.nikon Domain Information

Applicant Full Legal Name

NIKON CORPORATION

Legal Establishment

Corporation

Applicant Address

Shin-Yurakucho Bldg., 12-1, Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8331
JP

State Jurisdiction

JAPAN

Applicant Website

http://www.nikon.com

Applied for gTLD

NIKON

Domain Registration Status

Closed

Mission/Purpose of Domain Extension

The mission and purpose of the new restricted .nikon gTLD is to benefit internet users by ensuring increased trust, confidence and a sense of security through the elimination of user confusion and assurance of brand authenticity. The .nikon gTLD will be a new generation gTLD serving the interests... Read more

The mission and purpose of the new restricted .nikon gTLD is to benefit internet users by ensuring increased trust, confidence and a sense of security through the elimination of user confusion and assurance of brand authenticity.

The .nikon gTLD will be a new generation gTLD serving the interests of end users by providing an authoritative Internet space where information, services and resources of NIKON CORPORATION (Nikon) and its brand will be closely controlled by Nikon. The majority of the anticipated domain name registrations in the .nikon gTLD will be used in the promotion and communication of the Nikon brand and its associated products. It is anticipated that the primary use of .nikon domain names will be used for communication and marketing purposes, with internet users assured of brand authenticity.

Since its establishment in 1917, Nikon has been creating a path as a pioneer of optical technology. Nikon currently develops a broad spectrum of products with advanced technologies from optical product for consumer goods such as camera-related products focused on digital cameras and binoculars to industrial precision instruments such as Semiconductor exposure equipment, liquid crystal exposure equipment, microscope and measuring instruments. Further, Nikon has sold over 22.8 million Nikon digital cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras worldwide and has over 23% international market share for measuring instruments.

Nikon has over 24,000 employees with business operation in over 150 countries and consolidated net sales of 887,512 million Japanese Yen for March 2011 year end. The .nikon gTLD intends to support Nikonʹs core business products and services by consolidating its online presence and Nikon brand image at a global level enhancing the brand value, free from false impersonation of third parties, together with improved user experience and user-friendly .nikon domain space on the internet. Nikon was ranked as one of ʺJapanʹs Best Global Brands 2011ʺ in a survey conducted by Interbrand. Further ʺTrustworthiness & Creativityʺ is Nikonʹs corporate philosophy. In this regard, security, innovation and accessibility are paramount considerations in all of the business activities of Nikon.

Business activities are increasingly conducted over the internet, allowing for greater levels of interaction between businesses and customers. As a result, both businesses and end users benefit from ease of interaction and a wider range of choices with lower transaction costs. However, the development in this arena in the current domain name system has exposed both businesses and consumers to increased criminal activities over the internet, including data breach, hacking and phishing. These sophisticated criminal activities cause reputational damage to businesses as internet users lose consumer confidence and trust with the businesses targeted by such criminal activities. The .nikon gTLD will facilitate greater trust and assurance from internet users connecting with Nikon online, whilst still allowing convenient and efficient interaction.

Nikonʹs mission and purpose of the proposed new gTLD share ICANNʹs initiatives to promote public interest. Nikon is committed to contribute towards achieving such initiatives in line with ICANNʹs Affirmation of Commitments, which includes:

- consumer trust: the .nikon gTLD registry will be operated in a centralized manner with a restrictive registration policy. Registration of domain names will only be available to Nikon and its affiliate entities, which will provide added consumer trust that .nikon domain names are trustworthy. As .nikon domain names are subject to registration standards, policies and procedures under Nikonʹs control, this eliminates the possibility of malicious conduct within the .nikon domain space;

- competition: the proposed new gTLD is not intended to instigate competition and consumer choice among prospective registrants. Instead it is anticipated to contribute to ICANNʹs initiatives to promote public interest through its operation focused on promoting consumer trust. Increased trust in .nikon gTLD will drive existing and new top level domain (TLD) registry operators to make improvements in mechanisms to improve consumer trust of their TLDs; and

- consumer choice: the proposed new gTLD will enable user-driven improvements and innovations assisting Nikonʹs marketing efforts through its ability to create new second and third level domain names on demand. These names will provide the consumers with more choices for interacting with Nikon. As Nikon has effective control over the registration and use of domain names under .nikon domain space, this will also contribute towards general service innovations on the internet.

Given the restricted nature of the .nikon gTLD, the projected number of registration is likely to be limited. It is anticipated that a more limited number of domain names (10-20) will be registered in the first year. However, over the next few years, the number of registrations is likely to increase up to about 1000 domain names as new services and marketing campaigns are developed and implemented by Nikon.
As the .nikon gTLD expands and evolves, Nikon may consider offering the use of second level domain names to its official agents and other eligible business partners at a later date. In this endeavor, Nikon will continue to comply with all operational, technical and policy requirements, as well as maintaining consumer trust and the stability of the internet. Nikon will keep ICANN reasonably informed of any material developments relating to .nikon gTLD including compliance with the continued operations instrument obligations as set out in Specification 8 of the Registry Agreement.

Nikon intends to create relevant domain names for use including product, services or geographic names in the second or third level domain names. In accordance with registration policies and the proposed measures for protection of geographic names as outlined in response to Question 22, Nikon will use geographic names to localize its websites in the countries in which it operates. The use of geographic names is intended to:
- connect internet users with relevant information as applicable to the territory; and
- comply with required rules and regulations in the national territory.

Nikon does not intend to utilize Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) at the second level initially. However, as the use of the .nikon gTLD evolves, it is anticipated that Nikon may utilize IDNs within the .nikon domain space to allow internet users to engage with .nikon in their native language, creating a more positive user experience and encouraging diversity.

Nikon is a well-recognized global brand with a total of 1,853 trademarks registered in 138 countries and territories worldwide. The ʺNikonʺ trademarks are registered under various categories including but not limited to class 9, which covers Nikonʹs core business of video equipment and optical precision measuring equipment. Further, Nikon is currently applying for additional 1,112 trademarks in over 195 countries for better protection and promotion of its ʺNikonʺ brand.

Nikon has an extensive portfolio of registered domain names in both generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) and country-code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) including nikon.com, nikon.sa, nikon.qa, nikon.com.de, nikon.com.co, nikon.co, nikon.com.tn, nikon.tn, nikon.do, nikon.com.au, mynikonlife.com.au.

Recently, Nikon was successful in securing sunrise application for the following domain spaces based on existing trademark registration: nikon.xxx, nikion.sa, nikon.qa, nikon.com.de, nikon.com.co, nikon.co, nikon.com.tn, nikon.tn, nikon.do, nikon.tel.
×