Changes

==Current Applicants==

==Current Applicants==

# [[Domain Security Company]], formerly Asif LLC, a start-up company based in Wisconsin.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/tiny-start-up-secures-bank-gtld-trademark/ Tiny start-up secures .bank gTLD trademark]</ref>

# [[Domain Security Company]], formerly Asif LLC, a start-up company based in Wisconsin, who filed a trademark for the TLD which was later revoked.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/tiny-start-up-secures-bank-gtld-trademark/ Tiny start-up secures .bank gTLD trademark]</ref>

# Joint project between [[American Bankers Association]] (ABA) & [[BITS]], the technology policy arm of the Financial Services Roundtable.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/bits-may-apply-for-six-financial-gtlds/ BITS may apply for six financial gTLDs]</ref>

# Joint project between [[American Bankers Association]] (ABA) & [[BITS]], the technology policy arm of the Financial Services Roundtable.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/bits-may-apply-for-six-financial-gtlds/ BITS may apply for six financial gTLDs]</ref>

==Application Details==

==Application Details==

===Domain Security Company===

===Domain Security Company===

On August 31, 2010, Mary Iqbal, CEO of Domain Security Company filed an application (85, 120, 345) with the United States Patent Office (USPT) as the rightful owner of the .bank intended for domain name registration services.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2010/09/08/trademark-application-filed-for-bank-top-level-domain-name/ Trademark Application Filed for .Bank Top Level Domain Name]</ref> A similar patent application for .bank was also filed by the company in Pakistan. According to Iqbal, she had been working on the idea for several years and she is serious about her application with ICANN to become the registry operator of .bank TLD.   On January 10 2012, the USPTO issued the patent no. 4, 085,335 for .bank to Asif LLC, the previous name of Domain Security Company.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/tiny-start-up-secures-bank-gtld-trademark/ Tiny start-up secures .bank gTLD trademark]</ref> However on January 19, the USPTO cancelled the patent because of error. In a letter sent to the company’s lawyer, the USPTO explained that a protest letter filed against the trademark was not processed before entering it in the Supplemental Registration. Under Trademark Act 1, 2, 3 and 45...”TLD would not be perceived as trademark.” The trademark office cited it has “broad authority to correct mistakes.” <ref>[http://domainincite.com/bank-trademark-canceled-after-mistake/ .Bank Trademark Canceled After “Mistake”]</ref> <ref>

On August 31, 2010, Mary Iqbal, CEO of Domain Security Company filed an application (85, 120, 345) with the United States Patent Office (USPT) as the rightful owner of the .bank intended for domain name registration services.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2010/09/08/trademark-application-filed-for-bank-top-level-domain-name/ Trademark Application Filed for .Bank Top Level Domain Name]</ref> A similar patent application for .bank was also filed by the company in Pakistan. According to Iqbal, she had been working on the idea for several years and she is serious about her application with ICANN to become the registry operator of the .bank TLD. On January 10 2012, the USPTO issued the patent no. 4, 085, 335 for .bank to Asif LLC, the previous name of Domain Security Company.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/tiny-start-up-secures-bank-gtld-trademark/ Tiny start-up secures .bank gTLD trademark]</ref> However on January 19, the USPTO cancelled the patent because of error. In a letter sent to the company’s lawyer, the USPTO explained that a protest letter filed against the trademark was not processed before entering it in the Supplemental Registration. Under Trademark Act 1, 2, 3 and 45... TLD would not be perceived as trademark.” The trademark office cited it has the “broad authority to correct mistakes.”<ref>[http://domainincite.com/bank-trademark-canceled-after-mistake/ .Bank Trademark Canceled After “Mistake”]</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/USPTO-bank-withdrawn.pdf USPTO Letter Regarding Patent 4,085,035 .bank mark]</ref>

[http://domainincite.com/docs/USPTO-bank-withdrawn.pdf USPTO Letter Regarding Patent 4,085,035 .bank mark]</ref>

===ABA and BITS===

===ABA and BITS===

The .bank project of [[American Bankers Association]] (ABA) and [[BITS]] is headed by [[Craig Schwartz]], former chief gTLD registry liaison of ICANN. He serves as general manager for registry programs of the project.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/senior-icann-staffer-hired-by-bank-project/ Senior ICANN Staff Hired by .bank Project]</ref> According to Schwartz, ABA and BITS will establish a new company that will be responsible in filing the application for .bank gTLD. Their plan is to file a community-designated bid to avoid the ICANN auction in anticipation for any possible gTLD string contention from other applications. Schwartz explained, “We’ve looked at the scoring and while it may not come into play at all, we do believe we can meet the requisite score. But we’re certainly mindful of what’s happening in the space, there’s always the possibility of contention.” He added that their plan is to begin the operations of .bank as a business to business and it will be primarily used for secure inter-bank transactions and will partner with a several ICANN accredited registrars that would be able to meet the company’s security requirements.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/bits-may-apply-for-six-financial-gtlds/ BITS may apply for six financial gTLDs]</ref>

