.VOTING Rapid Takedown Policy

Updated as of 4th APRIL 2014

Valuetainment Corp. as operator [hereinafter also the "registry") of the TLD . VOTING attaches great
importance to the safe use and usability of services provided under domains ending with .VOTING.
There can only be trust in this ending, if the registry takes systematic and consistent action against
abusive domain registrations and the abusive use of domains (conjointly hereinafter also the “casesof abuse”). Cases of abuse endanger the stability and security of the registry, the registrars, theregistrants, and generally the security of all Internet users. For this reason, the registry will not
tolerate any abuse. The registry aims to bring the conflicting interests of third parties who complain
about cases of abuse, and the interests of registrants being accused of an abuse within the meaningof these terms in a proper balance.
The present conditions, which apply to registrars and registrants of .VOTING domains define clearly
and unambiguously how the registry will proceed if abuses are brought to its notice. To this end,cases of abuse and contact options are described first (in sec. 2.). In Section 3 ff it is described how
the registry classifies the cases of abuse according to threat levels and in what manner theregistrants are involved in the procedure. Finally, Section 6 describes what action the registrars or
the registry will be taking regarding identified cases of abuse, if the registrant does not resolve theproblem on his own.
Violations of the provisions of the. VOTING Eligibility Policy are exclusively governed by theprovisions of the registry registrant agreements. Such violations are expressly not regarded as casesof abuse as defined in this Policy.
These positions do not replace the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or Uniform RapidSuspension (URS) or other proceedings for resolving disputes between third parties. Instead, theconditions are aimed at abuses which pose a threat to public safety and, as a result, to all .VOTINGusers.
1.

AbusesaA case of abuse for the purpose of these conditions is defined as follows:-Violation of applicable laws or regulation,-Use of a domain to publish content which incites to hatred against parts of thepopulation or against a national, religious or ethnic group, content which glorifies
violence, content which violates the human dignity, content which denies or plays
down acts committed under the National Socialist regime,-

Distribution of child abusive material,-

Use of a domain name for the dissemination of spam, i.e. unsolicited bulk
electronic communication (via e-mail, over instant and mobile messaging, on
websites and in forums),-

Use of a domain name for Distributed Denial-of-service attacks ("DDoS attacks"),-

Use of domain names in phishing activities, tricking Internet users into divulging
personal data such as names, addresses, or financial data, usernames or passwords,-

Use of domain names in pharming, such as DNS hijacking and DNS cache poisoning,-Use of domain names for the intentional distribution of malicious software such as
spyware, malware, keylogger bots, viruses or trojans,-

Use of domain names to command and control botnets, i.e. a network ofcompromised computers or "zombies,"-

Use of domain names in activities intended to gain illegal access to othercomputers or networks ("hacking"), as well as any activity to prepare for such asystem penetration, or-Use of a domain name for fast flux techniques, disguising the location of Internet
addresses or Internet services."bThe list of abuses in these conditions is not exhaustive and does not exclude otherconceivable abuses.

c

Violations of these conditions also constitute violations of the .VOTING Acceptable UsePolicy.

dThe registry is entitled but not obligated in the sense of testing and inspection obligations to
identify and pursue abuses at its own initiative by evaluating blacklists, malware and phishingfeeds and/or similar sources.

2.

Reporting abusesaThe registry provides a website at nic.voting which gives third parties an opportunity toreport suspected abuses at .VOTING domains. The registry provides a contact form for thispurpose. The registry also provides a phone number for use during normal business hours
and an e-mail contact.

b

Third parties using these contact opportunities are obliged to describe and evidence thesituation covered by the abuse report as fully as possible. They are also obliged to give theregistry at least one contact (e.g. e-mail address and/or phone number). The registry will use
this data exclusively for the purposes of the reported abuse and will not in any event forward
it to any third party. An exception to this is forwarding to government agencies (e.g. policeand/or public prosecutors) if the registry initiates criminal proceedings in connection with aspecific abuse.

c

Reported abuses are immediately assigned a unique case number which is notified to thethird party, preferably by e-mail. The registry is entitled but not obliged to request further
information from the third party which is needed to resolve the situation.

3.

Review of abuses / threat levels

aThe registry will use the forwarded data to determine if there is an abuse which results in theconsequences specified in the present conditions. The registry is entitled to review andevaluate the situation based on the forwarded data. The registry is further entitled but not
obliged to make independent investigation to clarify a reported situation.

b

In case of doubt, the registry is entitled – regardless of the threat level and the person oragency reporting the abuse – to have the abuse investigated by qualified third partíes.

cThird parties involved in a specific abuse will be notified as far as possible by the registry of
the current status, classification and measures taken.

dThe registry will classify abuses as one of three threat levels. Depending on which the registry
will determine further measures and response times in the specific instance.
--Threat level 1: A serious abuse posing concrete danger to public security: the registry willprocess the case within 48 hours after the report.
Threat level 2: A serious abuse which does not immediately pose a concrete threat topublic security, but gives reason to fear that such danger is imminent; the registry willprocess the case within 72 hours after the report.
Threat level 3: An abuse which the registry could not confirm on the basis of theforwarded data and its own investigations; the registry will close the reported abuse
case.

e

For classification purposes, the registry will first consider the danger to public security
resulting from a specific abuse (the registry’s decision). The registry will also consider theinterests of the registrant in the specific instance, as far as possible. The registry will
document the material stages and results of the investigation electronically. This also applies
to measures taken by the registry under (6) below.

