.barclays

Status:	Delegated
Registry Provider:	ARI Registry Services
Type:	Brand TLD
Priority #:	1558 - Barclays Bank
More information:

.barclays is a Brand TLD delegated in ICANN's New gTLD Program. Barclays Bank PLC manages the TLD and is its Registry. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the Root Zone on 24 March, 2015.

Application Details

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

"The mission⁄purpose of the .barclays TLD is to provide an authoritative, intuitive and cohesive communications channel to Barclays Bank PLC (herein referred to as ‘Barclays Bank’) through its globally-recognised Barclays brand. Barclays Bank is a leader in the financial services industry. Innovation differentiates Barclays Bank from its competitors as it strives to address the changing needs of its customers. Barclays Bank’s plans in relation to the .barclays TLD are an important aspect of this innovation.

As one of the first TLD’s dedicated solely to a single brand, the .barclays TLD will serve to meet the present and future needs of Barclays Bank. It will provide an innovative and flexible digital space that is able to rapidly adapt to accommodate the digital needs of Barclays Bank within a constantly evolving online space.

Barclays Bank is a major global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, and operations in more than 50 countries, Barclays Bank moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

Barclays Bank sees the .barclays TLD as a unique opportunity to transition its existing Barclays domain name portfolio and online presence to an authoritative, dedicated, and trusted online space that is clearly, concisely and relevantly named. Customers – current and prospective – will be able to interact with Barclays Bank with confidence. The use of an authoritative space will also help to reduce and⁄or eliminate domain names that are registered for the purposes of infringing Barclays trademarks.

Barclays Bank plans to request an exemption from clause 1b of the Registry Operator Code of Conduct (Specification 9) pursuant to clause 6 of the Code of Conduct to enable it to register domain names in its own right in the .barclays TLD. Domain names will not be made commercially available; all domain names in the TLD will be registered to and maintained by Barclays Bank for its own exclusive use. Barclays Bank will not sell, distribute or transfer control or use of any registration in the TLD to any third party that is not an Affiliate, as that term is defined in clause 2.9(c) of the Registry Agreement. This operating model will bring added benefits to the DNS by preventing abuse and infringement, thus increasing reliability and trust. Consequently, Barclays Bank anticipates that the .barclays TLD model and other TLDs will contribute to the development of a new level of trust and confidence on the Internet.

Furthermore, the .barclays TLD will contribute to building Barclays Bank’s reputation for and commitment to leadership and innovation in the online space. The .barclays TLD will allow for domain name registrations in support of individual products, services, and other initiatives of Barclays Bank’s business, whilst providing an impeccable level of service, quality, authenticity and value through the most technologically secure and advanced online environment – where customers can learn about and access Barclays Bank products and services.

The .barclays TLD will further the public interest by providing an authoritative, intuitive and cohesive communications channel that promotes Barclays Bank’s business and brand. Through the .barclays TLD, Barclays Bank will drive innovation not only in its own industry, but in the Internet as a whole. Having already demonstrated this innovation and leadership in its own industry, Barclays Bank hopes to provide existing and potential customers as well as the broader Internet community greater levels of service through the .barclays TLD. The added confidence inherent in Barclays Bank being the only eligible registrant in the TLD will ensure a direct and trusted line of communication between consumers and Barclays Bank. The innovation, increase in service level and trust in the TLD will also serve to promote competition on the Internet."

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