Public Interest Commitments

Public Interest Commitments (PICs) as related to new gTLD applicants and the Registry Agreement they are to sign, is a term and creation directly from ICANN, first suggested on February 5th, 2013, in ICANN's revised new registry agreement that it opened for public comments.

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. As is, 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.

For example, if an applicant expresses a desire to restrict registration to a certain group of professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, etc., the applicant can create a PIC to underline this and hold their future registry to that standard. If the applicant did not originally intend to create such restrictions as defined in its TLD application, but it has received communication from the GAC that the supporting organization intends to oppose their application to the ICANN Board without such language, then the PIC can be added as an appeal to those governments.

Timeline

It is a controversial topic that many applicants think was created quickly, with no outside input, and is presented in such a way that they feel compelled to make a decision without fully understanding the proposal. It seems to apply to a small subset of applicants, as only 145 of 1,409 strings were flagged by GAC Early Warnings, the primary target for PICs. The dispute resolution procedure, the Public Interest Commitment Dispute Resolution Process or PICDRP, has yet to be defined. Applicants were given one month, until March 5th, to submit their PICs. It seemed to conflict with other deadlines, such as the end of objection filling just a week later, so, "potential objectors would have to decide whether to file their objections based on PICs that have been published for just one week and that could be amended post-deadline."

ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé noted around the imminent closing of the PIC submission date that this issue has the potential for pushing back the receipt of GAC advice and therefore the entire TLD implementation schedule, which is tightly fixed and aiming to recommend the first TLDs for delegation by April 23rd. ICANN will not recommend TLDs for implementation without the GAC's final advice, and the GAC seems to be placing a great import on the submission of PICs, to which the applicants remain wary.

Stakeholder Reactions

ICANN's Registry Stakeholder Group is very much opposed to the PICs and the rest of the proposed Registry Agreement, which includes provisions to only allow new registries to work with registrars that are party to their own new registrar accreditation agreement, which has yet to be settled upon. TLD applicants have argued that they are being used as a "wedge" to force registrars into signing a still non-existent agreement. The RySg has said, the Registry Agreement “contains so many serious and fundamental flaws that it should be withdrawn in its entirety." The U.S. Governement's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, from which ICANN is given its mandate and oversight, encouraged all applicants to submit PICs that related to verification of registration, the validity of Whois data, and help protect the "creative sector", a reference to content producers that are often subject to piracy on the Internet.

