.ismaili Domain Information
Applicant Full Legal Name
Fondation Aga Khan (Aga Khan Foundation)
Legal Establishment
Non-profit institution (foundation)
Parent Company
Not applicable
Applicant Address
1 - 3 avenue de la Paix
Geneva 1202
CH
State Jurisdiction
Switzerland
Applicant Website
Http://www.akdn.org
Applied for gTLD
ISMAILI
Mission/Purpose of Domain Extension
Mission and purpose The Aga Khan Foundation, whose Chairman, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, seeks to establish the .ISMAILI TLD for use by the Ismaili institutions, with a view to bringing together electronic activities (email and websites)... Read more
The Aga Khan Foundation, whose Chairman, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, seeks to establish the .ISMAILI TLD for use by the Ismaili institutions, with a view to bringing together electronic activities (email and websites) under a common and centrally coordinated domain.
Reflecting the pluralism of the Muslim world generally, the Ismailis are a richly diverse community within the Shia branch of Islam. They live across Asia, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, North America, Australia and Europe. Ismailis are united by a belief in a living hereditary Imam of the Time in the progeny of Islam's last and final Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) through his daughter Fatima and her husband, Hazrat Ali, the Prophet's cousin and the first Shia Imam. In the Muslim ethical tradition, the Imam not only leads in the interpretation of the faith, but also in the effort to improve the quality of life of his community and of the wider societies within which it lives.
Ordained by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1986, the Ismaili Constitution brings the social governance of the global Ismaili community under a common aegis. Within such a framework, various institutions are appointed by His Highness the Aga Khan to serve the community in various parts of the world.
To achieve these ends, the Imam has established, within the framework of the Constitution, National, Regional and Local Councils responsible for overall social governance; and Central Institutions for the provision of services to the community in education, health, social welfare, housing, economic welfare, cultural and women's activities, youth and sports development. The Constitution also incorporates Religious Education Boards for the provision of religious education at all levels of the community, for the requisite human resource development and for research and publication. National and International Conciliation and Arbitration Boards have been established to encourage amicable resolution of conflicts through impartial conciliation and arbitration, a service which is being increasingly used, in some countries, even by non-Ismailis. It is these institutions, existing in more than 25 countries around the world, that would be served by the .ISMAILI TLD.
The parliament of the Republic of Portugal unanimously ratified a landmark Faith Agreement with the Ismaili Imamat, with both parties committing themselves to working together in pursuing their shared goals and responsibilities to promote and uphold human dignity and pluralism, eliminate conflict, and improve the quality of life of the vulnerable, in Portugal and elsewhere. This agreement recognises the religious identity of the Ismaili Imamat and the Ismaili community, and confers formal recognition on the Constitutional bodies as established by the Imam of the Time. Similar agreements are currently being negotiated with other countries.
This TLD will be used for the activities of the institutions of the Ismaili community, which are recognised by the Ismaili Constitution. Driven by this dynamic, we expect to have 100-200 domains under management (DUMs) by the end of three years.
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Benefits
i. General goals The benefits of an .ISMAILI TLD would largely fall on two audiences: external entities with which the leadership of the Ismaili institutions, led by His Highness the Aga Khan, engages and cooperates, and audiences within the Ismaili community. An .ISMAILI TLD would help to secure... Read more
The benefits of an .ISMAILI TLD would largely fall on two audiences: external entities with which the leadership of the Ismaili institutions, led by His Highness the Aga Khan, engages and cooperates, and audiences within the Ismaili community.
An .ISMAILI TLD would help to secure the authenticity of communications by assuring visitors to websites and recipients of .ISMAILI email that they are receiving information from an official source.
In order to ensure the integrity, success and to build confidence in the TLD and the associated domain name space, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION is dedicated to ensuring that appropriate safeguards are put in place with a view to protecting, among other things, public interest, trade mark owners and other third party rights owners. Operating and overseeing this new Internet space in a transparent, fair and efficient manner will be essential to create goodwill in the TLD and to develop confidence and trust in the TLD. The fact that the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION intends to operate the TLD as a single registrant/single user registry model will allow for the control of operations of the TLD and prevent violation of public interest, trade mark infringement and other types of malicious conducts. The TLD will thus create an environment where opportunities for abuse and malevolent conduct will be virtually eliminated.
ii. How .ISMAILI adds to the current space
The proposed TLD would largely provide a benefit through differentiation. Domains under the .ISMAILI TLD would be unambiguously identified as originating from the Ismaili institutions operating within the framework of the Ismaili Constitution. A top level domain would therefore go a great distance toward assuring key stakeholder groups of the provenance and authenticity of the information provided from our institutions.
iii. User experience goals
The user experience is likely to be vastly improved and simplified. By creating a central framework for communication within the Ismaili institutions, the user - whether a member of the community, general public, or diplomats, government officials, international, regional and national organisations, businesspeople or other stakeholders - will be assured of the origin and reliability of the information on websites and from emails with the .ISMAILI TLD.
