...
Note 1. The term “Consumer” was specifically used in the Affirmation and the ICANN Board resolution that created this WG. The WG defines "Consumer" as "actual and potential users and registrants". Some commenters believe that the correct term to use in all publications instead of "Consumer" should be "Internet User" and "Consumers" as "Internet Users" whether they are registrants or not.
Note 2. The Consumer Trust definition has three aspects:
- First, Internet users need confidence in the reliability and accuracy of the resolution of domain names they reference in email addresses, apps, and web browsingweb browsing.
- Second, registrants of domain names need confidence that the TLD registry they have selected will actually fulfill its proposed purpose and promises that drove their selection. For example, a bank that invests in moving its registrations to the .bank gTLD wants to be able to trust that .bank will honor its promise to allow only legitimate banks to hold domain names. The registrant will also trust that ICANN will hold the gTLD operator to its promises, ICANN policies, and any applicable national laws.
- Third, consumers need to have confidence in the efforts of registry operators and registrars to curtail abuse and to ensure respect for intellectual property rights, prevent fraud, crime, and other illegal conduct, as well as confidence that ICANN will enforce requirements imposed on Registry operators and Registrars to prevent these abuses. If consumers believe that new gTLDs are failing to prevent these abuses, then consumers will lose trust in the domain name system.
...
| Trustee (who/what is trusted) | Aspects (trust with respect to) |
|---|---|
| The overall domain name system | All aspects, including consistency of name resolution |
| TLD registry operator | Fulfilling its stated purpose and complying with ICANN policies policies and applicable national laws |
| ICANN, Registry operators and Registrars | Efforts to curtail susceptibility to abuse of the domain name system |
| ICANN | Ability to enforce requirements imposed on registrars and registry operators, including respect for intellectual property rights and avoidance/minimization efforts relating to fraud, crime, or other illegal conduct. |
...
Note 8. All definitions are presented individually. However, these definitions need to be considered holistically in order to determine "the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust, and consumer choice" (Affirmation Para 9.3).
...
The working group adopted the following definitions to accommodate this request:
- “Closed gTLD” refers to a gTLD where ICANN has granted the paragraph 6 exemption from Specification 9: Registry Operator Code of Conduct.
- “Open gTLD” refers to a gTLD that has not been granted an exemption from Specification 9: Registry Operator Code of Conduct. Community TLDs and TLDs with self-imposed registrant restrictions would still be regarded as open gTLDs under this definition, unless they have been granted an exemption from the Registry Operator Code of Conduct.
- “Closed Brand gTLD” refers to a closed gTLD where the TLD string is a Trademark held by the registry operator. (e.g. .Microsoft, .Google, .HSBC )
- “Closed Keyword gTLD” refers to a closed gTLD where the TLD string is not a recognized Trademark held by the registry operator. (e.g. .search, .book, .music )