Changes

{{CompanyInfo|

{{CompanyInfo|

| logo            = Donuts-logo.png‎

| logo            = Donuts logo.png

| type            = Privately held

| type            = Privately held

| industry        = Internet

| industry        = Internet

| linkedin        =  

| linkedin        =  

| twitter        =  

| twitter        =  

| keypeople      = [[Paul Stahura]], CEO <br> [[Jonathon Nevett]], EVP <br>[[Daniel Schindler]] Executive Officer <br>[[Richard Tindal]] COO<br>[[Kevin Wilson]], CFO<br>[[Mason Cole]], VP of Communications<br>[[Chris Cowherd]], CTO

| keypeople      = [[Akram Atallah]], CEO <br> [[Randy Haas]], EVP & CFO<br>[[Ram Mohan]], CSO<br>[[Alvaro Alvarez]], EVP & Gen. Counsel<br> [[Pete Fox]], CIO<br> [[Mina Neuberg]], CMO

}}

}}

'''Donuts''' is a start-up company that was created to apply and run new gTLDs as made possible by [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|gTLD expansion program]]; it was co-founded by [[Paul Stahura]], [[Jonathon Nevett]], [[Richard Tindal]], and [[Daniel Schindler]]. In April 2011, the company was in stealth mode and raising capital; based on the company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Donuts raised $1 million equity financing.<ref>[http://www.geekwire.com/2011/demand-media-exec-paul-stahura-emerges-stealthy-donuts/ Former Demand Media exec Paul Stahura emerges at stealthy Donuts Inc.], Geekwire.com. Published 30 April 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> Since then it has submitted 307 [[gTLD]] Applications and secured an initial investment of $100 million in financing, and a subsequent round of an undisclosed amount though apparently it "almost doubles" its reserves. The second round of funding was earmarked specifically for [[gTLD Auctions]] to resolve its 158 contention sets.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/12624-donuts-gets-another-100-million-funding Donuts Gets Another 100million Funding, DomainIncite.com] Published & Retrieved April 9 2013</ref> The company's headquarters is located in Bellevue, Washington.

'''Identity Digital''' (fka Donuts, as of June 22, 2022)<ref>[https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/22/donuts-rebrands-to-identity-digital/ Donuts rebrands to Identity Digital, Domain Name Wire]</ref> is a registry operator and domain name consultancy co-founded by [[Paul Stahura]], [[Jonathon Nevett]], [[Richard Tindal]], and [[Daniel Schindler]]. Donuts manages the world's largest portfolio of gTLDs, including: [[.email]], [[.guru]], [[.social]], [[.restaurant]], and [[.live]].<ref>[https://donuts.domains/what-we-do/top-level-domain-portfolio/ Donuts.domains - Top Level Domain Portfolio]</ref> The company specializes in the discovery, registration, use, and monetization of domain names.

In September 2012, Donuts was ranked #14 in The Wall Street Journal's Top 50 Start-Ups for 2012. It was also the newest start-up on the list.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444813104578018940187057924.html#project%3DNBT092012%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive Looking for the 'Next Big Thing'? Ranking the Top 50 Start-Ups], Online.WSJ.com. Published September 2012.</ref>

In April 2011, the company was raising capital; based on the company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Donuts had raised $1 million in equity financing.<ref>[http://www.geekwire.com/2011/demand-media-exec-paul-stahura-emerges-stealthy-donuts/ Former Demand Media exec Paul Stahura emerges at stealthy Donuts Inc.], Geekwire.com. Published 30 April 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> The company submitted 307 [[gTLD]] Applications and raised $100 million in financing, with a subsequent round of funding earmarked specifically for [[gTLD Auctions]] to resolve its 158 contention sets.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/12624-donuts-gets-another-100-million-funding Donuts Gets Another 100million Funding, DomainIncite.com] Published & Retrieved April 9 2013</ref> The company's headquarters is located in Bellevue, Washington.<ref>[https://donuts.domains/get-in-touch/contact-us/ Donuts.domains - Contact Us]</ref>

 

In November 2020, Donuts acquired the [[Afilias]] [[registry]] for the prominence of its back-end registry platform, [[DNS]] solutions, and [[cybersecurity]] expertise, in particular. The acquisition granted Donuts access to the authoritative directories and DNS for over 200 top-level domains. The Afilias registry business also included [[TLDs]], such as [[.info]], [[.global]], and [[.mobi]], [[ccTLDs]], and [[Brand TLD|.brands]]. The transition did not include Afilias’ mobile software and [[registrar]] businesses.<ref>[https://donuts.news/donuts-inc-to-acquire-afilias-inc Donuts acquires Afilias]</ref>

