Changes

==Objection from Belgium government==

==Objection from Belgium government==

The government of Belgium objected to the .spa string within the [[GAC]], as the small city of Spa in Belgium is also the origin for the English word Spa. The GAC did not offer consensus advice on the string, and thus it was up to ICANN to decide whether to take into account Belgium's objections or let the application proceed. One applicant, Asia Spa and Wellness Promotion Council, worked with the Spa government to give them a profit share and some control over the domain, but Donuts, the other applicant, refused to strike a similar deal.

The government of Belgium objected to the .spa string within the [[GAC]], as the small city of Spa in Belgium is also the origin for the English word Spa. The GAC did not offer consensus advice on the string, and thus it was up to ICANN to decide whether to take into account Belgium's objections or let the application proceed.  

 

One applicant, Asia Spa and Wellness Promotion Council, decided that if it wins the .spa TLD, it will set aside a portion of the revenue in order to promote the city of Spa. Donuts, the other applicant, did not acknowledge the objection by the Belgium government and will not set aside profits from the .spa TLD if their company wins the contention set.

In May 2014, ICANN announced they would allow the .Spa applications to proceed as-is, noting that the GAC did not present consensus advice. The contention set will now have to be resolved through some type of auction.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/16695-icann-snubs-belgium-gives-donuts-the-all-clear-for-spa ICANN Snubs Belgium and Give Donuts the All-Clear for .spa, DomainIncite] Retrieved 19 May 2014</ref>

In May 2014, ICANN announced they would allow the .Spa applications to proceed as-is, noting that the GAC did not present consensus advice. The contention set will now have to be resolved through some type of auction.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/16695-icann-snubs-belgium-gives-donuts-the-all-clear-for-spa ICANN Snubs Belgium and Give Donuts the All-Clear for .spa, DomainIncite] Retrieved 19 May 2014</ref>