CORE-MoU

CORE stands for Internet Council of Registrars. It is a non-profit organization formed in 1997 based on Generic Top Level Domains-Memorandum of Understanding (gTLD-MoU) for assisting launch of new domain name spaces. CORE has developed protocols and methodologies to facilitate domain registration also have developed a multi-protocol Shared Registration System (SRS) and registration gateway. SRS and Gateway help CORE members or Registrars to register and maintain the domain names for their customers. CORE will be sponsoring the 39th ICANN meeting to be held in Cartagena, Colombia. Earlier it has also sponsored the 36th and 38th ICANN meetings held in Seoul, Korea and Brussels, Belgium respectively.

CORE-MOU is the Internet Council of Registrars-Memorandum of Understanding, consisting of terms and policies to be followed by each CORE member. When an applicant’s form is accepted the applicant needs to read the CORE-MoU and affirm to follow all the provisions of the MoU.

General

Article 1 consists of definitions of terms used in the MoU such as DNS, Registry, Registrar, gTLD, the CORE-gTLD, gTLD –MoU, what is POC, iPOC, IAHC and so on.

Article 2 contains the principles, adopted from the gTLD-MoU in the CORE-MoU, that need to be followed by each Registrar. They are as follows:

• The TLD is a public resource and any evolution and or administration should be in the interest and service of the public.
• The public policies should represent the interests of the current and future stake holders of the internet name space.
• The registration services of gTLD name space should provide for global distribution of registrars.
• According to section 2(f) of gTLD-MoU, if the Second Level Domain (SLD) in any CORE-gTLD is identical to an alphanumeric string for which intellectual property rights exist shall be made available to only that person or to the one assigned authority by that person.

Article 3 speaks about the gTLDs and CORE-gTLDs

• The CORE gTLDs will be first gTLDs created by iPOC as per Section 9(a) of gTLD-MoU. And thereafter be an additional gTLD as per Section 9(b) of gTLD-MoU.
• “.com”, “.org” and “.net” gTLDs shall not be subject to provisions of the CORE-MoU and till then Registrars who administers those gTLDs shall not be considered a gTLD Registrar for the purposes of CORE-MoU.
• Also the two character top level domain name space shall not be subject to the provisions of the CORE-MoU.

Selection of Registrars

Article 4 specifies the qualifications required and the application requirements. The first round of applications is processed by the iPOC. Associated entities are required to submit only one form and the matters related to association between two organizations are solved by iPOC for first round and thereafter by CORE. There is also a provision of not transferring the rights or responsibilities to any other entity without the consent of the POC, failing which may lead to disqualification.

Structure and Responsibilities of CORE

Article 5 states the structure and the responsibilities of CORE in managing its Registrars and the gTLDs or the SLDs. Some of the responsibilities are as follows:

1. An entity selected under article 4 qualifies to sign the CORE-MoU and become a CORE member. And if the member satisfies the technical and operational requirements can become a Registrar.
2. CORE enforces requirements that each registrar must operate in with the provisions of the CORE-MoU.
3. It establishes policies and technical protocols to ensure that SLDs are assigned on a first come first serve basis with respect to a Registrar’s interaction with the CORE repository.
4. CORE maintains repositories of all SLDs registered by its Registrars and provide reliable repository services. A separate repository is maintained for each gTLD and enforces each Registrar to submit data set for each SLD registered. The repositories are daily updated by the CORE.
5. Provides financial support to POC (and its predecessors, IAHC and iPOC) as a reimbursement of expenses for carrying out their responsibilities.
6. CORE ensures that Registrars not involved in trafficking of SLDs for sale, resale or transfer to applicants, for their own account.
7. establishes and enforces procedures for payment of fees by Registrars as mentioned in Article 6(d)(ii) of the MoU.

Article 6 specifies the registration policies for SLDs in the gTLDs. This article contains general procedures applied by a registrar and CORE in assignment of an SLD to an applicant. It contains the details for an applicant’s responsibilities after being assigned a SLD such as the annual maintenance fees, regulations of handling and transferring an SLD, etc.

Article 7 deals with the disputes that may arise between domain name holders and any third party. It mentions all the disputes will be handled under Administrative Domain Name Challenge Panel (ACP) in accordance with the WIPO ACP Rules and the applicant must abide by the decision of the ACP. It also mentions the arbitration procedure to be followed in case of such a dispute in accordance with the WIPO On-Line Expedited arbitration Rules. ACPs are established as per Section 8 of gTLD-MoU and follows rules set by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.

Administrative provisions

Article 8 of the CORE-MoU speaks about the general provisions of the MoU. The MoU comes into force once it is signed on behalf of the iPOC. The signatories also periodically review the results and consequences of their cooperation and when they feel any need for improvement a proposal is made to the POC and PAB to modify and update the terms and scope of the MoU. The POC can initiate amendments to the MoU only after consultations with the CORE and PAB and can be added once it is signed on behalf of the POC. Any dispute relating to the CORE-MoU such as invalidity, termination or breach is settled by arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in front of the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Article 9 deals with the Legal terms and conditions related to the CORE-MoU that each Registrar agrees to follow. Some of the terms are as follows:

1. Registrar affirms that it has full power and authority to operate as a Registrar.
2. Registrars activities under CORE should not

• conflict with any of its governing document.
• conflict with or result in breach or termination under any legal agreement to which Registrar is a party.
• or result in violation of an applicable law or regulation by the Registrar.

1. Registrar should not to be associated with any legal recourse against the “Administrative Parties” of or related to CORE activities, to the extent permitted by law.
2. Registrar agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the “Administrative Parties” from and against any expenses incurred in the investigation arising from any misinterpretation or breach of any term of the CORE-MoU by the Registrar.
3. Registrar agrees that claims arising from or relating to the CORE-MoU is settled by arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
4. The Registrar should not have any interest in any gTLD or SLD in CORE-gTLDs other than those registered for its own account.

Top-Level Domain

Second Level Domain

World Intellectual Property Organization