.food

Status:	Proposed
Registry Backend:	Verisign
Type:	Generic
Category:	Food & Drink
More information:

.food is a new generic top level domain name (gTLD) proposed to the New gTLD Program of ICANN.

Current Applicants

The applicants for the string include:

1. Donuts (Wild Orchard, LLC)- Wild Orchard is one of the companies created by Donuts to submit its application for the gTLD. The company invested $56 million just for application fees for 307 new gTLDs. Its back-end registry services will be provided by Demand Media.
2. Dot Food, LLC- Ms. Tess Pattison-Wade, Executive Director of the company, is listed as the contact person in the application. The company partnered with Neustar to serve as its back-end registry provider.
3. Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc.- Matthew Russotti is the main contact person of the company. The company is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Verisign will provide its back-end registry services.

Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc.

The application from Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc. 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 states that the applicant is "seeking exclusive access to a common generic string .. that relates to a broad market sector," which Ms. Dryden notes could have unintended consequences and a negative impact on competition.

Prior Controversy

In June 2009, celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck announced his plans to apply for the .food TLD in partnership with Minds + Machines during the ICANN meeting in Sydney, Australia. Puck's primary responsibility in the partnership was to encourage entities within the food industry to use the .food TLD. The partnership's application for the string did not materialize and ended in a lawsuit. Minds + Machines, together with its parent company Top Level Domains Holding Ltd. and its investor Frederick Krueger, filed a lawsuit against Puck and his wife Gelila Puck as a result of a failed business deal in connection with the .food TLD. The consulting firm alleged that Gelila interjected herself in the relationship between Minds+Machines and Wolfgang Puck and interfered in the existing business relationships with Minds + Machines. The company also alleged that the Pucks sent a demand letter citing that they own 50% of the .food and 50% of all the business that will be developed as a result of their introductions. In addition, the couple also allegedly stated that they have the right to co-invest in any TLDs. Minds + Machines refused the couples demands. Gelila became "forceful, abusive, and erratic" to the point of calling Minds + Machines employees and telling them to resign. Wolfgang also stopped promoting the .food TLD. Minds + Machines asked the court to order the Pucks to pay $5 million for business damages. The Pucks argued that the company breached their contract and requested an immediate negotiation.

On October 28, 2009, the court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice and without cost to any party and requested that both parties settled their differences.