iv. Registry policies
Aga Khan Foundation intends to create and operate the TLD as a single registrant/single user registry and will reserve domain names under the TLD for exclusive registration by the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION and its representatives to the exclusion of other parties. In addition, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION does not intend to sell, distribute or transfer control or use of any second level domain name registrations in the TLD to any party other than to its representatives and related organisations. As a result, rules and regulations aiming at protecting the public interest in the event of the opening of a TLD to general registration will not be relevant. Accordingly the intended registration policies in support of the goals set out in this TLD application will not contain provisions relating to registration by parties that are not the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION or its representatives, who will solely and wholly control and maintain registrations under the TLD. Such policies will be consistent with all applicable ICANN Consensus Policies and Temporary Policies and the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION is committed to ensure that said policies are strictly complied with. For avoidance of doubt, all domains under this TLD will be managed by the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION under direction and guidelines approved by its Chairman, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.
The mission and purpose of this TLD is to provide a global, consistent identity on the Internet. As such, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION intends to limit registration of domains either for its exclusive use or for use by organizations or individuals designated by it in a manner that contributes to the purpose of this TLD. The AGA KHAN FOUNDATION also intends to govern the domain names registered to limit confusion and enhance user experience. To accomplish these objectives, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION or its representatives may be the sole registrant of domains in the TLD. However, due consideration has been made to all aspects of registry operations including the functions and policies defined below.
The roll-out of our TLD is anticipated to feature the following phases:
• Reservation of reserved names and premium names, which will be distributed through special mechanisms (detailed below).
• Sunrise — the required period for trademark owners to secure their domains before availability to qualified registrants. This phase will feature applications for domain strings, verification of trademarks via Trademark Clearinghouse and a trademark verification agent, and a Trademark Claims Service.
• General Availability period — registrations for qualified registrants, by invitation. Trademark Claims Service will be in use at least for the first 60 days after General Availability applications open.
The registration of domain names in the .ISMAILI TLD will follow the standard practices, procedures and policies of Afilias, the back-end provider of registry services, currently has in place. This includes the following:
• Domain registration policies (for example, grace periods, transfer policies, etc.) are defined in response #27.
• Abuse prevention tools and policies, for example, measures to promote WHOIS accuracy and efforts to reduce phishing and pharming, are discussed in detail in our response #28.
• Rights protection mechanisms and dispute resolution mechanism policies (for example, UDRP, URS) are detailed in #29.
Other detailed policies for this domain include policies for reserved names.
Reserved names
Registry reserved names
We will reserve the following classes of domain names, which will not be made generally available to registrants via the Sunrise or subsequent periods:
• All of the reserved names required in Specification 5 of the new gTLD Registry Agreement;
• The geographic names required in Specification 5 of the new gTLD Registry Agreement, and may be released to the extent that the Registry Operator reaches agreement with the government and country-code manager;
• The Registry Operator's own name and variations thereof, and registry operations names (such as registry.tld, and www.tld), for internal use;
• Names related to ICANN and Internet standards bodies (iana.tld, ietf.tld, w3c.tld, etc.), and may be released to the extent that the Registry Operator reaches agreement with ICANN.
The list of reserved names will be published publicly before the Sunrise period begins, so that registrars and potential registrants will know which names have been set aside.
v. Privacy and confidential information protection
Given that the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION intends to operate the TLD on a single registrant/single user registry model, confidential information relating to the registrant and exclusive users would be the responsibility of the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION and its representatives, and would be addressed by existing internal policies implemented within the organization. In relation to the information on users who will access content, information and services within the TLD, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION will ensure that the operation of the TLD is at all times consistent with its privacy policies as well as applicable laws and regulations.
As per the New gTLD Registry Agreement, we will make domain contact data (and other fields) freely and publicly available via a Web-based WHOIS server. This default set of fields includes the mandatory publication of registrant data. Our Registry-Registrar Agreement will require that registrants consent to this publication.
We shall notify each of our registrars regarding the purposes for which data about any identified or identifiable natural person ("Personal Data") submitted to the Registry Operator by such registrar is collected and used, and the intended recipients (or categories of recipients) of such Personal Data (the data in question is essentially the registrant and contact data required to be published in the WHOIS). We will require each registrar to obtain the consent of each registrant in the TLD for the collection and use of such Personal Data. The policies will be posted publicly on our TLD web site. As the registry operator, we shall not use or authorize the use of Personal Data in any way that is incompatible with the notice provided to registrars.
Our privacy and data use policies are as follows:
• As registry operator, we will not sell bulk WHOIS data. We will not sell contact data in any way. We will not allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations.
• We will not use registration data in the aggregate for any type of marketing.
• DNS query data will never be sold in a way that is personally identifiable.
• We may from time to time use the demographic data collected for statistical analysis, provided that this analysis will not disclose individual Personal Data and provided that such use is compatible with the notice provided to registrars regarding the purpose and procedures for such use.
As the registry operator we shall take significant steps to protect Personal Data collected from registrars from loss, misuse, unauthorized disclosure, alteration, or destruction. In our responses to Question 30 ("Security Policy") and Question 38 ("Escrow") we detail the security policies and procedures we will use to protect the registry system and the data contained therein from unauthorized access and loss.
