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On June 5, 2012, Donuts announced that the company submitted applications for 307 [[gTLD|generic top level domain names]] (gTLDs), including [[IDN]] TLDs, and secured $100 million in capital from multi-billion dollar private equity and venture funds.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/donuts-raises-100-million-applies-for-307-new-tlds/ Donuts raises $100 million, applies for 307 new TLDs]</ref>
On June 5, 2012, Donuts announced that the company submitted applications for 307 [[gTLD|generic top level domain names]] (gTLDs), including [[IDN]] TLDs, and secured $100 million in capital from multi-billion dollar private equity and venture funds.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/donuts-raises-100-million-applies-for-307-new-tlds/ Donuts raises $100 million, applies for 307 new TLDs]</ref>
According to Mr. Schindler, the company originally came up with a list of 3,000 prospective domain names. He said, ''"We made a long list of dictionary terms, in multiple languages and character sets. We created our own proprietary way of valuing the [gTLDs], and that helped us narrow it down. But 307 is still a lot, obviously."<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/index.htm?source=cnn_bin 'Donuts' startup lands $100 million for dot-brand domains]</ref>
According to Mr. Schindler, the company originally came up with a list of 3,000 prospective domain names. He said, "We made a long list of dictionary terms, in multiple languages and character sets. We created our own proprietary way of valuing the [gTLDs], and that helped us narrow it down. But 307 is still a lot, obviously."<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/index.htm?source=cnn_bin 'Donuts' startup lands $100 million for dot-brand domains]</ref>
A separate article from Bloomberg reported that the company plans to apply for 10 gTLDs. <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/go-daddy-verisign-bet-on-windfall-from-web-address-expansion-ge-opposes.html Domain Nuts]</ref> Mason Cole, the company's vice president of communications and industry relations explained that the reporter from Bloomberg misunderstood or had miscommunication with Stahura. He said that during the interview, the exact number of the gTLD's to be applied for hadn't been finalized. Cole also said that the company is well prepared to operate all the 307 gTLDs.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/a-tasty-conversation-with-donuts-which-just-applied-for-307-tlds/ A tasty conversation with Donuts, which just applied for 307 TLDs]</ref>
A separate article from Bloomberg reported that the company plans to apply for 10 gTLDs. <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/go-daddy-verisign-bet-on-windfall-from-web-address-expansion-ge-opposes.html Domain Nuts]</ref> Mason Cole, the company's Vice President of Communications and industry relations explained that the reporter from Bloomberg misunderstood or had miscommunication with Stahura. He said that during the interview, the exact number of the gTLD's to be applied for hadn't been finalized. Cole also said that the company is well prepared to operate all the 307 gTLDs.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/a-tasty-conversation-with-donuts-which-just-applied-for-307-tlds/ A tasty conversation with Donuts, which just applied for 307 TLDs]</ref>
The company signed a strategic partnership with [[Demand Media]] in pursuit of certain gTLDs. According to a press statement, under the agreement, Demand Media has the right to acquire some of the approved gTLDs applied for by Donuts.<ref>
The company signed a strategic partnership with [[Demand Media]] in pursuit of certain gTLDs. According to a press statement, under the agreement, Demand Media has the right to acquire some of the approved gTLDs applied for by Donuts.<ref>
[http://ir.demandmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=215358&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1704010&highlight= Demand Media to Participate in Historic Expansion of Generic Top Level Web Domain Name Extensions]</ref> Furthermore, [[Demand Media Europe Limited]], will serve as the back-end registry service provider for Donuts. The registry provider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Demand Media.<ref>[http://donuts.co/images/stories/donuts_launch_release.pdf Donuts Launches Domain Namespace with 307 gTLD Applications, More than 100 Million in Funding]</ref>
[http://ir.demandmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=215358&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1704010&highlight= Demand Media to Participate in Historic Expansion of Generic Top Level Web Domain Name Extensions]</ref> Furthermore, [[Demand Media Europe Limited]], will serve as the back-end registry service provider for Donuts. The registry provider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Demand Media.<ref>[http://donuts.co/images/stories/donuts_launch_release.pdf Donuts Launches Domain Namespace with 307 gTLD Applications, More than 100 Million in Funding]</ref>
In terms of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] rights protection, the company said that it created rights protection mechanisms for new gTLDs and it will implement an open Internet philosophy. According to Stahura, ''"The Internet is an engine of information, ideas and commerce, and one that’s not restrictive unnecessarily. Donuts intends to preserve that openness for all users, not operate a ‘by invitation only’ section of the Internet."''<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9227-donuts-applies-for-307-yes-307-gtlds Donuts applies for 307 (yes, 307) gTLDs]</ref>
In terms of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] rights protection, the company said that it created rights protection mechanisms for new gTLDs and it will implement an open Internet philosophy. According to Stahura, "The Internet is an engine of information, ideas and commerce, and one that’s not restrictive unnecessarily. Donuts intends to preserve that openness for all users, not operate a ‘by invitation only’ section of the Internet."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9227-donuts-applies-for-307-yes-307-gtlds Donuts applies for 307 (yes, 307) gTLDs]</ref>
===Cybersquatting & UDRP claims===
[[Cybersquatting]] and [[UDRP]] accusations have been alleged against Donuts from several sources. Jeffrey Stoler, a lawyer at Boston law firm McCarter & English, submitted a letter to ICANN and the [[GAC]] accusing [[Donuts]] of being associated with a number of UDRP cases that were lost by [[Demand Media]]. He argued that two of the company's founders were employees of Demand Media when many of the UDRP cases occurred, as well as when ICANN announced that any applicant to have lost more than three UDRP cases in the last four years would fail the required background check. He alleges that Stahura and Tindal both left Demand Media to found Donuts when they realized that Demand Media would fail this background check.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9892-lawyer-tries-to-nuke-donuts-and-demand-medias-gtld-bids Lawyer tries to nuke Donuts and Demand Media’s gTLD bids, domainincite.com]</ref> [[James Oliver Warner]] filed a public comment stating that former Director [[Graham Stirling]], who has not been a part of the company since November 2011 and is not listed on any of the company's applications, owns a number of domain names containing Olympic and Disney trademarks.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9985-donuts-director-hit-with-cybersquatting-claim-over-disney-and-olympic-domains (Former) Donuts director hit with cybersquatting claim over Disney and Olympic domains, domainincite.com]</ref>
==Donuts Team==
==Donuts Team==