ICANN Registration Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure (RRDRP)

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the not-for-profit corporation with participants from the world over dedicated to keeping the internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on unique identifiers. ICANN's RRDRP is intended to address circumstances in which a community-based "New gTLD" Registry Operator deviates from the registration restrictions outlined in its Registry Agreement. This rubric addresses circumstances in which a New gTLD deviates from community-based restrictions. A "community-based" gTLD is one operated for the benefit of a clearly delineated community, restricting the individuals and entities that may register domains in the gTLD. To have standing, the complainant must show that it is an established institution associated with a defined community related to the gTLD string at issue. Complainants must establish that the defined community consists of a restricted population that the gTLD supports. To maintain a successful claim, they must prove that the gTLD operator violated its own community-based restrictions in its registry agreement and that there is a measurable harm to the complainant and the community at issue. Under the RRDRP, parties are encouraged-- but not required-- to participate in informal negotiations or mediation at any time throughout the dispute resolution process. However, the conducting of any such settlement negotiation is not, standing alone, a reason to suspend any deadline under the proceedings. See more information here-- http://bit.ly/1uDKgS3 and http://bit.ly/ZmV0JR