Public Interest Commitments

Public Interest Commitments (PICs) as related to new gTLD applicants and the Registry Agreement they are to sign, is a term and creation directly from ICANN, first suggested on February 5th, 2013, in ICANN's revised new registry agreement that it opened for public comments.

PICs are voluntary amendments that applicants can create, sign, and undertake along with the general registry agreement in order to hold their registry operations to certain standards. They seem to originally have been developed as a way to allow applicants to appease GAC members that may be concerned about how their application stands as is, or how ICANN will be able to ensure a potential registry remains compliant with its aspirations and mandate as it defined in its summary of its proposed operations in the TLD application. Prior to PICs, there was no clear way of defining operating procedures when moving from the long form essays in the TLD application to the Registry Agreement.

For example, if an applicant expresses a desire to restrict registration to a certain group of professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, etc., the applicant can create a PIC to underline this and hold their future registry to that standard. If the applicant did not originally intend to create such restrictions as defined in its TLD application, but it has received communication from the GAC that the supporting organization intends to oppose their application to the ICANN Board without such language, then the PIC can be added as an appeal to those governments.

Timeline

It is a controversial topic that many applicants think was created quickly, with no outside input, and is presented in such a way that they feel compelled to make a decision without fully understanding the proposal. It seems to apply to a small subset of applicants, as only 145 of 1,409 strings were flagged by GAC Early Warnings, the primary target for PICs. The dispute resolution procedure, the Public Interest Commitment Dispute Resolution Process or PICDRP, has yet to be defined. Applicants were given one month, until March 5th, to submit their PICs. It seemed to conflict with other deadlines, such as the end of objection filling just a week later, so, "potential objectors would have to decide whether to file their objections based on PICs that have been published for just one week and that could be amended post-deadline."

ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé noted around the imminent closing of the PIC submission date that this issue has the potential for pushing back the receipt of GAC advice and therefore the entire TLD implementation schedule, which is tightly fixed and aiming to recommend the first TLDs for delegation by April 23rd. ICANN will not recommend TLDs for implementation without the GAC's final advice, and the GAC seems to be placing a great import on the submission of PICs, to which the applicants remain wary.

Stakeholder Reactions

ICANN's Registry Stakeholder Group is very much opposed to the PICs and the rest of the proposed Registry Agreement, which includes provisions to only allow new registries to work with registrars that are party to their own new registrar accreditation agreement, which has yet to be settled upon. TLD applicants have argued that they are being used as a "wedge" to force registrars into signing a still non-existent agreement. The RySg has said, the Registry Agreement “contains so many serious and fundamental flaws that it should be withdrawn in its entirety." The U.S. Governement's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, from which ICANN is given its mandate and oversight, encouraged all applicants to submit PICs that related to verification of registration, the validity of Whois data, and help protect the "creative sector", a reference to content producers that are often subject to piracy on the Internet.

