International Centre for Dispute Resolution
New gTLD String Confusion Panel_____________________________________________________________________________
RE: 50 504 T 00267 13
Commercial Connect LLC, OBJECTOR
vsSea Tigers, LLC, APPLICANT
String: <.shopping>______________________________________________________________________________
EXPERT DETERMINATIONThe Parties:
The Objector is Commercial Connect LLC, 1418 South 3rd Street, Louisville, Kentucky
40208 USA and is represented by Jeffrey S. Smith.
The Applicant is Sea Tigers, LLC, 10500 NW 8th Street, Suite 350, Bellevue, WA 98004,
USA and is represented by Jonathan Nevett, Donuts, Inc., 6102 Neilwood Dr., Rockville, MD
20852, USA, John M. Genga, Esq. and Don Moody, New gTLD Disputes, 15260 Ventura Blvd.
#1810 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 USA, and Daniel Schindler, Sea Tigers, LLC, 10500 NW 8thStreet, Suite 350, Bellevue, WA 98004, USA.
The New gTLD String Objected To:
The new gTLD string applied for and objected to is: <.shopping>
Prevailing Party:
The Objector has prevailed and the Objection is sustained.
Background:
Module 3 of the ICANN gTLD Applicant Guidebook (“Guidebook”) contains Objection
Procedures and the New gTLD Dispute Resolution Procedure (“the Procedure”).
Article 1(b) of the Procedure states that “The new gTLD program includes a dispute
resolution procedure, pursuant to which disputes between a person or entity who applies for a
new gTLD and a person or entity who objects to that gTLD are resolved in accordance with thisNew gTLD Dispute Resolution Procedure.”
1Section 3.1 of the Guidebook provides: “The independent dispute resolution process isdesigned to protect certain limited interests and rights. The process provides a path for formal
objections during evaluation of the applications. It allows a party with standing to have its
objection considered before a panel of qualified experts.”
Article 3(a) of the Procedure states that “String Confusion Objections shall beadministered by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution”.
A formal objection initiates a dispute resolution proceeding. In filing an application for agTLD, the applicant agrees to accept the applicability of the gTLD dispute resolution process.
Similarly, an objector accepts the applicability of the gTLD dispute resolution process by filingits objection.
Article 4(b)(i) of the Procedure provides that the applicable Dispute Resolution ServiceProvider (“DRSP”) Rules are the ICDR Supplementary Procedures for ICANN’s New gTLD
Program.
A formal objection can be filed on four enumerated grounds, only one of which isrelevant here. Specifically, as expressed in the Guidebook, and the Procedure, one of thegrounds expressed is “String Confusion.” Article 2(e)(i) of the Procedure provides: “(i) ‘StringConfusion Objection’ refers to the objection that the string comprising the potential gTLD isconfusingly similar to an existing top-level domain or another string applied for in the sameround of applications.”
A panel hearing a string confusion objection will consider whether the applied-for gTLD
string is likely to result in string confusion. String confusion exists where a string so nearly
resembles another that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion. For a likelihood of confusion toexist, it must be probable, not merely possible that confusion will arise in the mind of theaverage, reasonable Internet user. Mere association, in the sense that the string brings anotherstring to mind, is insufficient to find a likelihood of confusion. Guidebook, Section 3.4.1.
Standing and Other Procedural Matters:Objectors must satisfy standing requirements to have their objections considered.
Standing requirements for objections on the grounds of string confusion require that the Objector
be existing TLD operators or TLD applicants in the current round.
An existing TLD operator may file a string confusion objection to assert string confusion
between an applied-for gTLD and the TLD that the Objector currently operates.
Any gTLD applicant in the same application round may file a string confusion objection
to assert string confusion between an applied-for gTLD and the gTLD for which it has applied,
where string confusion between the two applicants has not already been found. That is, anapplicant does not have standing to object to another application with which it is already in acontention set.

