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 -Donuts, 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 - Donuts, PIC
180. .fund - Donuts, PIC
181. .furniture - Donuts, PIC
182. .flowers - Donuts, PIC
183. .futbol - Donuts, PIC
184. .fyi - Donuts, PIC
185. .gallery - Donuts, PIC
186. .garden - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
187. .garden - Donuts, PIC
188. .games - Donuts, PIC
189. .gay - Demand Media, PIC
190. .gay - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
191. .gcc - GCCIX WLL, PIC
192. .gecompany - GE GTLD Holdings LLC, PIC
193. .gifts - Donuts, PIC
194. .gives - Demand Media, PIC
195. .glass - Donuts, PIC
196. .global - Donuts, PIC
197. .gmbh - Donuts, PIC
198. .gmbh - InterNetWire, PIC
199. .gold - Donuts, PIC
200. .golf - Donuts, PIC
201. .gop - Republican State Leadership Committee, Inc., PIC
202. .graphics - Donuts, PIC
203. .gratis - Donuts, PIC
204. .green - DotGreen Community Inc., PIC
205. .green - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
206. .green - Demand Media, PIC
207. .gripe - Donuts, PIC
208. .group - Donuts, PIC
209. .group - Tucows, PIC
210. .guide - Donuts, PIC
211. .guide - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
212. .guru - Donuts, PIC
213. .halal - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
214. .haus - Donuts, PIC
215. .health - DotHealth, LLC, PIC
216. .health - Famous Four Media, PIC
217. .health - Donuts, PIC
218. .health - Afilias, PIC
219. .healthcare - Donuts, PIC
220. .help, Donuts, PIC
221. .hiv - dotHIV gemeinnuetziger e.V., PIC
222. .hockey - Donuts, PIC
223. .holdings - Donuts, PIC
224. .holiday - Donuts, PIC
225. .home - Donuts, PIC
226. .home - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
227. .horse - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
228. .hospital - Donuts, PIC
229. .hosting - Donuts, PIC
230. .hot - Donuts, PIC
231. .hotel - Donuts, PIC
232. .hotel - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
233. .hotel - Famous Four Media, PIC
234. .house - Donuts, PIC
235. .idn - NameShop, PIC
236. .immo - Donuts, PIC
237. .immo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
238. .immobilien - Demand Media, PIC
239. .inc - Donuts, PIC
240. .inc - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
241. .industries - Donuts, PIC
242. .institute - Donuts, PIC
243. .insurance - Donuts, PIC
244. .insure - Donuts, PIC
245. .international - Donuts, PIC
246. .investments - Donuts, PIC
247. .islam - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
248. .jewelry - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
249. .jewelry - Donuts, PIC
250. .juegos - Donuts, PIC
251. .kaufen - Demand Media, PIC
252. .kids - DotKids Foundation Limited, PIC
253. .kitchen - Donuts, PIC
254. .kiwi - Dot Kiwi Limited, PIC
255. .land - Donuts PIC
256. .latino - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
257. .law - Famous Four Media, PIC
258. .law - Donuts, PIC
259. .law - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
260. .lawyer - Donuts, PIC
261. .lawyer - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
262. .lease - Donuts, PIC
263. .legal - Donuts, PIC
264. .legal - Primer Nivel S.A., PIC
265. .life - Donuts, PIC
266. .life - CompassRose.Life Inc., PIC
267. .lighting - Donuts, PIC
268. .limited - Donuts, PIC
269. .limo - Donuts, PIC
270. .living - Donuts, PIC
271. .llc - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
272. .llc - Donuts, PIC
273. .loan - Famous Four Media, PIC
274. .loans - Donuts, PIC
275. .london - Dot London Domains Limited, PIC
276. .love - Donuts, PIC
277. .love - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
278. .ltd - Donuts, PIC
279. .ltd - myLTD gmbH, PIC
280. .luxe - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
281. .luxury - Donuts, PIC
