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'''.bayern''' is a new [[GeoTLD]] that was proposed in ICANN's [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]], "bayern" is the German word for "Bavaria", and thus would be a top level signifier for people and companies who wish associate themselves with that region of Germany. Bayern is the largest German state by area and the second most populous.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria Bavaria, Wikipedia.org]</ref> The [[Bayern Connect]] application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 3 May 2014.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 2 June 2014</ref>

'''.bayern''' is a new [[GeoTLD]] that was proposed in [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]], "bayern" is the German word for "Bavaria", and thus would be a top level signifier for people and companies who wish associate themselves with that region of Germany. Bayern is the largest German state by area and the second most populous.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria Bavaria, Wikipedia.org]</ref> The [[Bayern Connect]] application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 3 May 2014.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 2 June 2014</ref>

At one point, there were two entities vying for support of their .bayern proposals: [[Bayern Connect]] and [[dotBayern]]. The former recieved government support and was thus able to apply for the [[TLD]] with ICANN. [[Minds + Machines]] was selected to run the registry, and its parent company [[Top Level Domain Holdings]] is the majority owner of [[Bayern Connect]]. It was one of the first companies to announce a state-centric TLD bid. <ref>[http://htl.li/1gPHZr Minds + Machines works with .bayern, CircleID.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.bayernconnect.com/2012/01/hhha/ BayernConnect.com]</ref>

At one point, there were two entities vying for support of their .bayern proposals: [[Bayern Connect]] and [[dotBayern]]. The former recieved government support and was thus able to apply for the [[TLD]] with ICANN. [[Minds + Machines]] was selected to run the registry, and its parent company [[Top Level Domain Holdings]] is the majority owner of [[Bayern Connect]]. It was one of the first companies to announce a state-centric TLD bid. <ref>[http://htl.li/1gPHZr Minds + Machines works with .bayern, CircleID.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.bayernconnect.com/2012/01/hhha/ BayernConnect.com]</ref>

Therefore the government of the Free State of Bavaria fully supports the implementation and operation of the .BAYERN top-level domain. The government, like us, strongly believes in the benefits of the .BAYERN top-level domain, for the population as well as for the economy of the Free State of Bavaria. The government endorses our application to manage and operate the .BAYERN top-level domain in all respects. The implementation of the .BAYERN top-level domain shall be carried out in close cooperation with the Free State of Bavaria.

Therefore the government of the Free State of Bavaria fully supports the implementation and operation of the .BAYERN top-level domain. The government, like us, strongly believes in the benefits of the .BAYERN top-level domain, for the population as well as for the economy of the Free State of Bavaria. The government endorses our application to manage and operate the .BAYERN top-level domain in all respects. The implementation of the .BAYERN top-level domain shall be carried out in close cooperation with the Free State of Bavaria.

We specifically examined more restrictive registration policies, such as limiting registration to members of organizations with a specific relation to the Free State of Bavaria. We rejected such limitations because they would interfere with .BAYERN’s primary mission, purpose and goals--which is to encourage as many registrants as possible to associate themselves with the Free State of Bavaria for any legal purpose. Factors that we took into account when considering a more restrictive registration policy included:

We specifically examined more restrictive registration policies, such as limiting registration to members of organizations with a specific relation to the Free State of Bavaria. We rejected such limitations because they would interfere with .BAYERN’s primary mission, purpose and goals--which is to encourage as many registrants as possible to associate themselves with the Free State of Bavaria for any legal purpose. Factors that we took into account when considering a more restrictive registration policy included:

==Contract Signed==

==Contract Signed==

On 23 January 2014 [[Bayern Connect]] received a [[Registry Agreement]] signed by [[ICANN]] for .bayern after passing all the required processes needed to become a [[Registry Operator]] for the string.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries-date Registry Agreements, ICANN.org] Retrieved 27 Jan 2014</ref>

On 23 January 2014 Bayern Connect received a [[Registry Agreement]] signed by ICANN for .bayern after passing all the required processes needed to become a [[Registry Operator]] for the string.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries-date Registry Agreements, ICANN.org] Retrieved 27 Jan 2014</ref>

==Delegation and Availability==

==Delegation and Availability==