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{{CompanyInfo|
{{CompanyInfo|
| logo            = Cramton-Associates-Logo.png
| logo            = Applicant_auction.png
| bronzesponsor = ICANNWiki [[Sponsorship|Bronze Sponsor]]
| type            =  
| type            =  
| industry        =  
| industry        =  
| founded        = 1993
| founded        = 2013
| founders        =  
| founders        =  
| ownership      =  
| ownership      =  
| headquarters    = 6418 Dahlonega Rd.<br>Bethesda MD 20816
| headquarters    =  
| country        = USA
| country        = Hong Kong
| businesses      =  
| businesses      =  
| products        =  
| products        =  
| employees      =  
| employees      =  
| revenue        =  
| revenue        =  
| website        = [http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/ Cramton Associates]
| website        = [http://www.applicantauction.com/ Applicant Auction]
| blog            =  
| blog            =  
| facebook        =  
| facebook        =  
| linkedin        =  
| linkedin        =  
| twitter        =  
| twitter        =  
| keypeople      = [[Peter Cramton]], Chairman<br/>[[Pat Sujarittanonta]], Affiliate
| keypeople      = [[Ulrich Gall]] - Founder<br>
[[Lindsay Holden]] - Business Development<br>
[[Sheel Mohnot]] - Business Development<br>
[[Ben Hanna]] - Operations<br>
[[Peter Cramton]]<br>
}}
}}


'''Cramton Associates''' specializes in providing advice on auction and market design for multiple industries in many different countries. It was founded by Chairman [[Peter Cramton]], who is a lead expert on auction design and strategy. He is aided by [[Pat Sujarittanonta]] as Affiliate.<ref>[http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/ Cramton Associates], cramton.umd.edu.ca. Retrieved 30 December 2012.</ref>
'''Innovative Auctions''' (IAL) is a Hong Kong based company that specializes in providing advice on auction and market design for multiple industries in many different countries. The firm is offering [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction]] services to applicants in contention in [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program]]. Their auction was designed by [[Peter Cramton]], a leading expert on auction design and strategy.  


==Products and Services==
IAL's private auction for gTLD contention sets is called '''Applicant Auction'''.<ref>[http://www.innovativeauctions.com/#applicant-auction Applicant Auction] Retrieved 08 Nov 2013</ref>
Cramton Associates offers complex analyses services, with the following points of interest:<ref>[http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/tools/ Tools], cramton.umd.edu.ca. Retrieved 30 December 2012.</ref>
* '''Data Visualization''' - Visual data presentation via Tableau.
* '''Mathematical Analysis''' - Projections of data and possibilities, including the simulation of alternative auction designs, via Mathematica and MatLab.
* '''Optimization''' - Optimization for identifying winners and pricing packages in combinatorial auctions by optimizing programming, via CPLEX and Gurobi.
* '''Presentation''' - Excel data reports via Office 2010.
* '''Statistical Analysis''' - Data organization and analysis, via Stata.


==Affiliates==
==ICANN New gTLD Auctions==
The company is associated with Market Design Inc., a company offering consulting services for the design of auction markets, as well as Power Auctions LLC, a provider of software, technology, consulting services, and intellectual property for advanced auction applications.<ref>[http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/affiliates/ Affiliates], cramton.umd.edu/ca/affiliates. Retrieved 30 December 2012.</ref>
Numerous companies have offered their own models [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction models]] for resolving contention among multiple applicants for the same TLD. ICANN, whose auctions are by definition a last resort, has encouraged parties to resolve contention themselves. Innovative Auctions has designed a private auction, competing with [[Sedo]] and [[Right of the Dot]]. All three groups offer slight variations on implementation and services but share commonalities in their proposed models. In all cases, the winner will pay the amount of the second-highest bid, and money will be split either equally or proportionally between the losers.<ref name="worldipreview">[http://www.worldipreview.com/newsstory.asp?ID=46 New gTLD applicants ponder private auctions], WorldIPreview.com. Published 14 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.</ref> All applicants for each contention set must agree to participate in order for a private auction to proceed; otherwise, the contention set will be managed via ICANN's auction system, in which all proceeds go to ICANN as "excess funds" that will be allocated at a later date.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/11/icann_s_gtld_auction_proceeds_should_be_used_to_bring_mesh_technologies.html ICANN, Make a Difference], Slate.com. Published 27 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.</ref>