282. .mail - Donuts, PIC
283. .mail - 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH, PIC
284. .maison - Donuts, PIC
285. .man - MAN SE, PIC
286. .management - Donuts, PIC
287. .map - Demand Media, PIC
288. .market - Donuts, PIC
289. .marketing - Donuts, PIC
290. .marketing - Tucows, PIC
291. .mba - Donuts, PIC
292. .med - Medistry, PIC
293. .media - Donuts, PIC
294. .media - Tucows, PIC
295. .medical - Donuts, PIC
296. .memorial - Donuts, PIC
297. .merck - Merck KGaA, PIC
298. .miami - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
299. .mobile - Donuts, PIC
300. .moda - Donuts, PIC
301. .mom - Demand Media, PIC
302. .money - Donuts, PIC
303. .money - Famous Four Media, PIC
304. .mortgage - Donuts, PIC
305. .moto - Demand Media, PIC
306. .movie - Famous Four Media, PIC
307. .movie - Donuts, PIC
308. .music - Famous Four Media, PIC
309. .music - Donuts, PIC
310. .music - Entertainment Names Inc., PIC
311. .navy - Demand Media, PIC
312. .network - Donuts, PIC
313. .news - Donuts, PIC
314. .ninja - Demand Media, PIC
315. .now - Donuts, PIC
316. .nowruz - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
317. .nrw - Minds + Machines, PIC
318. .online - Tucows, PIC
319. .online - Donuts, PIC
320. .ooo - INFIBEAM INCORPORATION LIMITED, PIC
321. .organic - Afilias, PIC
322. .pars - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
323. .partners - Donuts, PIC
324. .parts - Donuts, PIC
325. .patagonia - Patagonia, Inc., PIC
326. .persiangulf -Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
327. .pets - Donuts, PIC
328. .phone - Donuts, PIC
329. .photography - Donuts, PIC
330. .photos - Donuts, PIC
331. .pictures - Donuts, PIC
332. .pizza - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
333. .pizza - Donuts, PIC
334. .place - Donuts, PIC
335. .plumbing - Donuts, PIC
336. .plus - Donuts, PIC
337. .poker - Donuts, PIC
338. .poker - Dot Poker LLC, PIC
339. .poker - Famous Four Media, PIC
340. .productions - Donuts, PIC
341. .properties - Donuts, PIC
342. .property - Donuts, PIC
343. .property - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
344. .pub - Demand Media, PIC
345. .racing - Donuts, PIC
346. .racing - Famous Four Media, PIC
347. .radio - Donuts, PIC
348. .radio - BRS Media, PIC
349. .realestate - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
350. .realestate - Donuts, PIC
351. .realty - Donuts, PIC
352. .recipes - Donuts, PIC
353. .red - Donuts, PIC
354. .rehab - Demand Media, PIC
355. .reise - dotreise GmbH, PIC
356. .reisen - Donuts, PIC
357. .rent - Donuts, PIC
358. .rentals - Donuts, PIC
359. .repair - Donuts, PIC
360. .report - Donuts, PIC
361. .republican - Demand Media, PIC
362. .restaurant - Donuts, PIC
363. .restaurant - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
364. .restaurant - Demand Media, PIC
365. .review - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
366. .reviews - Donuts, PIC
367. .rip - Demand Media, PIC
368. .rocks - Donuts, PIC
369. .rodeo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
370. .roma - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
371. .rugby - IRB Strategic Developments Limited, PIC
372. .rugby - Donuts, PIC
373. .rugby - Famous Four Media, PIC
374. .run - Donuts, PIC
375. .sale - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
376. .sale - Donuts, PIC
377. .salon - Donuts, PIC
378. .sap - SAP AG, PIC
379. .sarl - Donuts, PIC
380. .sarl - mySarl GmbH, PIC
381. .school - Donuts, PIC
382. .school - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
383. .schule - Donuts, PIC
384. .science - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
385. .search - Donuts, PIC
386. .security - Donuts, PIC
387. .services - Donuts, PIC
388. .shia - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
389. .shoes - Donuts, PIC