PICs Submitted

499 PIC specs were submitted. The following link out directly to the downloads for the respective PICs submitted:

1. .airforce - Demand Media, PIC
2. .app - Famous Four Media, PIC
3. .army - Demand Media, PIC
4. .bar - Demand Media, PIC
5. .bargains - Donuts, PIC
6. .baseball - Donuts, PIC
7. .basketball - Famous Four Media, PIC
8. .beauty - Donuts, PIC
9. .bet - Famous Four Media, PIC
10. .bet - Donuts, PIC
11. .bike - Donuts, PIC
12. .bingo - Famous Four Media, PIC
13. .book - Famous Four Media, PIC
14. .book - Donuts, PIC
15. .bradesco - Banco Bradesco S.A., PIC
16. .buzz - dotStrategy, PIC
17. .cam - Demand Media, PIC
18. .career - dotCareer LLC, PIC
19. .casino - Famous Four Media, PIC
20. .casino - dotBeauty LLC, PIC
21. .charity - Donuts, PIC
22. .charity - Famous Four Media, PIC
23. .cheap - Donuts, PIC
24. .city - Donuts, PIC
25. .claims - Donuts, PIC
26. .cleaning - Donuts, PIC
27. .clinic - Donuts, PIC
28. .clothing - Donuts, PIC
29. .cloud - Donuts, PIC
30. .club - Donuts, PIC
31. .coffee - Donuts, PIC
32. .college - Donuts, PIC
33. .community, Donuts, PIC
34. .company - Donuts, PIC
35. .computer - Donuts, PIC
36. .condos - Donuts, PIC
37. .consulting - Donuts, PIC
38. .contractors - Donuts, PIC
39. .cool - Donuts, PIC
40. .corp - Donuts, PIC
41. .construction - Donuts, PIC
42. .coupons - Donuts, PIC
43. .cpa - Donuts, PIC
44. .credit - Donuts, PIC
45. .creditcard - Donuts, PIC
46. .creditunion - CUNA, PIC
47. .cricket - Donuts, PIC
48. .cruise - Cruise Lines International Association Inc., PIC
49. .cruises - Donuts, PIC
50. .dance - Demand Media, PIC
51. .date - Donuts, PIC
52. .dating - Donuts, PIC
53. .deals - Donuts, PIC
54. .degree - Donuts, PIC
55. .delivery - Donuts, PIC
56. .democrat - Demand Media, PIC
57. .dental - Donuts, PIC
58. .dentist - Donuts, PIC
59. .design - Donuts, PIC
60. .diamonds - Donuts, PIC
61. .diet - Donuts, PIC
62. .digital - Donuts, PIC
63. .direct - Donuts, PIC
64. .directory - Donuts, PIC
65. .discount - Donuts, PIC
66. .doctor - Donuts, PIC
67. .dog - Donuts, PIC
68. .domains - Donuts, PIC
69. .download - Famous Four Media, PIC
70. .eco - Big Room Inc., PIC
71. .eco - Donuts, PIC
72. .ecom - Ecommerce Inc., PIC
73. .education - Donuts, PIC
74. .email - Donuts, PIC
75. .energy - Famous Four Media, PIC
76. .engineer - Donuts, PIC
77. .engineering - Donuts, PIC
78. .enterprises - Donuts, PIC
79. .equipment - Donuts, PIC
80. .estate - Donuts, PIC
81. .events - Donuts, PIC
82. .exchange - Donuts, PIC
83. .expert - Donuts, PIC
84. .exposed - Donuts, PIC
85. .express - Donuts, PIC
86. .fail - Donuts, PIC
87. .family - Donuts, PIC
88. .fan - Donuts, PIC
89. .farm - Donuts, PIC
90. .fashion - Donuts, PIC
91. .film - Donuts, PIC
92. .finance - Donuts, PIC
93. .financial - Donuts, PIC
94. .fish - Donuts, PIC
95. .fishing - Demand Media, PIC
96. .fitness - Donuts, PIC
97. .flights - Donuts, PIC
98. .florist - Donuts, PIC
99. .flowers - Donuts, PIC
100. .food - Donuts, PIC
101. .football - Donuts, PIC
102. .forsale - Donuts, PIC
103. .forum - Donuts, PIC
104. .foundation - Donuts, PIC
105. .free - Donuts, PIC
106. .fun - Donuts, PIC
107. .fund - Donuts, PIC
108. .furniture - Donuts, PIC
109. .flowers - Donuts, PIC
110. .futbol - Donuts, PIC
111. .fyi - Donuts, PIC
112. .gallery - Donuts, PIC
113. .games - Donuts, PIC
114. .garden - Donuts, PIC
115. .gay - Demand Media, PIC
116. .gcc - GCCIX WLL, PIC
117. .gecompany - GE GTLD Holdings LLC, PIC
118. .gifts - Donuts, PIC
119. .gives - Donuts, PIC
120. .glass - Donuts, PIC
121. .global - Donuts, PIC
122. .gmbh - Donuts, PIC
123. .gmbh - InterNetWire, PIC
124. .gold - Donuts, PIC
125. .golf - Donuts, PIC
126. .graphics - Donuts, PIC
127. .gratis - Donuts, PIC
128. .green - DotGreen Community Inc., PIC
129. .green - Demand Media, PIC
130. .gripe - Donuts, PIC
131. .group - Donuts, PIC
132. .guide - Donuts, PIC
133. .guru - Donuts, PIC
134. .halal - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
135. .haus - Donuts, PIC
136. .health - DotHealth, LLC, PIC
137. .health - dot Health Limited, PIC
138. .health - Donuts, PIC
139. .healthcare - Donuts, PIC
140. .help, Donuts, PIC
141. .hiv - dotHIV gemeinnuetziger e.V., PIC
142. .hockey - Donuts, PIC
143. .holdings - Donuts, PIC
144. .holiday - Donuts, PIC
145. .home - Donuts, PIC
146. .hospital - Donuts, PIC
147. .hosting - Donuts, PIC
148. .hot - Donuts, PIC
149. .hotel - Donuts, PIC
150. .hotel - Famous Four Media, PIC
151. .house - Donuts, PIC
152. .idn - NameShop, PIC
153. .immo - Donuts, PIC
154. .immo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
155. .immobilien - Demand Media, PIC
156. .inc - Donuts, PIC
157. .industries - Donuts, PIC
158. .institute - Donuts, PIC
159. .insurance - Donuts, PIC
160. .insure - Donuts, PIC
161. .international - Donuts, PIC
162. .investments - Donuts, PIC
163. .islam - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
164. .jewelry - Richemont DNS Inc., PIC
165. .jewelry - Donuts, PIC
166. .juegos - Donuts, PIC
167. .kaufen - Demand Media, PIC