==ICANN New gTLD Auctions==
During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, [[Peter Cramton]] outlined an "ascending clock" model, where a price is increased by the auctioneer at each stage; bidders and sellers can then either drop out or bid on the increased amount.<ref name="domainincite">[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref> This model is also preferred by [[Right of the Dot]], though it has also proposed "sealed bid" and "live auction" models. In a sealed bid model, applicants securely send money via a courier and packages are stored in a safe place until they are opened at the auction session.<ref name="worldipreview"></ref>
In response to the need for private auction models to determine winners of contention sets for each new [[gTLD auctions|gTLD auction]], numerous companies have offered their own models in contrast to ICANN's private auctions, which were offered as a last resort. Cramton Associates was one of the companies offering private auction models, along with [[Sedo]] and [[Right Of The Dot]]. All three groups offered slight variations on implementation and services but shared commonalities in their proposed models. In all cases, the winner will pay the amount of the second-highest bid, and money will be split either equally or proportionally between the losers, so that all applicants receive a percentage of their initial investment back.<ref name="worldipreview">[http://www.worldipreview.com/newsstory.asp?ID=46 New gTLD applicants ponder private auctions], WorldIPreview.com. Published 14 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.</ref> All applicants must agree to participate in a private auction model in order for it to proceed; otherwise, the contention set will be managed via ICANN's auction system, in which all proceeds go to ICANN as "excess funds" that will be redistributed at a later date.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/11/icann_s_gtld_auction_proceeds_should_be_used_to_bring_mesh_technologies.html ICANN, Make a Difference], Slate.com. Published 27 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.</ref>


During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, Peter Cramton outlined an "ascending clock" model, where a price is increased by the auctioneer at each stage; bidders and sellers can then either drop out or bid on the increased amount.<ref name="domainincite">[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref> This model is also preferred by Right Of The Dot, who also proposed "sealed bid" and "live auction" models. In a sealed bid model, applicants securely send money via a courier and packages are stored in a safe place until they are opened at the auction session.<ref name="worldipreview"></ref>
Innovative Auctions has secured its fees at 1% for the first round and 4% for subsequent rounds. The first round took place in June and 6 contention sets were settled for a total of $9.01M .<ref name="applicantauction">[http://www.applicantauction.com/blog/2013/6/19/first-applicant-auction-settled-next-auction-august-13th FIRST APPLICANT AUCTION SETTLED, NEXT AUCTION AUGUST 13TH]. Applicant Auction. Published 2013 June 19. Retrieved 2013 July 10.</ref> To date, the Applicant Auction has resolved contention for over 70 gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.applicantauction.com/ ApplicantAuction.com] Retrieved 01 Dec 2014</ref> In the first two auctions (comprising 14 strings), the total sales price was $18.6 million; results from subsequent auctions have not been disclosed.<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-great-internet-land-grab The Great Internet Land Grab] ''The New Yorker'', www.newyorker.com, Retrieved 01 Dec 2014</ref>


Cramton's original model proposed to run auctions during the first quarter of 2013, before ICANN announced the results of their Initial Evaluation. Such a model would allow losing bidders to receive 70% back from their ICANN application fee, but would pose difficulties if winning applicants later discovered their applications were rejected. Other applicants will have withdraw already, and the new gTLD would be left without an owner. The former model also lumped all TLDs that an individual applicant had applied for in one package. Criticisms stating that such a model would benefit larger companies led to a change, so that auctions will now proceed on a TLD-by-TLD basis, with all auctions being simultaneously resolved at the same time.<ref name="domainincite"></ref>
[[Peter Cramton|Dr. Cramton]] has conducted research on auction theory and practice since 1983, and has facilitated a variety of high stakes auctions, including a large variety of government auctions for resource rights and distribution rights, with Cramton Associates.<ref>[http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/ About, Cramton.umd.edu/ca]</ref> Highlights from his high-profile and unique auction experience includes holding the world's first auction on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2002, designing electricity and gas markets in Colombia, and leading the FAA process to auction airport runway slots for New York City airports.<ref name="Cramton Home">[http://www.cramton.umd.edu/ca/ Home, Cramton.umd.edu/ca]Retrieved 7 Jan 2013]</ref>


Some large players, such as [[Donuts]], cited approval for Cramton's method.<ref name="domainincite"></ref>
Innovative Auctions' model is preferred by [[Donuts]], the largest [[TLD]] applicant.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's How Donuts Wants To Resolve its 158 Contention Fights, DomainIncite.com]Published 23 Oct 2012, Retrieved 8 Jan 2013</ref> [[TLDH]] has also signed on to participate in private auctions with Innovative Auctions, settling contention for four gTLDs in the August 2013 Applicant Auction<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2013/08/first-private-auction-and-%e8%b4%ad%e7%89%a9-update/ First private auction and .购物 update]Published September 2013</ref>. [[Raymond King]], applicant for 10 TLDs with [[Top Level Design]] expressed his support for Private Auctions in general, and Innovative Auctions specifically, in an [http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130102_private_vs_icann_auction_of_last_resort/ opinion piece on CircleID]. Several other parties have also expressed that they participate in IAL's Applicant Auction model, including [[Demand Media]]<ref>[http://unitedtld.com/blog/o74geglafca7inqzxq4r1hy7v944ii Readying for the First Private gTLD Applicant Auction]</ref> and [[.CLUB_Domains_LLC]]<ref>[http://dotclubregistry.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/club-domains-llc-set-to-particpate-in-private-auction-for-the-new-top-level-domain-club-company-raises-3-5-million-financing/ .club Domains headed to private auction for new gTLD .club</ref>.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Past Sponsors]]