==New gTLD Applications==

==New gTLD Applications==

According to Daniel Schindler, one of Donuts' four co-founders, the company originally came up with a list of 3,000 prospective domain names.  He said, "We made a long list of dictionary terms, in multiple languages and character sets. We created our own proprietary way of valuing the [gTLDs], and that helped us narrow it down. But 307 is still a lot, obviously."<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/index.htm?source=cnn_bin 'Donuts' startup lands $100 million for dot-brand domains], CNN.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref>

According to Daniel Schindler, one of Donuts' four co-founders, the company originally came up with a list of 3,000 prospective domain names.  He said, "We made a long list of dictionary terms, in multiple languages and character sets. We created our own proprietary way of valuing the [gTLDs], and that helped us narrow it down. But 307 is still a lot, obviously."<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/index.htm?source=cnn_bin 'Donuts' startup lands $100 million for dot-brand domains], CNN.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref>

At one point, an article from Bloomberg reported that the company plans to apply for 10 gTLDs. <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/go-daddy-verisign-bet-on-windfall-from-web-address-expansion-ge-opposes.html Go Daddy Bets on Windfall From Web-Address Expansion Beyond .Com], Bloomberg. Published 10 January 2012.</ref> Mason Cole, the company's Vice President of Communications and industry relations explained that the reporter from Bloomberg misunderstood or had miscommunication with Stahura. He said that at the time of the interview, the exact number of the gTLD's to be applied for hadn't been finalized. Mr. Cole also said that the company is well prepared to operate all the 307 gTLDs.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/a-tasty-conversation-with-donuts-which-just-applied-for-307-tlds/ A tasty conversation with Donuts, which just applied for 307 TLDs], DomainNameWire.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref>

At one point, an article from Bloomberg reported that the company plans to apply for 10 gTLDs. <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/go-daddy-verisign-bet-on-windfall-from-web-address-expansion-ge-opposes.html Go Daddy Bets on Windfall From Web-Address Expansion Beyond .Com], Bloomberg. Published 10 January 2012.</ref> Mason Cole, the company's Vice President of Communications and industry relations explained that the reporter from Bloomberg misunderstood or had a miscommunication with Stahura. He said that at the time of the interview, the exact number of the gTLDs to be applied for hadn't been finalized. Mr. Cole also said that the company is well prepared to operate all the 307 gTLDs.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/05/a-tasty-conversation-with-donuts-which-just-applied-for-307-tlds/ A tasty conversation with Donuts, which just applied for 307 TLDs], DomainNameWire.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref>

In terms of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] rights protection, the company said that it created rights protection mechanisms for new gTLDs and it will implement an open Internet philosophy. According to Stahura, "The Internet is an engine of information, ideas and commerce, and one that’s not restrictive unnecessarily. Donuts intends to preserve that openness for all users, not operate a ‘by invitation only’ section of the Internet."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9227-donuts-applies-for-307-yes-307-gtlds Donuts applies for 307 (yes, 307) gTLDs], DomainIncite.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref> This statement can be seen to reference the plans of other large portfolio applicants such as [[Google]] and [[Amazon]], that are not only applying for [[brand TLD]]s for exclusive corporate use, but are also applying for generic terms with no plans to offer public registration.

In terms of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] rights protection, the company said that it created rights protection mechanisms for new gTLDs and it will implement an open Internet philosophy. According to Stahura, "The Internet is an engine of information, ideas and commerce, and one that’s not restrictive unnecessarily. Donuts intends to preserve that openness for all users, not operate a ‘by invitation only’ section of the Internet."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/9227-donuts-applies-for-307-yes-307-gtlds Donuts applies for 307 (yes, 307) gTLDs], DomainIncite.com. Published 5 June 2012.</ref> This statement can be seen to reference the plans of other large portfolio applicants such as [[Google]] and [[Amazon]], that are not only applying for [[brand TLD]]s for exclusive corporate use, but are also applying for generic terms with no plans to offer public registration.

===Auctions===

===Auctions===

During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, auction expert [[Peter Cramton]] outlined a private [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction]] model as a solution for resolving 158 new gTLD contention sets. Donuts co-founder [[Jon Nevett]] says that Donuts will handle as many of its contention sets as possible via this method, as auctions will be cheaper and faster for applicants than ICANN's original method. "The cost of losing an ICANN auction is greater than the cost of losing a private auction," Nevett said. "If you lose an ICANN auction you get nothing, zero, you lose your asset... [but with private auctions] it doesn't hurt as much to lose, so the theory is the second-place guys won't stretch as much."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>

