registry will, at no cost of governments or public authorities, initially reserve all two-letter characters strings, inclusive of the country code names as defined on ISO 3166-1 and mandated by the New gTLD Registry Agreement (see Specification 5).

Use of two-letter strings as second level registrations in the ".osaka" TLD will be permitted after the Registry reaches an agreement with relevant government or country-code TLD managers.

At its discretion, the Registry will propose usage of a limited number of two-letter strings for domain names that include, but are not limited to; company names, brand names, meaningful words, partial phrases, or local abbreviations. The Registry will inform each ccTLD manager and/or applicable government of its proposal to use such a name and reach an agreement with the ccTLD manager and/or applicable government before such a name is registered for use.


Country and Territory Domain Names
In addition to the initial reservation of two-letter country codes pursuant to the ISO-3166-1 list, the Registry will initially reserve country and territory names contained on the following internationally recognized lists:

• ISO 3166-1 lists (including country, territory name, and its short form name in English)
• 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
• The List United Nations member states in 6 official 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

The Registry will cooperate with ICANN and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to expand such a list of reserved/protected geographic names at the second level should this be required. Additionally, the list will expand according to updates in any of the lists listed above.

The release of names will not occur until after a minimum of one full year of operations. The release of geographic names will only occur upon reaching an agreement with applicable government.


Procedure for Registration of Geographic Names by Relevant Authorities

During the reservation period, the Registry will allow the relevant government authorities to register their country name, or short form English name under the ".osaka" TLD as a second level registration. The opportunity for such registrations will not be shorter that one year and will be available for governments until the Registry reaches an agreement with the GAC, relevant governments and/or ccTLD managers for the release of such names. Upon reaching such an agreement, the Registry will notify governments of the registration deadline 3 months prior to the release of geographic names.

The process for registering a country name or its English short form equivalent as a second level domain name in the ".osaka" TLD for a relevant government authority is as follows:

1. The Government or relevant authority contacts the GAC Secretariat with the requested
　　domain name and beneficiary information
2. The GAC Secretariat will ensure the authenticity of such a request and forward the request
　　to the Registry.
3. The Registry will verify the availability of the requested domain name, notify ICANN of the
　　registration request, and issue approval after the validity of the request has been approved.
4. The registrant government or beneficiary will then be able to register the name through an ICANN-Accredited Registrar that has executed the
　　Registry-Registrar Agreement with the Registry.


Names of Japanese Prefectures

The Registry will reserve, at not cost to local governments, the subdivision name (prefecture name) listed on the ISO 3166-2:JP list. Furthermore, the Registry will work in conjunction with the Japanese Ministry of Communications and the Government of Osaka to reserve any additional names as deemed necessary to protect geographic names for Japan.

The release of such names will occur after reaching an agreement with the local and national governments and the release of names will occur no earlier than one full year of operations.


Abuse of Geographic Names

After the release of geographic names governments can submit a complaint directly to the registry for a domain name that is not in compliance with the nexus requirements. The registry will review the complaint, evaluate the usage of the name, and follow all procedures and timeframes notated in the Nexus Requirement Policy.