.doctor

Status:	Proposed
Type:	Generic
Category:	Health
More information:

.doctor is a proposed new TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program.

Applicants

1. Radix (DotMedico TLD Inc.), .doctor is one of 31 applications submitted by the company, which has chosen ARI Registry Services as its backend technical provider.
2. Donuts (Brice Trail, LLC)- This is one of the companies created by Donuts, which applied for 307 new gTLDs under different company names. The company invested $56 million in application fees alone. Daniel Schindler, co-founder and EVP for Marketing and Sales, is the primary contact person in the application.
3. The Medical Registry Limited -the contact person in the application is Mr. Sloan Daniel Gaon.

GAC Early Warnings

Donuts

The application for .doctor from Donuts 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 notes that the TLD refers to a regulated market though Donuts did not include sufficient mechanisms to prevent consumer harm in its application. None of the other two applicants received a GAC Early Warning.

Radix

Radix received a GAC Early Warning as an entire applicant, where each one of the applicants was flagged by the U.S. Government. This seems to be the only time a portfolio applicant had all of their applications warned. The issue does not deal with the technical capabilities or thematic content of their applications, but rather the inclusion of an email address associated with the US' Federal Bureau of Investigation. It seems that Radix included correspondence with this address as a recommendation with each of their applications.

European Commission Objection

The European Commission objected to both application for .doctor outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes.

Just after ICANN's GAC issued its Early Warnings, which are advice given from one GAC member country to an applicant warning it of potential issues within its application, the European Commission issued a letter to all applicants within the new gTLD program. The letter highlights 58 applications that "could raise issues of compatibility with the existing legislation .. and/or with policy positions and objectives of the European Union." It notes a desire to open a dialogue with each offending applicant.

The Commission specifically notes that this objection is not a part of the GAC Early Warning process, and goes on to note that "the Commission does not consider itself legally bound to [ICANN] processes," given that there is not legal agreement between the two bodies.

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).