The .bank application by [[American Bankers Association]] (ABA) and [[BITS]] is headed by [[Craig Schwartz]], former Chief gTLD Registry Liaison of ICANN. He serves as General Manager for Registry Programs of the project.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/senior-icann-staffer-hired-by-bank-project/ Senior ICANN Staff Hired by .bank Project]</ref> According to Schwartz, ABA and BITS will establish a new company that will be responsible for filing the application for .bank. Their plan is to file a community-designated bid to avoid the ICANN auction in anticipation for any possible string contention from other applications. Schwartz explained, “We’ve looked at the scoring and while it may not come into play at all, we do believe we can meet the requisite score. But we’re certainly mindful of what’s happening in the space, there’s always the possibility of contention." He added that their plan is to begin the operations of .bank as a business to business and it will be primarily used for secure inter-bank transactions and will partner with several ICANN accredited registrars able to meet the company’s security requirements.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/bits-may-apply-for-six-financial-gtlds/ BITS may apply for six financial gTLDs]</ref>

On April 2011, ABA & BITS announced that they signed a contract with Verisign to serve as their exclusive provider of back-end registry services.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/verisign-now-front-runner-for-bank/ Verisign Now Frontrunner for .bank]</ref>

On April 2011, ABA & BITS announced that they signed a contract with Verisign to serve as their exclusive provider of back-end registry services.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/verisign-now-front-runner-for-bank/ Verisign Now Frontrunner for .bank]</ref>

On December 2011, BITS submitted to ICANN 31 proposed requirements to ensure the stability and resiliency of “high security” gTLDs like .bank and .pay covering topics from registration, acceptable use policies, abusive conduct, law enforcement, compliance registrar relations and data security. BITS calls the proposed gTLDs intended for the use of the financial industry as “fTLDs.” In addition, the organization strongly urged the internet governing body to accept the standards proposed by the Security Standards Working Group ([[SSWG]]). Seventeen companies are endorsing BITS proposal.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/high-security-bank-spec-published/ High-security .bank spec published]</ref>

On December 2011, BITS submitted to ICANN 31 proposed requirements to ensure the stability and resiliency of “high security” gTLDs like .bank and .pay, covering topics from registration, acceptable use policies, abusive conduct, law enforcement, compliance registrar relations and data security. BITS calls the proposed gTLDs intended for the use of the financial industry as “fTLDs.” In addition, the organization strongly urged the internet governing body to accept the standards proposed by the Security Standards Working Group ([[SSWG]]). Seventeen companies are endorsing BITS proposal.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/high-security-bank-spec-published/ High-security .bank spec published]</ref> The 2011 Proposed Security, Stability and Resiliency Requirements for Financial TLDs submitted by BITS to ICANN is available [http://www.bits.org/publications/doc/SSWGOutreachICANN122111.pdf here].

==Reactions==

 

 

==Different Reactions==

Companies within the financial sector has varying reactions regarding the proposed .bank gTLD. Some believe that it will help curb incidence of domain name abuse. Avivah Litan, an analyst from Gartner said that a TLD dedicated for banks will provide more security because monitoring would be easier. Litan explained that under the [[.com]] TLD, anyone can register a domain name. On the other hand, Forrester Research marketing analyst Jeff Ernst said that several big banks are considering to apply for their own TLD registry while smaller banks are considering to use a .bank domain name.<ref>[http://www.americanbanker.com/btn/24_12/dot-bank-gets-mixed-reviews-1044372-1.html Dot Bank Gets Mixed Reviews]</ref>

Companies within the financial sector has varying reactions regarding the proposed .bank gTLD. Some believe that it will help curb incidence of domain name abuse. Avivah Litan, an analyst from Gartner said that a TLD dedicated for banks will provide more security because monitoring would be easier. Litan explained that under the [[.com]] TLD, anyone can register a domain name. On the other hand, Forrester Research marketing analyst Jeff Ernst said that several big banks are considering to apply for their own TLD registry while smaller banks are considering to use a .bank domain name.<ref>[http://www.americanbanker.com/btn/24_12/dot-bank-gets-mixed-reviews-1044372-1.html Dot Bank Gets Mixed Reviews]</ref>