.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

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) 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

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 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

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
• 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

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 centrally coordinated domain. Registrations in the .ISMAILI TLD will be limited to Ismaili institutions recognized by the Ismaili Constitution as ordained by the 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, generally known as the Ismailis, belong to the Shia branch of Islam. The Shia form one of the two major branches of Islam, the Sunni being the other. The Ismailis live in over 25 different countries, mainly in Central and South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia, and number approximately 20 million. The Ismailis are thus a transnational community who are responsible citizens of the countries where they live. Throughout their 1,400 year history, the Ismailis have been led by a living, hereditary Imam. They trace the line of Imamat in hereditary succession from Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). The followers of Ali, or Shia, already in existence during the lifetime of the Prophet, maintained that while the revelation ceased at the Prophet's death, the need for spiritual and moral guidance of the community continued. They firmly believed that the legacy of Prophet Muhammad could only be entrusted to a member of his own family, in whom the Prophet had invested his authority through designation before his death. That person was Ali, Prophet Muhammad's cousin, the husband of his daughter and only surviving child, Fatima. The institution of Imamat was to continue thereafter on a hereditary basis, succession being based on designation by the Imam of the Time. In time, the Shia were sub-divided. The Ismailis gave their allegiance to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq's eldest son Ismail, from whom they derive their name. The Ismailis continue to believe in the line of Imamat in hereditary succession continuing from Ismail to His Highness the Aga Khan, who is their present, 49th Imam in direct lineal descent from Prophet Muhammad. The Ismaili interpretation is a major, historical part of the faith of Islam, the Ismaili community being the second largest within the Shia branch of Islam. It has a credal tradition, which stretches back to the early half of the seventh century, and a school of jurisprudence first promulgated more than a millennium ago, during the Ismaili Fatimid caliphate. Its institutional guide and leadership is the Ismaili Imamat, and its multiple agencies are having an increasingly significant world impact. The Ismailis are the only Shia Muslims to have a living, hereditary Imam; it is the presence of the living Imam that makes the community unique. Spiritual allegiance to the Imam and adherence to the Shia Imami Ismaili interpretation of Islam according to the guidance of the Imam of the Time, have engendered in the Ismaili community an ethos of self-reliance, unity, and a common identity. In a number of the countries where they live, the Ismailis have evolved a well-defined institutional framework through which they have, under the leadership and guidance of the Imam, established schools, hospitals, health centres, housing societies and a variety of social and economic development institutions for the common good of all citizens regardless of their race or religion. Since assuming office in 1957, the present Aga Khan has adapted the complex system of administering the various Ismaili communities, pioneered by his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, during the colonial era, to a world of nation states. In the course of that process, Aga Khan III, who was twice President of the League of Nations, had already provided a contemporary articulation of the public international role of the Imamat. The Imamat today, under the present Aga Khan, continues this tradition of strict political neutrality. In view of the importance that Islam places on maintaining a balance between the spiritual wellbeing of the individual and the quality of his or her life, the Imamʹs guidance deals with both aspects of the life of his followers. In keeping with this mandate, and in accordance with Ismaili history, tradition and the needs of the time, the Imams have given rules of conduct and constitutions in conformity with the Islamic concepts of unity, brotherhood, justice, tolerance and goodwill. In the modern period, the first Ismaili Constitution was ordained by the 48th Imam, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, in 1905 for the Ismailis of East Africa. This gave the community a form of administration comprising a hierarchy of governance structures at local, national and regional levels, setting out rules of personal law to govern such matters as marriage, divorce and inheritance, as well as guidelines for mutual cooperation and support within the community and its interface with other communities. Similar constitutions were promulgated in South Asia under instructions from the Imam. All of them were periodically revised to address emerging needs. In continuation of this tradition, the 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, has extended this constitutional governance to other regions around the world. In 1986, he ordained an Ismaili Constitution which, for the first time, brought under a common aegis, the social governance of the global Ismaili community in order better to secure their peace and unity, spiritual and social welfare, as well as to foster fruitful collaboration among different peoples, to optimize the use of resources, and to enable the Ismaili Muslims, wherever they live, to make a valid and meaningful contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of the societies in which they live and to be responsible citizens of the countries where they reside. 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, and with over 4,000 senior level appointments, that would be served by the .ISMAILI TLD. All of the institutions established under the Ismaili Constitution, as well as the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, including the applicant, are led by His Highness the Aga Khan, as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, or his duly appointed successors.×