During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, auction expert [[Peter Cramton]] outlined a private [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction]] model as a solution for resolving 158 new gTLD contention sets. Donuts co-founder [[Jon Nevett]] says that Donuts will handle as many of its contention sets as possible via this method, as auctions will be cheaper and faster for applicants than ICANN's original method. "The cost of losing an ICANN auction is greater than the cost of losing a private auction," Nevett said. "If you lose an ICANN auction you get nothing, zero, you lose your asset... [but with private auctions] it doesn't hurt as much to lose, so the theory is the second-place guys won't stretch as much."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>

===GAC Early Warnings===

===GAC Early Warnings===

Donuts received 49 [[GAC]] Early Warnings, which represents about 17% of its portfolio. The Early Warnings do not constitute GAC consensus and only represent one government's view. The large majority of Donuts' warnings came from the Australian GAC Representative and GAC Chair, [[Heather Dryden]]. She stated that a number of their strings were related to regulated markets and that Donuts had not sufficiently addressed verification or protection mechanisms to prevent consumer fraud and confusion. This arguably can be seen as a result of Donuts filing ever one of their applications with the exact same wording, and not addressing the relevant market at hand. Ms. Dryden issued the most of any GAC representative, and also warned some of Donuts' largest competitors, such as [[Google]] and [[Amazon]], that they should not be allowed to obtain a generic word, such as "blog", and use it for their sole corporate purposes. Donuts does not propose any closed TLDs and consequently can be seen to benefit from those style of warnings.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/11/icann-prioriisation-draw/ ICANN Priorization Draw, TLDH.org] Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref><ref>[https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/GAC+Early+Warnings GAC Early Warnings, GACweb.ICANN.org]Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref>

Donuts received 49 [[GAC]] Early Warnings, which represents about 17% of its portfolio. The Early Warnings do not constitute GAC consensus and only represent one government's view. The large majority of Donuts' warnings came from the Australian GAC Representative and GAC Chair, [[Heather Dryden]]. She stated that a number of their strings were related to regulated markets and that Donuts had not sufficiently addressed verification or protection mechanisms to prevent consumer fraud and confusion. This arguably can be seen as a result of Donuts filing every one of their applications with the exact same wording, and not addressing the relevant market at hand. Ms. Dryden issued the most of any GAC representative, and also warned some of Donuts' largest competitors, such as [[Google]] and [[Amazon]], that they should not be allowed to obtain a generic word, such as "blog", and use it for their sole corporate purposes. Donuts does not propose any closed TLDs and consequently can be seen to benefit from those styles of warnings.<ref>[http://www.tldh.org/2012/11/icann-prioriisation-draw/ ICANN Prioritization Draw, TLDH.org] Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref><ref>[https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/GAC+Early+Warnings GAC Early Warnings, GACweb.ICANN.org]Retrieved 1 Dec 2012</ref>

===PICs===

===PICs===

Donuts submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]] (PIC) for every one of its gTLD applications. PICs are voluntary amendments that applicants can create, sign, and undertake along with the general registry agreement in order to hold their registry operations to certain standards. They seem to originally have been developed as a way to allow applicants to appease [[GAC]] members that may be concerned about how their application stands as is, or how ICANN will be able to ensure a potential registry remains compliant with its aspirations and mandate as it defined in its summary of its proposed operations in the TLD application. Prior to PICs, there was no clear way of defining operating procedures when moving from the long form essays in the TLD application to the Registry Agreement.  

Donuts submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]] (PIC) for every one of its gTLD applications. PICs are voluntary amendments that applicants can create, sign, and undertake along with the general registry agreement in order to hold their registry operations to certain standards. They seem to originally have been developed as a way to allow applicants to appease [[GAC]] members that may be concerned about how their application stands as is, or how ICANN will be able to ensure a potential registry remains compliant with its aspirations and mandate as it defined in its summary of its proposed operations in the TLD application. Prior to PICs, there was no clear way of defining operating procedures when moving from the long-form essays in the TLD application to the Registry Agreement.  

The PICs Donuts submitted largely reinforce the best practices and protections it defined in its applications. The PIC submission process and proposed New TLD Registry Accreditation Agreement controversially include provisions giving the [[ICANN Board]] the unilateral right to amend further agreements and restrict registries to working with registrars that have signed a non-existent but forthcoming update to the 2009 [[Registrar Accreditation Agreement]]. Donuts notes in its PICs that it does not support these provisions.

The PICs Donuts submitted largely reinforce the best practices and protections it defined in its applications. The PIC submission process and proposed New TLD Registry Accreditation Agreement controversially include provisions giving the [[ICANN Board]] the unilateral right to amend further agreements and restrict registries to working with registrars that have signed a non-existent but forthcoming update to the 2009 [[Registrar Accreditation Agreement]]. Donuts notes in its PICs that it does not support these provisions.

Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; frequent [[Whois]] database audits; establishment of a [[Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML); establishment of a claims notification service for additional trademark protection; binding registrants to terms of use that define abusive behavior; reservation of the right to exclude non-compliant registrars from distribution; reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse related correspondence.<ref>[[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>

Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; frequent [[Whois]] database audits; establishment of a [[Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML); establishment of a claims notification service for additional trademark protection; binding registrants to terms of use that define abusive behavior; reservation of the right to exclude non-compliant registrars from distribution; reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse-related correspondence.<ref>[[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>

===Contracting===

===Contracting===

===General Availability===

===General Availability===

Although it is customary to hold a [[Landrush Period]] following the closing of the Sunrise Period, Donuts will instead go directly to General Availability with its current New gTLDs. However, they are holding an "Early Access Program" that takes place the first few days of General Availability. A list of premium domain names will be on sale for at least $10,000 the first day of General Availability, and fall in price each consecutive day until they settle at average market prices. A select number of registrars are offering this early program.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/15668-moment-of-truth-as-first-seven-new-gtlds-go-on-sale First Seven New gTLDs go On Sale, Domain Incite] Retrieved 29 Jan 2014</ref>

Although it is customary to hold a [[Landrush Period]] following the closing of the Sunrise Period, Donuts will instead go directly to General Availability with its current New gTLDs. However, they are holding an "Early Access Program" that takes place during the first few days of General Availability. A list of premium domain names will be on sale for at least $10,000 on the first day of General Availability, and fall in price each consecutive day until they settle at average market prices. A select number of registrars are offering this early program.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/15668-moment-of-truth-as-first-seven-new-gtlds-go-on-sale First Seven New gTLDs go On Sale, Domain Incite] Retrieved 29 Jan 2014</ref>

==DPML==

==DPML==

Donuts, in its applications and [[PIC]]s, has propose the creation of a [[DPML|Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML). The service seems to be based on [[ICM Registry]]'s "Sunrise B" service implemented during the launch of [[.xxx]]. In its [[PIC]]s, the company describes this as, "a trademark protection service that allows rights holders to reserve registration of exact match trademark terms and terms that contain their trademarks across all gTLDs administered by Registry Operator under certain terms and conditions."<ref>PIC Download</ref>  Donuts' [[Richard Tindal]] has since given greater body to the current thinking on the functioning of the DPML, including:

Donuts, in its applications and [[PIC]]s, proposed the creation of a [[DPML|Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML). The service seems to be based on [[ICM Registry]]'s "Sunrise B" service implemented during the launch of [[.xxx]]. In its [[PIC]]s, the company describes this as "a trademark protection service that allows rights holders to reserve registration of exact match trademark terms and terms that contain their trademarks across all gTLDs administered by Registry Operator under certain terms and conditions." [[Richard Tindal]] described the service as follows:

* Companies can block exact matches of trademarks, and domains that include the exact match of the trademark along with other terms

* Companies can block exact matches of trademarks, and domains that include the exact match of the trademark along with other terms

* Each domain blocked by DPML will need its own block, that is, a company cannot block "company name" from being used across all second level domains in Donuts' TLDs but must register each domain independently.

* Each domain blocked by DPML will need its own block, that is, a company cannot block "company name" from being used across all second level domains in Donuts' TLDs but must register each domain independently.

==Contention Sets==

==Contention Sets==

All of Donuts' current contention sets are documented below:

All of Donuts' contention sets are documented below:

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

==Donuts Team==

==Donuts Team==

The management team of the company include:<ref>[http://donuts.co/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=6 The Donuts Team], Donuts.co.</ref>

The management team of the company include:<ref>[https://donuts.domains/who-we-are/ Donuts.domains - Who We Are]</ref>

* [[Paul Stahura]], Co-founder and CEO

* [[Akram Atallah]], CEO

* [[Alvaro Alvarez]], Executive Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary

* [[Randy Haas]], EVP & CFO

* [[Ram Mohan]], CSO

* [[Pete Fox]], CIO

* [[Mina Neuberg]], CMO

* [[Alvaro Alvarez]], Vice President and General Counsel

* [[Bob Samuelson]], Vice President Sales & Marketing

 

* [[Elaine Pruis]], Director of Operations<br>

* [[Jenny White]], Director Sales & Marketing Europe, Registrar Channel (London)

 

 

* [[Thomas Ball]], Austin Ventures

* [[Jonathon Nevett]], Donuts Inc.

 

* [[Stahurricane]] ([[Paul Stahura]]'s investment fund)

 

[[Mason Cole]], Donuts' VP of Communications and Industry Relations, was interviewed at [[ICANN 44]] in Prague:

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

 

{{reflist}}</div>

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Past Sponsors]]