.kids

Status:	Proposed
Type:	Generic
Category:	Lifestyle
Priority #:	1330 - DotKids Foundation Limited 1620 - Amazon
More information:

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

Applicants

1. Amazon
2. DotKids Foundation Limited, Community Priority Application. The application successfully received financial assistance, $138,000 of waived application fees, as it applied for the ICANN's Applicant support program. Not qualifying for the program would have meant exclusion from the current gTLD round. This applicant submitted a Public Interest Commitment, which can be downloaded here.

Google filed a string similarity objection against the two applicants for .kids, Amazon and DotKids Foundation, and succeeded in bringing them into a single contention set.

Community Application

The DotKids Foundation Limited has applied for the TLD as a Community TLD. The kids community includes kids (defined by the U.N. as any human under the age of 18), Parents and educators, Charities NGOs and Governmental instituions and educational instituions. The applicant has received a number of endorsements, especially from individuals and organizations based in Hong Kong, where the applicant is also based.

"The Registry intends to remain independent to the community. However, the Registry will work closely with community organizations and will invite community organizations in its policy development processes and governance structure. Also, we see the participation from the community crucial to our success." The applicant intends to restrict registration to kids-centric organizations and services, and registrants must adhere to a policy that limits their content to only beneficial, kid-centric material.

European Commission Communiqué

The European Commission flagged both applications for .kids outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes. It also objected to .kid

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).