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ASIA Pioneer Domains Program (Application Closed)

DotAsia, the registry operator for the .ASIA domain name, announced the launch of the .ASIA Pioneer Domains Program prior to the Sunrise Application.

This opportunity offers businesses and entrepreneurs to acquire prime cyber real estate in Asia and for businesses to get on the fast track for attracting the world's largest and fastest-growing market. Applicants are invited to submit a proposal for the domain of their choice. The best proposal wins the right to operate the best .ASIA domains! Applications will be accepted until August 31, 2007.

The Pioneer Domains Program was designed to encourage visionaries from all fields to design innovative and relevant websites with the best .ASIA domain. This concept marks a departure from the conventional first-come-first-served allocation model and a move toward the adoption and positive usage of domain names.

The Pioneer Domains Program is organized into 3 categories:

Community Pioneers

Global Brand Pioneers

Partner Pioneers

1. Community Pioneers

Download:	Community Pioneer Application Form(2.7MB)
Deadline:	August 31, 2007 -- Hong Kong Time(GMT+8)
Submission:	Applicants must submit one (1) electronic copy and two (2) hard copies of this Application Form. Proposals must be submitted in BOTH hard copy and electronic copy before the deadline. Proposals shall be deemed to have been made on the date of mailing marked on the receipt (hard copy), and on the date the email was transmitted (electronic copy).
Hard Copy:	.Asia Pioneers Commission DotAsia Organisation Unit 617, Miramar Tower, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
Electronic:	community@pioneerscommission.asia

Any individual, business or organisation is invited to become a Community Pioneer. Community Pioneers are invited to propose commonly used words and phrases (aka generic words) as .ASIA names, such as "music.asia", "trade.asia", etc. Non-commercial initiatives may also apply as the Community Pioneers for names corresponding to their organization. The prospective Community Pioneer (the Applicant) is required to fill in an Application Form, and to include a brief proposal (incorporated in the Application Form) outlining:

Business and Marketing Plan: describing the concept and proposed scheme for the .Asia domain, along with activities and ideas for promoting the domain;
Operations and Financial Support: resources and support available for viability of the initiative and to execute on the proposed plans; and,
Community and Social Considerations: commercial and social benefits to the community

Besides the proposal, Community Pioneers will be required to deposit a commitment of US$10,000 to the marketing of the .Asia domain. This Marketing Commitment Deposit is not an application fee, and will be returned to the Community Pioneer (i.e. applicant) against documented proof of advertising and marketing attributed to the promotion of the proposed business, which prominently features the allocated .Asia domain name.

Prospective Community Pioneer Domains List

A Prospective Community Pioneer Domains list is compiled and posted here. The list is intended to provide inspiration to Applicants of Community Pioneers and provide a scope of direction for the Community Pioneer Domains Program. Applicants may choose from the list or propose other Domain Name(s) of Interest for their proposal.

The choice of a Domain Name of Interest outside of the Prospective Community Pioneer Domains list will not prejudice the application against applications that do select from the list.

Financial Assistance Consideration

Applicants for Community Pioneer Domains may also apply for Financial Assistance Consideration. To apply, an Applicant must complete a [ Financial Assistance Consideration request form ] and submit it along with the Proposal (Application Form). In order to qualify for the Financial Assistance Consideration, an application must meet all of the following criteria:

The Proposal must be non-commercial in nature and proposed by a not-for-profit organisation, OR the Proposal is submitted by a team of students or recent graduates (proposals from students or recent graduates . graduated in 2006 or later . may contain commercial business models)
The Proposal must hold remarkable potential for bringing substantial benefit to the community, especially for the Asia Internet community
The Applicant must demonstrate decent capability to raise enough support, including operational and financial support if the Domain Name of Interest is allocated

The Financial Assistance Consideration provides a waiver for the Marketing Commitment Deposit as well as the Administration Fee. The Applicant must still however make a Dispute Deposit for the amount equal to the Challenge Fee. An application that has been granted Financial Assistance Consideration does not automatically pass the evaluation process for a Pioneer Domain, nor does it exempt the application from the Challenge Process.

Please read the .ASIA Pioneer Domains Program Policies for more details while filing your applications.

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2. Global Brand Pioneers

Through the Global Brand Pioneers category, DotAsia seeks to work closely with well established brand owners to develop active and relevant .Asia websites and services. While the .Asia Sunrise processes provide comprehensive protective measures for trademark owners, the Pioneer Domains Program offers proactive brand holders who are committed to the Asia community the .Asia domains that best matches their mark and businesses.

Download:	Global Brand Pioneer Application Form (2.7MB)
Deadline:	August 31, 2007 -- Hong Kong Time(GMT+8)
Submission:	Applicants must submit one (1) electronic copy and two (2) hard copies of this Application Form. Proposals must be submitted in BOTH hard copy and electronic copy before the deadline. Proposals shall be deemed to have been made on the date of mailing marked on the receipt (hard copy), and on the date the email was transmitted (electronic copy).
Hard Copy:	.Asia Pioneers Commission DotAsia Organisation Unit 617, Miramar Tower, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
Electronic:	globalbrand@pioneerscommission.asia

In order to qualify for the Global Brand category, a brand must have or demonstrate:

Trademark registrations in multiple countries and/or regions, with at least one in Asia;
Significant investment into the development and promotion of the corresponding brand online and offline; and,
Substantial sales threshold in connection with goods and services associated with the mark.

The Pioneer Domains Program is not designed to replace the .Asia Sunrise process. The Global Brand Pioneer category is focused on global brand owners who are committed to the Asia community and is willing to work with DotAsia to encourage the adoption of the .Asia domain. A framework for evaluation similar to the Community Pioneer category will be used. The same marketing commitment deposit is required, which similarly will be returned based on marketing of the .Asia domain name.

Global Brand Pioneers will be required to deposit a commitment of US$10,000 to the marketing of the .Asia domain. This Marketing Commitment Deposit is not an application fee, and will be returned to the Global Brand Pioneer (i.e. applicant) against documented proof of advertising and marketing attributed to the promotion of the proposed business, which prominently features the allocated .Asia domain name.

Please read the .ASIA Pioneer Domains Program Policies for more details while filing your applications.

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3. Partner Pioneers

Partners of DotAsia are encouraged to adopt and lend testimonials to the .Asia domains as Partner Pioneers. Accredited registrars, technology and service providers may utilize .Asia domain names for promoting the .Asia registry. DotAsia is also actively looking for partners in many other areas, and to offer to them the best .Asia domains that exemplify their affiliation to the Asia community. [ learn more about Partner Pioneers.. ]

Download:	Partner Pioneer Application Form (2.6MB)
Deadline:	BEFORE Commencement of Sunrise
Submission:	Applicants must submit one (1) electronic copy and two (2) hard copies of this Application Form. Proposals must be submitted in BOTH hard copy and electronic copy before the deadline. Proposals shall be deemed to have been made on the date of mailing marked on the receipt (hard copy), and on the date the email was transmitted (electronic copy).
Hard Copy:	.Asia Pioneers Commission DotAsia Organisation Unit 617, Miramar Tower, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
Electronic:	partner@pioneerscommission.asia

exemplify their affiliation to the Asia community.

Through the Pioneer Domains Program, DotAsia will proactively work with Partner Pioneers to promote the synergistic, positive and active usage of .ASIA domain names, which in turn encourages the adoption of the .Asia domain. In general, Marketing Commitment Deposit is not applicable, however commitments and pledges for the provision of complimentary, considerably discounted or exceptionally favourable terms of services or products to DotAsia will be required.

Please read the .ASIA Pioneer Domains Program Policies for more details while filing your applications.

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