PICs Submitted

499 PIC specs were submitted. The following link out directly to the downloads for the respective PICs submitted:

1. .abogado - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
2. .academy - Donuts, PIC
3. .accountant - Famous Four Media, PIC
4. .accountants - Donuts, PIC
5. .actor - Demand Media, PIC
6. .agency - Donuts, PIC
7. .airforce - Demand Media, PIC
8. .apartments - Donuts, PIC
9. .app - Donuts, PIC
10. .app - Famous Four Media, PIC
11. .app - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
12. .architect - Donuts, PIC
13. .army - Demand Media, PIC
14. .art - Donuts, PIC
15. .art, Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
16. .associates, Donuts, PIC
17. .attorney, Donuts, PIC
18. .auction, Donuts, PIC
19. .audio - Donuts, PIC
20. .auto - Donuts, PIC
21. .baby - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
22. .baby - Donuts, PIC
23. .band - Donuts, PIC
24. .bar - Demand Media, PIC
25. .bargains - Donuts, PIC
26. .baseball - Donuts, PIC
27. .basketball - Famous Four Media, PIC
28. .basketball - Donuts, PIC
29. .basketball - FIBA, PIC
30. .bayern - Bayern Connect, PIC
31. .beauty - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
32. .beauty - Donuts, PIC
33. .bet - Famous Four Media, PIC
34. .bet - Donuts, PIC
35. .bible - American Bible Society, PIC
36. .bike - Donuts, PIC
37. .bingo - Famous Four Media, PIC
38. .bingo - Donuts, PIC
39. .blog - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
40. .blog - Donuts, PIC
41. .boats, Donuts, PIC
42. .book - Famous Four Media, PIC
43. .book - Donuts, PIC
44. .book - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
45. .boutique, Donuts, PIC
46. .bradesco - Banco Bradesco S.A., PIC
47. .broadway - Celebrate Broadway, Inc., PIC
48. .broadway - Donuts, PIC
49. .broker - Donuts, PIC
50. .budapest - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
51. .builders - Donuts, PIC
52. .business - Donuts, PIC
53. .buy - Donuts, PIC
54. .buzz - dotStrategy, PIC
55. .cab - Donuts, PIC
56. .cafe - Donuts, PIC
57. .cam - Demand Media, PIC
58. .camera - Donuts, PIC
59. .camp - Donuts, PIC
60. .capital - Donuts, PIC
61. .cards - Donuts, PIC
62. .care - Donuts, PIC
63. .career - dotCareer LLC, PIC
64. .careers - Donuts, PIC
65. .cars - Donuts, PIC
66. .casa - Donuts, PIC
67. .casa - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
68. .cash - Donuts, PIC
69. .casino - Donuts, PIC
70. .casino - Afilias, PIC
71. .casino - Famous Four Media, PIC
72. .casino - dotBeauty LLC, PIC
73. .catering - Donuts, PIC
74. .center - Donuts, PIC
75. .charity - Donuts, PIC
76. .charity - Famous Four Media, PIC
77. .chat - Donuts, PIC
78. .cheap - Donuts, PIC
79. .church - Donuts, PIC
80. .city - Donuts, PIC
81. .claims - Donuts, PIC
82. .cleaning - Donuts, PIC
83. .clinic - Donuts, PIC
84. .clothing - Donuts, PIC
85. .cloud - Donuts, PIC
86. .cloud - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
87. .club - Donuts, PIC
88. .coffee - Donuts, PIC
89. .college - Donuts, PIC
90. .community, Donuts, PIC
91. .company - Donuts, PIC
92. .computer - Donuts, PIC
93. .condos - Donuts, PIC
94. .construction - Donuts, PIC
95. .consulting - Donuts, PIC
96. .contractors - Donuts, PIC
97. .cool - Donuts, PIC
98. .corp - Donuts, PIC
99. .coupon - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
100. .coupons - Donuts, PIC
101. .country - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
102. .cpa - Donuts, PIC
103. .cpa - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
104. .credit - Donuts, PIC
105. .creditcard - Donuts, PIC
106. .creditunion - CUNA, PIC
107. .cricket - Donuts, PIC
108. .cricket - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
109. .cruise - Cruise Lines International Association Inc., PIC
110. .cruises - Donuts, PIC
111. .dance - Demand Media, PIC
112. .data - Donuts, PIC
113. .data - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
114. .date - Donuts, PIC
115. .dating - Donuts, PIC
116. .dds - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
117. .deals - Donuts, PIC
118. .deals - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
119. .degree - Donuts, PIC
120. .delivery - Donuts, PIC
121. .democrat - Demand Media, PIC
122. .dental - Donuts, PIC
123. .dentist - Donuts, PIC
124. .design - Donuts, PIC
125. .design - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