Please see our response to Question 26 ("WHOIS") regarding "searchable WHOIS" and rate-limiting. That section contains details about how we will limit the mining of WHOIS data by spammers and other parties who abuse access to the WHOIS.
In order to acquire and maintain accreditation for our TLD, we will require registrars to adhere to certain information technology policies designed to help protect registrant data. These will include standards for access to the registry system and password management protocols. Our response to Question 30, "Security Policy" provides details of implementation.
We will allow the use of proxy and privacy services, which can protect the personal data of registrants from spammers and other parties that mine zone files and WHOIS data. We are aware that there are parties who may use privacy services to protect their free speech rights, or to avoid religious or political persecution.
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Operational Rules and Cost Benefits
The AGA KHAN FOUNDATION, supported by Afilias, the back-end provider of registry services, has adopted the above-mentioned and other policies to ensure fair and equitable access to the Internet community, including: • no new burdens placed on the Internet community to resolve name disputes •... Read more
• no new burdens placed on the Internet community to resolve name disputes
• utilization of standard registration practices and policies (as detailed in responses to Questions 27, 28, 29)
• protection of trademarks at launch and on-going operations (as detailed in the response to Question 29)
• fair and equitable treatment of registrars
As per the ICANN Registry Agreement, we will use only ICANN-accredited registrars, and will provide non-discriminatory access to registry services to those registrars.
Pricing Policy
There is no intention at this time for any charge to a registrant for registering a domain name.
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Is this a Community-based TLD?
Yes
Community Description Details
The AGA KHAN FOUNDATION, whose Chairman, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, seeks to establish the .ISMAILI TLD for use by the Ismaili institutions, with a view to bringing together all electronic activities (email and websites) under one common and... Read more
Applicant Community Relationship
As described in Question 20(a), the Ismailis are united by a belief in a living, hereditary Imam in the progeny of Islam's last and final Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). The 49th hereditary Imam is His Highness the Aga Khan, who, as the present Imam, is responsible for the Ismaili... Read more
Community-based Purpose
His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam, has established, within the framework of the Ismaili Constitution, National, Regional and Local Councils responsible for overall social governance; and Central Institutions for the provision of services to the community in education, health,... Read more
Domain Extension Community Relationship
The community served by this TLD is comprised of the Ismaili institutions which are recognised by the Ismaili Constitution, as amended from time to time under direction of the Imam. The applied for TLD, .ISMAILI, matches perfectly with the name of this community. It is also distinct, since, whilst... Read more
Intended Community-based Registration Policies
The .ISMAILI TLD will be exclusively for the Ismaili institutions with requisite policies and enforcement procedures to ensure consistency with the mission and purpose of this TLD. Eligibility Registrations in the .ISMAILI TLD will be limited to Ismaili institutions recognized by the Ismaili... Read more
Is this a Geographic-based TLD?
No
Protection of Geographic Names
We will protect names with national or geographic significance by reserving the country and territory names at the second level and at all other levels within the TLD, as per the requirements in the New TLD Registry Agreement (Specification 5, paragraph 5). We will employ a series of rules to... Read more
We will employ a series of rules to translate the geographical names required to be reserved by Specification 5, paragraph 5 to a form consistent with the ʺhost namesʺ format used in domain names.
Considering the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) advice "Principles regarding new gTLDs", these domains will be blocked, at no cost to governments, public authorities, or IGOs, before the TLD is introduced (Sunrise), so that no parties may apply for them. We will publish a list of these names before Sunrise, so our registrars and their prospective applicants can be aware that these names are reserved.
We will define a procedure so that governments can request the above reserved domain(s) if they would like to take possession of them. This procedure will be based on existing methodology developed for the release of country names in the .INFO TLD. For example, we will require a written request from the country's GAC representative, or a written request from the country's relevant Ministry or Department. We will allow the designated beneficiary (the Registrant) to register the name, with an accredited Afilias Registrar, possibly using an authorization number transmitted directly to the designated beneficiary in the country concerned.
As defined by Specification 5, paragraph 5, such geographic domains may be released to the extent that Registry Operator reaches agreement with the applicable government(s). Registry operator will work with respective GAC representatives of the country's relevant Ministry of Department to obtain their release of the names to the Registry Operator.
If internationalized domains names (IDNs) are introduced in the TLD in the future, we will also reserve the IDN versions of the country names in the relevant script(s) before IDNs become available to the public. If we find it advisable and practical, we will confer with relevant language authorities so that we can reserve the IDN domains properly along with their variants.
Regarding GAC advice regarding second-level domains not specified via Specification 5, paragraph 5: All domains awarded to registrants are subject to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), and to any properly-situated court proceeding. We will ensure appropriate procedures to allow governments, public authorities or IGO's to challenge abuses of names with national or geographic significance at the second level. In its registry-registrar agreement, and flowing down to registrar-registrant agreements, the registry operator will institute a provision to suspend domains names in the event of a dispute. We may exercise that right in the case of a dispute over a geographic name.
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