.codes

Status:	Active
Registry Provider:	Demand Media
Type:	Generic
Category:	Technology
More information:

.codes is an active gTLD that was propsoed in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The Registry and manager of the TLD is Donuts (Puff Willow, LLC). The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the Root Zone on 29 December, 2013.

Application Details

The following is an excerpt from the applicant's response to question #18:

"ABOUT DONUTS

Donuts Inc. is the parent applicant for this and multiple other TLDs. The company intends to increase competition and consumer choice at the top level. It will operate these carefully selected TLDs safely and securely in a portfolio business model. To deliver this game-changing plan, Donuts has recruited seasoned executive management with proven track records of excellence in the industry. In addition to this business and operational experience, the Donuts team also has contributed broadly to industry policymaking and regulation, successfully launched TLDs, built industry-leading companies from the ground up, and brought innovation, value and choice to the domain name marketplace.

ABOUT DONUTS’ RESOURCES

Donuts’ financial resources are extensive. The company has raised more than US$100 million from a number of capital sources including multiple multi-billion dollar venture capital and private equity funds, a top-tier bank, and other well-capitalized investors. Should circumstances warrant, Donuts is prepared to raise additional funding from current or new investors. Donuts also has in place pre-funded, Continued Operations Instruments to protect future registrants. These resource commitments mean Donuts has the capability and intent to launch, expand and operate its TLDs in a secure manner, and to properly protect Internet users and rights-holders from potential abuse.

Donuts firmly believes a capable and skilled organization will operate multiple TLDs and benefit Internet users by:

1. Providing the operational and financial stability necessary for TLDs of all sizes, but particularly for those with smaller volume (which are more likely to succeed as part of a portfolio);

2. Competing more powerfully against incumbent gTLDs; and

3. More thoroughly and uniformly executing consumer and rights holder protections.

.CODES

The .CODES TLD is attractive and useful to end-users as it better facilitates search, self-expression, information sharing and the provision of legitimate goods and services. Along with the other TLDs in the Donuts portfolio, this TLD will provide Internet users with opportunities for online identities and expression that do not currently exist.

DONUTS’ APPROACH TO PROTECTIONS

In this application Donuts will describe and commit to an extensive array of protections against abuse, including protections against the abuse of trademark rights.

By applying our array of protection mechanisms, Donuts will make this TLD a place for Internet users that is far safer than existing TLDs. Donuts will strive to operate this TLD with fewer incidences of fraud and abuse than occur in incumbent TLDs. In addition, Donuts commits to work toward a downward trend in such incidents.

OUR PROTECTIONS

Donuts has consulted with and evaluated the ideas of international law enforcement, consumer privacy advocacy organizations, intellectual property interests and other Internet industry groups to create a set of protections that far exceed those in existing TLDs, and bring to the Internet namespace nearly two dozen new rights and protection mechanisms to raise user safety and protection to a new level."

Contract Signed

On 31 October 2013, Donuts received a Registry Agreement signed by ICANN for .codes after passing the Initial Evaluation.

Delegation and Availability

.codes was delegated to the Root Zone of the DNS on December 29, 2013, completing the successful application for the string.

Top-Level Domain