126. .diamonds - Donuts, PIC
127. .diet - Donuts, PIC
128. .digital - Donuts, PIC
129. .direct - Donuts, PIC
130. .directory - Donuts, PIC
131. .discount - Donuts, PIC
132. .doctor - Donuts, PIC
133. .dog - Donuts, PIC
134. .dog - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
135. .domains - Donuts, PIC
136. .download - Famous Four Media, PIC
137. .eco - Big Room Inc., PIC
138. .eco - Donuts, PIC
139. .eco - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
140. .ecom - Ecommerce Inc., PIC
141. .education - Donuts, PIC
142. .email - Donuts, PIC
143. .energy - Donuts, PIC
144. .engineer - Demand Media, PIC
145. .engineering - Donuts, PIC
146. .enterprises - Donuts, PIC
147. .equipment - Donuts, PIC
148. .estate - Donuts, PIC
149. .events - Donuts, PIC
150. .exchange - Donuts, PIC
151. .expert - Donuts, PIC
152. .exposed - Donuts, PIC
153. .express - Donuts, PIC
154. .fail - Donuts, PIC
155. .family - Donuts, PIC
156. .fan - Donuts, PIC
157. .farm - Donuts, PIC
158. .fashion - Donuts, PIC
159. .fashion -Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
160. .film - Donuts, PIC
161. .finance - Donuts, PIC
162. .financial - Donuts, PIC
163. .fish - Donuts, PIC
164. .fishing - Demand Media, PIC
165. .fishing - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
166. .fit - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
167. .fitness - Donuts, PIC
168. .flights - Donuts, PIC
169. .florist - Donuts, PIC
170. .flowers - Donuts, PIC
171. .flowers - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
172. .food - Donuts, PIC
173. .football - Donuts, PIC
174. .forsale - Donuts, PIC
175. .forum - Donuts, PIC
176. .foundation - Donuts, PIC
177. .free - Donuts, PIC
178. .free - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
179. .fun - dotStrategy, PIC
180. .fund - Donuts, PIC
181. .furniture - Donuts, PIC
182. .futbol - Donuts, PIC
183. .fyi - Donuts, PIC
184. .gallery - Donuts, PIC
185. .garden - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
186. .garden - Donuts, PIC
187. .games - Donuts, PIC
188. .gay - Demand Media, PIC
189. .gay - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
190. .gcc - GCCIX WLL, PIC
191. .gecompany - GE GTLD Holdings LLC, PIC
192. .gifts - Donuts, PIC
193. .gives - Demand Media, PIC
194. .glass - Donuts, PIC
195. .global - Donuts, PIC
196. .gmbh - Donuts, PIC
197. .gmbh - InterNetWire, PIC
198. .gold - Donuts, PIC
199. .golf - Donuts, PIC
200. .gop - Republican State Leadership Committee, Inc., PIC
201. .graphics - Donuts, PIC
202. .gratis - Donuts, PIC
203. .green - DotGreen Community Inc., PIC
204. .green - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
205. .green - Demand Media, PIC
206. .gripe - Donuts, PIC
207. .group - Donuts, PIC
208. .group - Tucows, PIC
209. .guide - Donuts, PIC
210. .guide - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
211. .guru - Donuts, PIC
212. .halal - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
213. .haus - Donuts, PIC
214. .health - DotHealth, LLC, PIC
215. .health - Famous Four Media, PIC
216. .health - Donuts, PIC
217. .health - Afilias, PIC
218. .healthcare - Donuts, PIC
219. .help, Donuts, PIC
220. .hiv - dotHIV gemeinnuetziger e.V., PIC
221. .hockey - Donuts, PIC
222. .holdings - Donuts, PIC
223. .holiday - Donuts, PIC
224. .home - Donuts, PIC
225. .home - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
226. .horse - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
227. .hospital - Donuts, PIC
228. .hosting - Donuts, PIC
229. .hot - Donuts, PIC
230. .hotel - Donuts, PIC
231. .hotel - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
232. .hotel - Famous Four Media, PIC
233. .house - Donuts, PIC
234. .idn - NameShop, PIC
235. .immo - Donuts, PIC
236. .immo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
237. .immobilien - Demand Media, PIC
238. .inc - Donuts, PIC
239. .inc - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
240. .industries - Donuts, PIC
241. .institute - Donuts, PIC
242. .insurance - Donuts, PIC
243. .insure - Donuts, PIC
244. .international - Donuts, PIC
245. .investments - Donuts, PIC
246. .islam - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
247. .jewelry - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
248. .jewelry - Donuts, PIC
249. .juegos - Donuts, PIC
250. .kaufen - Demand Media, PIC
251. .kids - DotKids Foundation Limited, PIC
