Re: [wg-c] Sheppard/Kleiman princilials

["Philip Sheppard" <philip.sheppard@aim.be>]

Following Rick's request...
Here follows the current iteration of the Sheppard/Kleiman principles
(version 8).
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Criteria for assessing a gTLD application from a registry operator, subject
to
current technical constraints and evolving technical opportunities, should
be based on all the following principles :

Principles affecting the relationship between a gTLD Registry operator,
Registrars and
those who may register in the domain
1. Certainty: a gTLD should give the net user confidence that it stands for
what it purports to stand for.
2. Honesty – a gTLD should not unnecessarily increase opportunities for
malicious or criminal elements who wish to defraud net users.

Principles effecting the relationship between Registries (and with relevance
to Registrars)
3. Differentiation – the selection of a gTLD string should not confuse net
users and so gTLDs should be clearly differentiated by the string and/or by
the marketing and functionality associated with the string.

4. Competition – new gTLDs should foster competition in the supply of domain
names and in the provision of Internet applications and services such that
the authorization process for new gTLDs should not be used as a means of
protecting existing service providers from competition.

5. Diversity - new gTLDs should foster the expression of views, both
commercial and non-commercial.

Other principles
6. Semantics – registry applications for a gTLD should explain what meaning
will be imputed to the proposed gTLD string and how the new gTLD will be
perceived by the relevant population of net users.
7. Multiplicity - new gTLDs should become available to meet the needs of an
expanding Internet community.
8. Simplicity - adherence of the above principles should not impose an
overly bureaucratic procedure on a registry.



Philip