Changes

On September 28, 2011, Al Gore's organization, the Climate Reality project dropped its support for Dot Eco LLC bid to give deference to the application of Big Room Inc., which is supported by Michael Gorbachev's Green Cross International. A spokesman from Gore's camp explained that Climate Reality as a non-profit organization has limited resources and they decided to focus their campaign on global climate issues.<ref>[http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2112810/al-gore-mikhail-gorbachev-control-eco-domain Al Gore Mikhail Gorbachev Control Eco Domain, BusinessGreen.com]</ref> Despite losing Gore's support, [[Minds + Machines]] announced its intentions to apply for a [[.eco]] TLD, it was initially unclear whether they would do that under their own name or through a client.<ref>[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/tag/dot-eco/ Dot Eco, MindsAndMachines.com]</ref>  

On September 28, 2011, Al Gore's organization, the Climate Reality project dropped its support for Dot Eco LLC bid to give deference to the application of Big Room Inc., which is supported by Michael Gorbachev's Green Cross International. A spokesman from Gore's camp explained that Climate Reality as a non-profit organization has limited resources and they decided to focus their campaign on global climate issues.<ref>[http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2112810/al-gore-mikhail-gorbachev-control-eco-domain Al Gore Mikhail Gorbachev Control Eco Domain, BusinessGreen.com]</ref> Despite losing Gore's support, [[Minds + Machines]] announced its intentions to apply for a [[.eco]] TLD, it was initially unclear whether they would do that under their own name or through a client.<ref>[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/tag/dot-eco/ Dot Eco, MindsAndMachines.com]</ref>  

[[Top Level Domains Holding Ltd.]], the parent company of Minds + Machines which held 25% stake on Dot Eco LLC confirmed that the company will apply for the .eco gTLD. [[Peter Dengate Thrush]], Executive Chairman of Top Level Domains Holding said,''"...We believe the Dot Eco LLC consortium is exceptionally well placed to compete in every respect of its .eco application and run that gTLD in a meaningful manner. We are therefore delighted to continue give it our full infrastructural and financial support."'' <ref>[http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109300700572363P Top Level Domain Hdg. Dot Eco LLC will apply for .eco gTLD]</ref> However, they did not apply though the Dot Eco LLC venture but instead on their own behalf.<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/viewstatus ViewStatus.gTLDresult.ICANN.org]</ref> Antony Van Couvering previously stated that applying for a community gTLD is too risky. He believes that the .eco TLD will not pass ICANN's Community Priority Evaluation.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/will_anyone_qualify_as_a_community_tld/ Will Anyone Qualify As a Community TLD?]</ref>

[[Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd.]], the parent company of Minds + Machines which held 25% stake on Dot Eco LLC confirmed that the company will apply for the .eco gTLD. [[Peter Dengate Thrush]], Executive Chairman of Top Level Domain Holdings said,''"...We believe the Dot Eco LLC consortium is exceptionally well placed to compete in every respect of its .eco application and run that gTLD in a meaningful manner. We are therefore delighted to continue give it our full infrastructural and financial support."'' <ref>[http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109300700572363P Top Level Domain Hdg. Dot Eco LLC will apply for .eco gTLD]</ref> However, they did not apply though the Dot Eco LLC venture but instead on their own behalf.<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/viewstatus ViewStatus.gTLDresult.ICANN.org]</ref> Antony Van Couvering previously stated that applying for a community gTLD is too risky. He believes that the .eco TLD will not pass ICANN's Community Priority Evaluation.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/will_anyone_qualify_as_a_community_tld/ Will Anyone Qualify As a Community TLD?]</ref>

[[Planet Dot Eco, LLC]], a company based in Connecticut and trademark holder of .eco and an applicant for the .eco string, filed an infringement case against Big Room Inc. and Dot Eco LLC on March 2, 2012. The complainant asked the court to order Big Room and Dot Eco LLC to stop submitting further documentation and withdraw their application for the .eco string with ICANN. Dot Eco LLC responded to the complaint with an argument that the trademark was obtained illegally by Planet.eco and it should be cancelled by the court. Dot Eco also argued that the complainant is is trying to prevent competition. Big Room filed a motion to dismiss because of lack of jurisdiction. <ref>

[[Planet Dot Eco, LLC]], a company based in Connecticut and trademark holder of .eco and an applicant for the .eco string, filed an infringement case against Big Room Inc. and Dot Eco LLC on March 2, 2012. The complainant asked the court to order Big Room and Dot Eco LLC to stop submitting further documentation and withdraw their application for the .eco string with ICANN. Dot Eco LLC responded to the complaint with an argument that the trademark was obtained illegally by Planet.eco and it should be cancelled by the court. Dot Eco also argued that the complainant is is trying to prevent competition. Big Room filed a motion to dismiss because of lack of jurisdiction. <ref>