252. .kitchen - Donuts, PIC
253. .kiwi - Dot Kiwi Limited, PIC
254. .land - Donuts PIC
255. .latino - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
256. .law - Famous Four Media, PIC
257. .law - Donuts, PIC
258. .law - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
259. .lawyer - Donuts, PIC
260. .lawyer - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
261. .lease - Donuts, PIC
262. .legal - Donuts, PIC
263. .legal - Primer Nivel S.A., PIC
264. .life - Donuts, PIC
265. .life - CompassRose.Life Inc., PIC
266. .lighting - Donuts, PIC
267. .limited - Donuts, PIC
268. .limo - Donuts, PIC
269. .living - Donuts, PIC
270. .llc - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
271. .llc - Donuts, PIC
272. .loan - Famous Four Media, PIC
273. .loans - Donuts, PIC
274. .london - Dot London Domains Limited, PIC
275. .love - Donuts, PIC
276. .love - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
277. .ltd - Donuts, PIC
278. .ltd - myLTD gmbH, PIC
279. .luxe - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
280. .luxury - Donuts, PIC
281. .mail - Donuts, PIC
282. .mail - 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH, PIC
283. .maison - Donuts, PIC
284. .man - MAN SE, PIC
285. .management - Donuts, PIC
286. .map - Demand Media, PIC
287. .market - Donuts, PIC
288. .marketing - Donuts, PIC
289. .marketing - Tucows, PIC
290. .mba - Donuts, PIC
291. .med - Medistry, PIC
292. .media - Donuts, PIC
293. .media - Tucows, PIC
294. .medical - Donuts, PIC
295. .memorial - Donuts, PIC
296. .merck - Merck KGaA, PIC
297. .miami - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
298. .mobile - Donuts, PIC
299. .moda - Donuts, PIC
300. .mom - Demand Media, PIC
301. .money - Donuts, PIC
302. .money - Famous Four Media, PIC
303. .mortgage - Donuts, PIC
304. .moto - Demand Media, PIC
305. .movie - Famous Four Media, PIC
306. .movie - Donuts, PIC
307. .music - Famous Four Media, PIC
308. .music - Donuts, PIC
309. .music - Entertainment Names Inc., PIC
310. .navy - Demand Media, PIC
311. .network - Donuts, PIC
312. .news - Donuts, PIC
313. .ninja - Demand Media, PIC
314. .now - Donuts, PIC
315. .nowruz - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
316. .nrw - Minds + Machines, PIC
317. .online - Tucows, PIC
318. .online - Donuts, PIC
319. .ooo - INFIBEAM INCORPORATION LIMITED, PIC
320. .organic - Afilias, PIC
321. .pars - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
322. .partners - Donuts, PIC
323. .parts - Donuts, PIC
324. .patagonia - Patagonia, Inc., PIC
325. .persiangulf -Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
326. .pets - Donuts, PIC
327. .phone - Donuts, PIC
328. .photography - Donuts, PIC
329. .photos - Donuts, PIC
330. .pictures - Donuts, PIC
331. .pizza - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
332. .pizza - Donuts, PIC
333. .place - Donuts, PIC
334. .plumbing - Donuts, PIC
335. .plus - Donuts, PIC
336. .poker - Donuts, PIC
337. .poker - Dot Poker LLC, PIC
338. .poker - Famous Four Media, PIC
339. .productions - Donuts, PIC
340. .properties - Donuts, PIC
341. .property - Donuts, PIC
342. .property - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
343. .pub - Demand Media, PIC
344. .racing - Donuts, PIC
345. .racing - Famous Four Media, PIC
346. .radio - Donuts, PIC
347. .radio - BRS Media, PIC
348. .realestate - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
349. .realestate - Donuts, PIC
350. .realty - Donuts, PIC
351. .recipes - Donuts, PIC
352. .red - Donuts, PIC
353. .rehab - Demand Media, PIC
354. .reise - dotreise GmbH, PIC
355. .reisen - Donuts, PIC
356. .rent - Donuts, PIC
357. .rentals - Donuts, PIC
358. .repair - Donuts, PIC
359. .report - Donuts, PIC
360. .republican - Demand Media, PIC
361. .restaurant - Donuts, PIC
362. .restaurant - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
363. .review - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
364. .reviews - Donuts, PIC
365. .rip - Demand Media, PIC
366. .rocks - Donuts, PIC
367. .rodeo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
368. .roma - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
369. .rugby - IRB Strategic Developments Limited, PIC
370. .rugby - Donuts, PIC
371. .rugby - Famous Four Media, PIC
372. .run - Donuts, PIC
373. .sale - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
374. .sale - Donuts, PIC