168. .kids - DotKids Foundation Limited, PIC
169. .kitchen - Donuts, PIC
170. .kiwi - Dot Kiwi Limited, PIC
171. .land - Donuts PIC
172. .latino - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
173. .law - Famous Four Media, PIC
174. .law - Donuts, PIC
175. .lawyer - Donuts, PIC
176. .lease - Donuts, PIC
177. .legal - Donuts, PIC
178. .lighting - Donuts, PIC
179. .limited - Donuts, PIC
180. .limo - Donuts, PIC
181. .living - Donuts, PIC
182. .llc - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
183. .llc - Donuts, PIC
184. .loan - Famous Four Media, PIC
185. .loans - Donuts, PIC
186. .london - Dot London Domains Limited, PIC
187. .love - Donuts, PIC
188. .ltd - Donuts, PIC
189. .luxe - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
190. .luxury - Donuts, PIC
191. .mail - Donuts, PIC
192. .mail - 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH, PIC
193. .maison - Donuts, PIC
194. .man - MAN SE, PIC
195. .management - Donuts, PIC
196. .map - Demand Media, PIC
197. .market - Donuts, PIC
198. .marketing - Donuts, PIC
199. .mba - Donuts, PIC
200. .med - Medistry, PIC
201. .med - HEXAP SAS, PIC
202. .media - Donuts, PIC
203. .medical - Donuts, PIC
204. .memorial - Donuts, PIC
205. .merck - Merck KGaA, PIC
206. .mobile - Donuts, PIC
207. .moda - Donuts, PIC
208. .mom - Demand Media, PIC
209. .money - Donuts, PIC
210. .money - Famous Four Media, PIC
211. .mortgage - Donuts, PIC
212. .moto - Demand Media, PIC
213. .movie - Famous Four Media, PIC
214. .movie - Donuts, PIC
215. .music - Famous Four Media, PIC
216. .music - Donuts, PIC
217. .music - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
218. .navy - Demand Media, PIC
219. .network - Donuts, PIC
220. .news - Donuts, PIC
221. .ninja - Demand Media, PIC
222. .now - Donuts, PIC
223. .nowruz - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
224. .nrw - Minds + Machines, PIC
225. .online - Tucows, PIC
226. .online - Donuts, PIC
227. .ooo - INFIBEAM INCORPORATION LIMITED, PIC
228. .organic - Afilias, PIC
229. .pars - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
230. .partners - Donuts, PIC
231. .parts - Donuts, PIC
232. .patagonia - Patagonia, Inc., PIC
233. .persiangulf -Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
234. .pets - Donuts, PIC
235. .phone - Donuts, PIC
236. .photography - Donuts, PIC
237. .photos - Donuts, PIC
238. .pictures - Donuts, PIC
239. .pizza - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
240. .pizza - Donuts, PIC
241. .place - Donuts, PIC
242. .plumbing - Donuts, PIC
243. .plus - Donuts, PIC
244. .poker - Donuts, PIC
245. .poker - Dot Poker LLC, PIC
246. .poker - dot Poker Limited, PIC
247. .productions - Donuts, PIC
248. .properties - Donuts, PIC
249. .property - Donuts, PIC
250. .property - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
251. .pub - Demand Media, PIC
252. .racing - Donuts, PIC
253. .racing - Famous Four Media, PIC
254. .radio - Donuts, PIC
255. .radio - BRS Media, PIC
256. .realestate - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
257. .realestate - Donuts, PIC
258. .realty - Donuts, PIC
259. .recipes - Donuts, PIC
260. .red - Donuts, PIC
261. .rehab - Demand Media, PIC
262. .reise - dotreise GmbH, PIC
263. .reisen - Donuts, PIC
264. .rent - Donuts, PIC
265. .rentals - Donuts, PIC
266. .repair - Donuts, PIC
267. .report - Donuts, PIC
268. .republican - Demand Media, PIC
269. .restaurant - Donuts, PIC
270. .restaurant - Demand Media, PIC
271. .review - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
272. .reviews - Donuts, PIC
273. .rip - Demand Media, PIC
274. .rocks - Donuts, PIC
275. .rodeo - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
276. .roma - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
277. .rugby - IRB Strategic Developments Limited, PIC
278. .rugby - Donuts, PIC
279. .rugby - Famous Four Media, PIC
280. .run - Donuts, PIC
281. .sale - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
282. .sale - Donuts, PIC
283. .salon - Donuts, PIC
284. .sap - SAP AG, PIC
285. .sarl - Donuts, PIC
286. .sarl - mySarl GmbH, PIC
287. .school - Donuts, PIC
288. .school - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
289. .schule - Donuts, PIC
290. .science - Top Level Domain Holdings, PIC
291. .search - Donuts, PIC
292. .security - Donuts, PIC
293. .services - Donuts, PIC
294. .shia - Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar San., PIC
295. .shoes - Donuts, PIC
296. .shop - Donuts, PIC
297. .shopping - Donuts, PIC
298. .show - Donuts, PIC
299. .singles - Donuts, PIC
300. .site - Donuts, PIC
301. .site - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
302. .ski - Donuts, PIC
303. .smart - SMART, PIC
304. .soccer - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
305. .soccer - Donuts, PIC
306. .social - Demand Media, PIC
307. .software - Donuts, PIC
308. .solar - Donuts, PIC
309. .solutions - Donuts, PIC
310. .spa - Donuts, PIC
311. .spa - Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd., PIC
312. .sports - Donuts, PIC
313. .srl - mySRL GmbH, PIC