390. .shop - Donuts, PIC
391. .shopping - Donuts, PIC
392. .show - Donuts, PIC
393. .singles - Donuts, PIC
394. .site - Donuts, PIC
395. .site - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
396. .ski - Donuts, PIC
397. .smart - SMART, PIC
398. .soccer - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
399. .soccer - Donuts, PIC
400. .social - Demand Media, PIC
401. .software - Donuts, PIC
402. .solar - Donuts, PIC
403. .solutions - Donuts, PIC
404. .spa - Donuts, PIC
405. .spa - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
406. .sports - Donuts, PIC
407. .srl - mySRL GmbH, PIC
408. .storage - Donuts, PIC
409. .store - Donuts, PIC
410. .store - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
411. .stream - Famous Four Media, PIC
412. .studio - Donuts, PIC
413. .style - Donuts, PIC
414. .style - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
415. .sucks - Momentous, PIC
416. .sucks - Donuts, PIC
417. .supplies - Donuts, PIC
418. .supply - Donuts, PIC
419. .support - Donuts, PIC
420. .surf - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
421. .surgery - Donuts, PIC
422. .systems - Donuts, PIC
423. .tax - Donuts, PIC
424. .taxi - Donuts, PIC
425. .taxi - Taxi Pay GmbH, PIC
426. .team - Donuts, PIC
427. .tech - Donuts, PIC
428. .tech - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
429. .technology - Donuts, PIC
430. .tennis - Donuts, PIC
431. .theater - Donuts, PIC
432. .tickets - Shubert Internet, Inc., PIC
433. .tickets - Accent Media Limited, PIC
434. .tickets - Donuts, PIC
435. .tienda - Donuts, PIC
436. .tips - Donuts, PIC
437. .tires - Donuts, PIC
438. .tools - Donuts, PIC
439. .tours - Donuts, PIC
440. .town - Donuts, PIC
441. .toys - Donuts, PIC
442. .trading - Donuts, PIC
443. .training - Donuts, PIC
444. .tube - Latin American Telecom LLC, PIC
445. .tube - Donuts, PIC
446. .ummah - Ummah Digital Limited, PIC
447. .university - Donuts, PIC
448. .vacations - Donuts, PIC
449. .ventures - Donuts, PIC
450. .vet - Donuts, PIC
451. .viajes - Donuts, PIC
452. .video - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
453. .video - Donuts, PIC
454. .villas - Donuts, PIC
455. .vin - Donuts, PIC
456. .vip - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
457. .vip - Donuts, PIC
458. .vision - Donuts, PIC
459. .vodka - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
460. .vote - Donuts, PIC
461. .voyage - Donuts, PIC
462. .watch - Donuts, PIC
463. .watches - Richemont DNS Inc, PIC
464. .web - Donuts, PIC
465. .website - Donuts, PIC
466. .website - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
467. .wed - Atgron, Inc., PIC
468. .wedding - Donuts, PIC
469. .wedding - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
470. .win - Famous Four Media, PIC
471. .wine - Donuts, PIC
472. .work - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
473. .works - Donuts, PIC
474. .world - Donuts, PIC
475. .wow - Demand Media, PIC
476. .wtf - Donuts, PIC
477. .yoga - Donuts, PIC
478. .yoga - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
479. .zone - Donuts, PIC
480. .zulu - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
481. .онлайн - CORE, PIC
482. .рус - Rusnames Limited, PIC
483. .сайт - CORE, PIC
484. .بازار - CORE, PIC
485. .همراه - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
486. .企业 - Donuts, PIC
487. .健康 - Stable Tone Limited, PIC
488. .公益 - CONAC, PIC
489. .商店 - Donuts, PIC
490. .娱乐 - Donuts, PIC
491. .慈善 - Zodiac, PIC
492. .手表 - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
493. .政务 - CONAC, PIC
494. .政府 - Net-Chinese, PIC
495. .游戏 - Donuts, PIC
496. .珠宝 - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
497. .网址 - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
498. .购物 - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
499. .通用电气公司 - GE GTLD Holdings, PIC