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

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 community's spiritual wellbeing and improving the quality of life of the societies in which they live. In this context, he appoints the members of the Ismaili constitutional bodies. In keeping with his mandate to improve the quality of life of Ismailis and the societies amongst whom they live, His Highness the Aga Khan also established a group of private, international agencies known as the Aga Khan Development Network. The applicant, the Aga Khan Foundation, is part of this network and is recognised by the Ismaili Constitution, and its founder and Chairman is His Highness the Aga Khan. The 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 necessarily be relevant. Accordingly the intended registration policies and accountability mechanisms in support of the goals set out in this TLD application will not contain provisions relating to registration by parties who are not qualified. As applications for secondary level domains are by invitation-only, and this is being operated essentially as a closed registry, we do not foresee any appeals from registrants. However, where necessary, qualified registrants may refer to the applicant or its representative to request an invitation for review.×

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

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, 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. The institutions established under the Ismaili Constitution exist in over 25 countries around the world, where the community lives in substantial numbers, and is continuously being extended to Ismaili communities around the world who do not yet benefit from this organisational structure. These institutions are the intended registrants of this TLD. There are a total of over 4,000 people engaged at the senior levels of these institutions, and many thousands more, serving as volunteers elsewhere in the system, many of whom will be end users or beneficiaries of this TLD. In addition, the community currently has a primary website: www.TheIsmaili.org as well as a number of sites operated individually by different institutions and boards around the world. It is expected that these sites will be brought under the new TLD. As documented earlier, the Ismaili community has existed for over 1,400 years, and its institutions have a long history. As such, the purpose of this TLD application will have a lasting nature, as it is expected that these institutions will continue to serve the Ismaili community for many years in the future. The Aga Khan Foundation is applying for the .ISMAILI TLD with the overall purpose of creating a consistent, online experience for the end-user, with this TLD being focused on the members of the Ismaili institutions. The Aga Khan Foundation or its representatives will communicate the availability and purpose of the .ISMAILI TLD to the qualifying institutions through existing, established channels. This will include information on how the domain is to be used, who can register, and the means of ensuring the mission is carried out at all times. (For information on registration policies and enforcement, see response #20a.)×

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

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 there are other Muslim communities that share a common heritage with the Ismailis, no single global community tends to use the term "Ismaili" as their general description. The TLD is also unique with respect to existing namespaces and should not generate string confusion.×

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

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 Constitution. In 1986, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam, ordained an Ismaili Constitution which, brought under a common aegis, the social governance of the global Ismaili community in order better to secure their peace and unity, spiritual and social welfare, as well as to foster fruitful collaboration among different peoples, to optimize the use of resources, and to enable the Ismaili Muslims, wherever they live, to make a valid and meaningful contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of the societies in which they live and to be responsible citizens of the countries where they reside. 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. The aforementioned institutions which function within the framework of the global Ismaili Constitution will receive an invitation to apply for a second level domain by the Aga Khan Foundation or its representative. No third-party registrations will be accepted. Name Selection Second level domains may be organised by institution, institution type or country (without conflicting with reserved geographic names pursuant to Specification 5 of the new TLD Agreement), and will be named accordingly. The names will be easily identifiable as related to the Ismaili institutions. Content and Use The Ismaili institutions will be restricted in using their second level domain for the purpose of institutional work. The AGA KHAN FOUNDATION or its representatives will regularly examine the names and content within the TLD to ensure consistency with the mission of purpose of both the Ismaili institutions, and bringing the Ismaili institutions together online. Staff working with these various institutions on a daily basis will be tasked with managing the roll out and the creation of these secondary domains and the related implementation and enforcement plans. Enforcement The AGA KHAN FOUNDATION or its representatives will strictly enforce compliance with all policies in the TLD. Given .ISMAILI is a restricted, community TLD, the registrants are known institutional community members sharing similar beliefs and goals. Thus, it is highly unlikely policies will be disregarded and enforcement necessary. If any domain within .ISMAILI is found to be operating against the principles of the Ismaili institutions or conducting practices outside the scope of the purpose of the TLD, the AGA KHAN FOUNDATION or its representatives will take immediate action to remedy the conflict. These remedies could include issuing a directive to the registrant to make modifications within a specific cue period, a take-down of a domain, and measures to disallow repeat offenders from managing a domain. As applications for secondary level domains are by invitation-only, and this is being operated essentially as a closed registry, we do not foresee any appeals from registrants. However, where necessary, qualified registrants may refer to the applicant or its representative to request an invitation for review.×

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 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 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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