.vodka

Status:	Proposed
country:	International
Type:	Generic
Category:	Food & Drink
Priority #:	577 - Top Level Domain Holdings
More information:

.vodka is a proposed TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program. It is one of 68 applications that Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. has filed for on its own behalf. Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. is the only applicant for .vodka.

Objection

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) filed an objection against the TLD, on the grounds that it could glamourise the consumption of alcohol.

Independent Objector

The Independent Objector is responsible for determining if a new gTLD application is in the best interest of the Internet community. If not, he or she will file formal objections against a new gTLD application. Alain Pellet, a law professor from the University of Paris and a former member of the United Nations International Law Commission and International Court of Justice, was chosen by ICANN to serve as the sole independent objector for the New gTLD Program in May, 2012. The position was created by ICANN in accordance with the implementation of the New gTLD Program. As defined, the IO may be an individual or organization and must not be affiliated with any applicant and must carry out their responsibility without bias.

In December 2012 Mr. Pellet released his first correspondence on actual TLDs, commenting on so-called "Controversial strings". Those strings include: .adult, .sex, .porn, .sexy, .hot, .gay, .lgbt, .persiangulf, .vodka, and .wtf. A string seemed to have been deemed "controversial" by Mr. Pellet if it received a substantial amount of objections during the public comment period. He addresses each TLD separately and at length, noting the objection, and turning to International law and precedent to determine whether an objection from his point of view, of defending the public interest, is warranted. In each case he concludes that the objections are not supported by international law and that regional, cultural, and personal issues influence the objections rather than broadly accepted treaties, laws, or international cultural trends. He has reserved the right to later object to the strings, but at that time it was deemed that the "controversial strings" are in fact not offensive to the greater public interest and Internet users.

With regards to .vodka, the IO notes that all objections come from persons or entities where cultural or religious norms find alcohol to be immoral. and that alcohol is even banned in some countries. The IO defers to the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that the group has taken measures to mitigate the risks and harms of alcohol consumption, and has documented the dangers of alcohol well, but that the organization also recognizes that alcohol consumption is an important aspect of social and cultural traditions all over the world. Mr. Pellet notes that prohibition of alcohol is extremely limited on an international level.

Top-Level Domain