fA critical abuse where the concrete danger to public security clearly outweighs the interestsof the registrant always (but not exclusively) arises if the registry is notified by aninvestigatory body (e.g. police, public prosecutor), courts or government agencies of aconcrete issue. The registry classifies such cases as threat level 1. A critical abuse also arises if
third parties other than a public agency notify the registry that .VOTING domains are being
used for--offensive, indecent, sexually explicit, obscene or defamatory material suitable forpromoting or supporting racism, fanaticism, hate, physical violence or illegal acts
(explicitly or implicitly);
pornographic content, services and/or products which violate criminal law and/or
other law;dissemination of malware and/or other damaging software (viruses, trojans,keyloggers etc);
pharming and/or phising websites.

g

Other verifiable abuses reported to the registry where concrete danger does not as yet
clearly outweighs the interests of the registrant are classified as threat level 2. Before theregistry takes measures, the registrant involved is asked to respond to the abuse report.

hAbuses where no danger to public security is apparent and which cannot be verified by theregistry are classified as threat level 3. In such cases the registry will not take any measuresagainst the registrant involved. The registrant and third party are notified of the registry’s
decision by e-mail.

iThe registry notes that if there is suspicion of illegal or criminal activities it is entitled andpossibly also obliged to report such cases to the public prosecutor’s office.

4.

Notification of responsible registraraIf the registry has determined there is an abuse under (3) above, this is notified to theregistrar for the .VOTING domain in question. The registrar generally has further information

through the direct contractual relationship with the registrant which can help resolve theabuse.
bThe registry will notify the registrar involved if and within what period notification of theregistrant in question is required, or whether such notification must be omitted (cf. 4 ebelow).

cRegistrars are obliged to resolve the abuse or take the necessary measures within a setperiod, as determined by the registry according to the determined threat level under (3)above. If the registrar does not reply within the set period, the registry is entitled to takemeasures under (6) below.

dThe registrar in question will notify the registrant involved of the reported abuse by e-mailand/or phone whenever possible. The registrant will be notified of the concrete abuse andthreat level.

eThe registry notes that in certain cases it might be illegal to notify the registrant in advance ofan abuse. In such cases the registrant will not be given the information under 4 c above. In
these cases the registrant will be notified as far as legally permissible of the measures takenby the registrar and/or registry.

5.

Registrant’s right of response

aThe registrant in question may be entitled to respond by e-mail to the accusation of abuse.
This does not apply to a case under 4 e above. The period for a registrant’s response to theregistrar involved is determined by the threat level set by the registry:-For threat level 1 the registrant must respond within 24 hours of the e-mail being sent to
the registrant. The registrar can set a shorter period if the concrete case requires.
For threat level 2 the registrant must respond within 48 hours of the e-mail being sent to
the registrant. The registrar can set a shorter period if the concrete case requires. The
registrar is further entitled to require the registrant to carry out specific measures (e.g.
remove content posted on a .VOTING domain).

b

If the Registrant fails to respond to a concrete abuse in a timely manner or at all, or if themeasures required by the registrar or registry are not carried out, the registrar or registry isentitled to determine and take the measures required under (6) below.

c

If the registrant responds to the concrete abuse, the registry notes that this response does
not affect the classification made under (3) above. The registry will take the registrant’s
response into account in the context of the measures under (6) below.

dIf the registrant responds and carries out the measures required by the registrar or registry
and/or otherwise remedies the identified abuse, the registrar or registry will take this into
account in the context of the measures to be taken under (6) below. Measures under 6 agenerally do not apply in such cases.

6.

Measures by the registrar/Registry/escalation levels

aThe registrar or registry is entitled to take measures for the .VOTING domain in question
which are suitable for reliably ending a concrete abuse in accordance with the classification.
If the violation of the AUP is not obvious from the available documentation or the content
made available under the .VOTING domain in question, the registry will have the casereviewed by a specialist law firm and will carry out its recommendations. For notifications by
public authorities, the review is limited to obvious illegality of the required measure. The
registrar or registry is entitled e.g.
-to deactivate the nameservers for the domain in question, orto delete the .VOTING domain in question, orto set a registry lock, hold or similar status for the . VOTING domain in question.

A domain should only be deleted if the domain in question is itself the cause of the legalviolation. Otherwise, it must only be deactivated for the time required to remedy the abuseor a third party order to deactivate it is rescinded. In any case the registry will always
implement legally enforceable rulings of a Swiss court or an order legally enforceable title in
Switzerland.
bIn the event of one or more abuses, the registrar or registry is further entitled with regard tothe registration agreement in question-to require the registrant to remove the content leading to the abuse report, or
to warn the registrant of his violation of his obligations under the registration agreement,orto terminate the registration agreement summarily for important reason, or
to file a criminal complaint against the registrant, or
to make reactivation of a .VOTING domain conditional on signature of a cease and desist
declaration with penalties under which the registrant undertakes to refrain from abusive
use in future.

cThe measures under 6 a and 6 b are set by the registrar or registry at their due discretion andtaking into account the registrant’s response under (5) above. The registrar or registry will
specifically take into account in their decision the number of abuse cases reported for theregistrant in question.

7.

Other

aThis does not affect further claims for damages and/or indemnification by the registrar orregistry.

b

Regardless of the preceding provisions the parties reserve the right to use other arbitration
proceedings or apply to the regular courts.

c.

The sole venue for all disputes arising out of the contract with the registry is the seat ofValuetainment Corp., therefore Taegerwilen/Switzerland.

d.

Swiss law shall apply exclusively.

e.

If any provision of these registration conditions should be or become invalid, this does notaffect the legal validity of the other provisions.

f.

Translations of this policy are purely for information purposes. The German language version
is decisive.