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'''.gratis''' is a proposed [[TLD]] in [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program]].  

'''.gratis''' is a [[gTLD]] that was proposed in [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program]]. [[Donuts]] won the rights to the string over [[Uniregistry]] in a [[Private auction]]. The Donuts application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 23 April 2014, making Donuts the [[Registry Operator]] for the string.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 30 May 2014</ref>

==Current Applicant==

==Background==

===Registry Operator===

# [[Donuts]] (Pioneer Tigers, LLC), one of 307 applications by the company. This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/743 here].

# [[Donuts]] (Pioneer Tigers, LLC), one of 307 applications by the company. This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/743 here].

==Previous Applicant==

===Previous Applicant===

# [[Uniregistry]], Corp., one of 54 applications submitted by [[domainer]] [[Frank Schilling]]'s company.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/13/here-are-the-54-new-gtlds-that-frank-schillings-uniregistry-applied-for/ Here are the 54, TheDomains.com]</ref><ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/viewstatus Gratis Status, ICANN.org]</ref>

# [[Uniregistry]], Corp., one of 54 applications submitted by [[domainer]] [[Frank Schilling]]'s company.<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/13/here-are-the-54-new-gtlds-that-frank-schillings-uniregistry-applied-for/ Here are the 54, TheDomains.com]</ref><ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/viewstatus Gratis Status, ICANN.org]</ref>

==European Commission Communiqué==

===European Commission Communiqué===

The [[European Commission]] flagged the application for .gratis outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes.

The [[European Commission]] flagged the application for .gratis outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes.

Just after [[ICANN]]'s [[GAC]] issued its Early Warnings, which are advice given from one GAC member country to an applicant warning it of potential issues within its application, the [[European Commission]] issued a letter to all applicants within the [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. The letter highlights 58 applications that "could raise issues of compatibility with the existing legislation .. and/or with policy positions and objectives of the European Union." It notes a desire to open a dialogue with each offending applicant.

Just after ICANN's [[GAC]] issued its Early Warnings, which are advice given from one GAC member country to an applicant warning it of potential issues within its application, the European Commission issued a letter to all applicants within the New gTLD Program. The letter highlights 58 applications that "could raise issues of compatibility with the existing legislation .. and/or with policy positions and objectives of the European Union." It notes a desire to open a dialogue with each offending applicant.

The Commission specifically notes that this objection is not a part of the GAC Early Warning process, and goes on to note that "the Commission does not consider itself legally bound to [ICANN] processes," given that there is not legal agreement between the two bodies.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/20121127093808906.pdf DomainIncite.com/Docs] Published 27 Nov 2012, Retrieved 11 Dec 2012</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/11130-europe-rejects-icanns-authority-as-it-warns-of-problems-with-58-new-gtlds Europe Rejects ICANNs Authority As it Warns of Problems with 58 New gTLDs, DomainIncite.com] Published 27 Nov 2012, Retrieved 11 Dec 2012</ref>

The Commission specifically notes that this objection is not a part of the GAC Early Warning process, and goes on to note that "the Commission does not consider itself legally bound to ICANN processes," given that there is not legal agreement between the two bodies.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/20121127093808906.pdf DomainIncite.com/Docs] Published 27 Nov 2012, Retrieved 11 Dec 2012</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/11130-europe-rejects-icanns-authority-as-it-warns-of-problems-with-58-new-gtlds Europe Rejects ICANNs Authority As it Warns of Problems with 58 New gTLDs, DomainIncite.com] Published 27 Nov 2012, Retrieved 11 Dec 2012</ref>

==Private Deal==

===Private Deal===

In February 2014, it was reported that Uniregistry and Donuts reached a private deal which resolved a number of New gTLD string contention sets involving only the two companies. Although the deal coincided with a round of [[Private Auctions]] conducted by [[Applicant Auction]] on February 18th, neither companies immediately commented on the nature of the deal and Applicant Auction did not disclose the participants of its recent auctions. If the companies had participated in a private auction, it would mark the first private auctions that [[Uniregistry]] participated in, after the company initially questioned the legality of private auctions in the New gTLD Program.<ref name="deal">[http://domainincite.com/15861-uniregistry-doing-private-new-gtld-auctions-company-deals-with-donuts-on-five-strings Uniregistry doing Private New gTLD Auctions? Company Deals with Donuts on Five Strings, DomainIncite] Retrieved Feb 21 2014</ref>

In February 2014, it was reported that Uniregistry and Donuts reached a private deal which resolved a number of New gTLD string contention sets involving only the two companies. Although the deal coincided with a round of [[Private Auctions]] conducted by [[Applicant Auction]] on February 18th, neither companies immediately commented on the nature of the deal and Applicant Auction did not disclose the participants of its recent auctions. If the companies had participated in a private auction, it would mark the first private auctions that [[Uniregistry]] participated in, after the company initially questioned the legality of private auctions in the New gTLD Program.<ref name="deal">[http://domainincite.com/15861-uniregistry-doing-private-new-gtld-auctions-company-deals-with-donuts-on-five-strings Uniregistry doing Private New gTLD Auctions? Company Deals with Donuts on Five Strings, DomainIncite] Retrieved Feb 21 2014</ref>

In the private deal, Donuts became the sole applicant for .gratis, [[.furniture]], and [[.auction]], while Uniregistry won [[.audio]] and [[.juegos]].<ref name="deal"></ref>

In the private deal, Donuts became the sole applicant for .gratis, [[.furniture]], and [[.auction]], while Uniregistry won [[.audio]] and [[.juegos]].<ref name="deal"></ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:TLD]]

[[Category:TLD]]

[[Category:Commerce New gTLDs|gratis]]

[[Category:Commerce New gTLDs|gratis]]