375. .salon - Donuts, PIC
376. .sap - SAP AG, PIC
377. .sarl - Donuts, PIC
378. .sarl - mySarl GmbH, PIC
379. .school - Donuts, PIC
380. .school - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
381. .schule - Donuts, PIC
382. .science - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
383. .search - Donuts, PIC
384. .security - Donuts, PIC
385. .services - Donuts, PIC
386. .shia - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
387. .shoes - Donuts, PIC
388. .shop - Donuts, PIC
389. .shopping - Donuts, PIC
390. .show - Donuts, PIC
391. .singles - Donuts, PIC
392. .site - Donuts, PIC
393. .site - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
394. .ski - Donuts, PIC
395. .smart - SMART, PIC
396. .soccer - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
397. .soccer - Donuts, PIC
398. .social - Demand Media, PIC
399. .software - Donuts, PIC
400. .solar - Donuts, PIC
401. .solutions - Donuts, PIC
402. .spa - Donuts, PIC
403. .spa - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
404. .sports - Donuts, PIC
405. .srl - mySRL GmbH, PIC
406. .storage - Donuts, PIC
407. .store - Donuts, PIC
408. .store - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
409. .stream - Famous Four Media, PIC
410. .studio - Donuts, PIC
411. .style - Donuts, PIC
412. .style - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
413. .sucks - Momentous, PIC
414. .sucks - Donuts, PIC
415. .supplies - Donuts, PIC
416. .supply - Donuts, PIC
417. .support - Donuts, PIC
418. .surf - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
419. .surgery - Donuts, PIC
420. .systems - Donuts, PIC
421. .tax - Donuts, PIC
422. .taxi - Donuts, PIC
423. .taxi - Taxi Pay GmbH, PIC
424. .team - Donuts, PIC
425. .tech - Donuts, PIC
426. .tech - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
427. .technology - Donuts, PIC
428. .tennis - Donuts, PIC
429. .theater - Donuts, PIC
430. .tickets - Shubert Internet, Inc., PIC
431. .tickets - Accent Media Limited, PIC
432. .tickets - Donuts, PIC
433. .tienda - Donuts, PIC
434. .tips - Donuts, PIC
435. .tires - Donuts, PIC
436. .tools - Donuts, PIC
437. .tours - Donuts, PIC
438. .town - Donuts, PIC
439. .toys - Donuts, PIC
440. .trading - Donuts, PIC
441. .training - Donuts, PIC
442. .tube - Latin American Telecom LLC, PIC
443. .tube - Donuts, PIC
444. .ummah - Ummah Digital Limited, PIC
445. .university - Donuts, PIC
446. .vacations - Donuts, PIC
447. .ventures - Donuts, PIC
448. .vet - Donuts, PIC
449. .viajes - Donuts, PIC
450. .video - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
451. .video - Donuts, PIC
452. .villas - Donuts, PIC
453. .vin - Donuts, PIC
454. .vip - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
455. .vip - Donuts, PIC
456. .vision - Donuts, PIC
457. .vodka - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
458. .vote - Donuts, PIC
459. .voyage - Donuts, PIC
460. .watch - Donuts, PIC
461. .watches - Richemont DNS Inc, PIC
462. .web - Donuts, PIC
463. .website - Donuts, PIC
464. .website - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
465. .wed - Atgron, Inc., PIC
466. .wedding - Donuts, PIC
467. .wedding - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
468. .win - Famous Four Media, PIC
469. .wine - Donuts, PIC
470. .work - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
471. .works - Donuts, PIC
472. .world - Donuts, PIC
473. .wow - Demand Media, PIC
474. .wtf - Donuts, PIC
475. .yoga - Donuts, PIC
476. .yoga - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
477. .zone - Donuts, PIC
478. .zulu - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
479. .онлайн - CORE, PIC
480. .рус - Rusnames Limited, PIC
481. .сайт - CORE, PIC
482. .بازار - CORE, PIC
483. .همراه - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
484. .企业 - Donuts, PIC
485. .健康 - Stable Tone Limited, PIC
486. .公益 - CONAC, PIC
487. .商店 - Donuts, PIC
488. .娱乐 - Donuts, PIC
489. .慈善 - Zodiac, PIC
490. .手表 - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
491. .政务 - CONAC, PIC
492. .政府 - Net-Chinese, PIC
493. .游戏 - Donuts, PIC
494. .珠宝 - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
495. .网址 - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
496. .购物 - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
497. .通用电气公司 - GE GTLD Holdings, PIC

Top-Level Domain

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).