Latest revision as of 17:41, 25 February 2022

Founded: 2013
Country: Hong Kong
Website: Applicant Auction
Key People
Ulrich Gall - Founder

Lindsay Holden - Business Development
Sheel Mohnot - Business Development
Ben Hanna - Operations
Peter Cramton

Innovative Auctions (IAL) is a Hong Kong based company that specializes in providing advice on auction and market design for multiple industries in many different countries. The firm is offering gTLD auction services to applicants in contention in ICANN's New gTLD Program. Their auction was designed by Peter Cramton, a leading expert on auction design and strategy.

IAL's private auction for gTLD contention sets is called Applicant Auction.[1]

ICANN New gTLD Auctions[edit | edit source]

Numerous companies have offered their own models gTLD auction models for resolving contention among multiple applicants for the same TLD. ICANN, whose auctions are by definition a last resort, has encouraged parties to resolve contention themselves. Innovative Auctions has designed a private auction, competing with Sedo and Right of the Dot. All three groups offer slight variations on implementation and services but share commonalities in their proposed models. In all cases, the winner will pay the amount of the second-highest bid, and money will be split either equally or proportionally between the losers.[2] All applicants for each contention set must agree to participate in order for a private auction to proceed; otherwise, the contention set will be managed via ICANN's auction system, in which all proceeds go to ICANN as "excess funds" that will be allocated at a later date.[3]

During ICANN 45 in Toronto, Peter Cramton outlined an "ascending clock" model, where a price is increased by the auctioneer at each stage; bidders and sellers can then either drop out or bid on the increased amount.[4] This model is also preferred by Right of the Dot, though it has also proposed "sealed bid" and "live auction" models. In a sealed bid model, applicants securely send money via a courier and packages are stored in a safe place until they are opened at the auction session.[2]

Innovative Auctions has secured its fees at 1% for the first round and 4% for subsequent rounds. The first round took place in June and 6 contention sets were settled for a total of $9.01M .[5] To date, the Applicant Auction has resolved contention for over 70 gTLDs.[6] In the first two auctions (comprising 14 strings), the total sales price was $18.6 million; results from subsequent auctions have not been disclosed.[7]

Dr. Cramton has conducted research on auction theory and practice since 1983, and has facilitated a variety of high stakes auctions, including a large variety of government auctions for resource rights and distribution rights, with Cramton Associates.[8] Highlights from his high-profile and unique auction experience includes holding the world's first auction on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2002, designing electricity and gas markets in Colombia, and leading the FAA process to auction airport runway slots for New York City airports.[9]

Innovative Auctions' model is preferred by Donuts, the largest TLD applicant.[10] TLDH has also signed on to participate in private auctions with Innovative Auctions, settling contention for four gTLDs in the August 2013 Applicant Auction[11]. Raymond King, applicant for 10 TLDs with Top Level Design expressed his support for Private Auctions in general, and Innovative Auctions specifically, in an opinion piece on CircleID. Several other parties have also expressed that they participate in IAL's Applicant Auction model, including Demand Media[12] and .CLUB_Domains_LLC[13].

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Applicant Auction Retrieved 08 Nov 2013
  2. 2.0 2.1 New gTLD applicants ponder private auctions, WorldIPreview.com. Published 14 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  3. ICANN, Make a Difference, Slate.com. Published 27 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  4. Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.
  5. FIRST APPLICANT AUCTION SETTLED, NEXT AUCTION AUGUST 13TH. Applicant Auction. Published 2013 June 19. Retrieved 2013 July 10.
  6. ApplicantAuction.com Retrieved 01 Dec 2014
  7. The Great Internet Land Grab The New Yorker, www.newyorker.com, Retrieved 01 Dec 2014
  8. About, Cramton.umd.edu/ca
  9. Home, Cramton.umd.edu/caRetrieved 7 Jan 2013]
  10. Here's How Donuts Wants To Resolve its 158 Contention Fights, DomainIncite.comPublished 23 Oct 2012, Retrieved 8 Jan 2013
  11. First private auction and .购物 updatePublished September 2013
  12. Readying for the First Private gTLD Applicant Auction
  13. [http://dotclubregistry.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/club-domains-llc-set-to-particpate-in-private-auction-for-the-new-top-level-domain-club-company-raises-3-5-million-financing/ .club Domains headed to private auction for new gTLD .club