Changes

As a continuation of ICANN's June 2011 decision to remove cross-ownership restrictions of existing gTLDs, the ICANN Board revised in October 2012 the policies by further allowing registry operators to own and become affiliated with registrars selling domains in their own gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-18oct12-en.htm#1.a Approved Board Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board], ICANN.org. Published 18 October 2012.</ref>

As a continuation of ICANN's June 2011 decision to remove cross-ownership restrictions of existing gTLDs, the ICANN Board revised in October 2012 the policies by further allowing registry operators to own and become affiliated with registrars selling domains in their own gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-18oct12-en.htm#1.a Approved Board Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board], ICANN.org. Published 18 October 2012.</ref>

Such a change in policy would allow incumbent registry operators, such as [[Verisign]], [[Neustar]], and [[Afilias]], to do so with .com, .biz, and .info, respectively.<ref name="domainincite">[http://domainincite.com/10796-soon-verisign-could-sell-com-domains-direct Soon Verisign could sell .com domains direct], DomainIncite.com. Published 22 October 2012.</ref> In order to qualify for these new policies, each company would need to either sign the standard new gTLD registry agreement, which includes [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] (URS) and [[Trademark Clearinghouse]] provisions as [[RPM|right protection mechanisms]], or submit a contract renegotiation which contains additional provisions to ensure fair competition and adherence to the new gTLD Registry Code of Conduct.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/URS@DotCom URS Could Arrive Soon at .Com & .Net], InternetCommerce.org. Published 22 October 2012.</ref> In all cases, contract changes will be shown to competition authorities for comment prior to ICANN's approval.<ref name="domainincite"></ref>

Such a change in policy would allow incumbent registry operators, such as [[Verisign]], [[Neustar]], and [[Afilias]], to do so with .com, .biz, and .info, respectively.<ref name="domainincite">[http://domainincite.com/10796-soon-verisign-could-sell-com-domains-direct Soon Verisign could sell .com domains direct], DomainIncite.com. Published 22 October 2012.</ref> In order to qualify for these new policies, each company would need to either sign the standard new gTLD registry agreement, which includes [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] (URS) and [[Trademark Clearinghouse]] provisions as [[RPM|Rights Protection Mechanisms]] (RPMs), or submit a contract renegotiation which contains additional provisions to ensure fair competition and adherence to the new gTLD Registry Code of Conduct.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/URS@DotCom URS Could Arrive Soon at .Com & .Net], InternetCommerce.org. Published 22 October 2012.</ref> In all cases, contract changes will be shown to competition authorities for comment prior to ICANN's approval.<ref name="domainincite"></ref>

== References ==  

== References ==