.antivirus

Status:	Proposed
Manager:	Symantec Corporation
Registry Provider:	Verisign
Type:	Generic
Category:	Technology
More information:

.antivirus is a proposed TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is Symantec Corporation.

The application was issued a GAC Early Warning from the representative of Australia and GAC Chair, Heather Dryden. The warning system is noted as a strong recommendation on behalf of national governments to the ICANN Board that a given TLD application should be denied as it stands. Applicants are encouraged to work with objecting GAC members. The warning states that the applicant is "seeking exclusive access to a common generic string .. that relates to a broad market sector," which Ms. Dryden notes could have unintended consequences and a negative impact on competition.

Application Details

"Symantec Corporation (“Symantec”) is a leading global provider of information security and protection, serving the needs of consumers around the world, with more than 18,500 employees and operations in numerous countries. Symantec’s products are available for purchase online to consumers and Symantec’s online content is accessible in the .COM gTLD and in multiple ccTLDs, including .CA, .DE, .EU, and .RU. Symantec is applying for four generic-term gTLDs: .PROTECTION and .SECURITY, which correspond with Symantec’s core competencies, and .CLOUD and .ANTIVIRUS, which correspond to Symantec’s products.

The intended future mission and purpose of the .ANTIVIRUS gTLD is to serve as a trusted, hierarchical, secure, and intuitive namespace provided by Symantec for its consumers. Symantec is committed to moving forward with a .ANTIVIRUS gTLD application; however at the time of filing this application, there has not been enough time, and currently there is not enough market information available, to fully analyze and evaluate all potential use case options....

Symantec intends to initially limit registration and use of domain names within the .ANTIVIRUS gTLD to Symantec and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates. This initial limited use will allow Symantec to establish its operations and achieve full sustainability. This limited distribution coupled with the other requirements set forth in Specification 9 of the template Registry Agreement is intended to exempt Symantec from its annual Code of Conduct Compliance requirements.

After Stage 2... Symantec will evaluate whether opportunities exist to carry out the business strategy for the gTLD through expansion that continues the sustainable operations of the registry through fee-based registrations to parties other than Symantec and its qualified subsidiaries and affiliates."

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).

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