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Here, Objector has applied for the gTLD string <.shop>. Applicant has applied for thegTLD string <.shopping>. Accordingly, Objector has standing to file this string confusion
objection.
In the case where an existing TLD operator successfully asserts string confusion with anapplicant, the application will be rejected.
In the case where a gTLD applicant successfully asserts string confusion with anotherapplicant, the only possible outcome is for both applicants to be placed in a contention set and tobe referred to a contention resolution procedure (refer to Module 4, String Contention
Procedures). If an objection by one gTLD applicant to another gTLD applicant is unsuccessful,the applicants may both move forward in the process without being considered in contention
with one another.
Article 21(d) of the Procedure provides: “The Expert Determination shall be in writing,shall identify the prevailing party and shall state the reasons upon which it is based. The
remedies available to an Applicant or an Objector pursuant to any proceeding before a Panelshall be limited to the success or dismissal of an Objection and to the refund by the DRSP to theprevailing party, as determined by the Panel in its Expert Determination, of its advancepayment(s) of Costs pursuant to Article 14(e) of this Procedure and any relevant provisions of
the applicable DRSP Rules.”Applicant asks that the Objection be denied because Objector allegedly did not properly
serve the objection on Applicant in accord with applicable rules set out in the Procedure.
However, Applicant acknowledges that it previously has been provided with a copy of
Objector’s application for the <.shop> gTLD string, the Objector’s Demand for Arbitration andother materials. Applicant’s able counsel also has submitted a detailed brief in support of its
application, and the panel has reviewed and considered all of Applicant’s submissions,arguments and contentions. Thus, it appears that Applicant received actual notice of theObjection, and has been accorded a full and fair opportunity to be heard on its application.
Applicant also has not shown that it was prejudiced by any alleged defects in the filing of theObjection. As the procedures for String Confusion Objections are relatively new, in the absenceof a showing of actual prejudice to the Applicant, the panel is of the view that the Objection
should be evaluated on the merits. Consequently, Applicants procedural objections are denied.
Parties’ Contentions:Objector asserts that confusing similarity exists because the Applicant’s proposed string
has a similar visual appearance, a similar aural sound and a similar meaning to the Objector’sstring.
Applicant responds by contending that the objection should be denied because its
application will promote innovation, choice and competition among domain name registries.
Applicant asserts that such competition advances the program’s goals, to expand consumer
choice in the gTLD space.

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Applicant also asserts that the string it has applied for will not create confusion.
Applicant argues that the strings have a different sound, appearance and meaning, because theword “shop” means “commercial establishment” or “store” and is a noun, while “shopping”
refers either to an action of purchasing something.
Applicant has also submitted the Declaration of Dr. Sandra F. Disner, an AssistantProfessor of Linguistics as the University of Southern California. In her Declaration, Dr. Disnerexplains the linguistic differences between “shop” and “shopping,” and opines that the likelihoodof confusion is merely possible, not probable, because the two strings are sufficiently distinct andhave no genuine visual or aural similarity.
Applicant also asserts a number of other arguments relating to the Objector, and thedecisions of other panels in other gTLD string confusion cases.
Discussion and Findings:
Here, the issue is whether the string <.shopping> comprising the potential gTLD isconfusingly similar to <.shop>. To resolve this issue, we must determine whether the root of aword in a string should be accorded protection from usage of variations of the root word,including participles. There are several variations of the root word “shop” in the English
language, including the plural “shops” (when used as a noun), the participle “shopping” and thepast tense of the verb “shopped.”
As noted above, the applicable standard of review is the following: “String confusion
exists where a string so nearly resembles another that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion.
For a likelihood of confusion to exist, it must be probable, not merely possible that confusion
will arise in the mind of the average, reasonable Internet user. Mere association, in the sense thatthe string brings another string to mind, is insufficient to find a likelihood of confusion.”
Generally speaking, “confusion” may include jumbled or disorganized thought. A person
who is confused may have difficulty solving problems or tasks, especially those known to havebeen previously easy for the person, or the inability to recognize familiar objects or locations,and uncertainty about what is happening, intended, or required. Confusion may include the stateof being unclear in one’s mind about something, or the mistaking of one person or thing foranother, including the inability to differentiate between similar words. In the context of internet
searches, confusion can arise if the user is unable to differentiate between top level domainnames, and becomes unable to access information using a logical, organized thought process. A
confused internet user will be unable to find his or her way around the domain in a definite or
familiar manner.
Here, the word “shop” can be used either as a noun, designating a physical establishment
where one can buy goods or services, or as a verb. While Applicant argues that “shop” and“shopping” do not have a similar visual appearance or aural sound, we respectfully disagree. Inour view, the similarities in the look and sound of the two words do rise to the level of probableconfusion as opposed to a mere possibility. Equally as important, the two words have essentiallythe same meaning, when the word “shop” is used as a verb.

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We have also reviewed and considered the Applicant’s other arguments relating to theObjector, and decisions in other gTLD string confusion cases, and do not find those arguments
persuasive.
Thus, the concurrent use of “shopping”, the participle, and the root word “shop”, ingTLD strings will result in probable confusion by the average, reasonable Internet user, because
the two strings have sufficient similarity in sound, meaning, look and feel. The average Internet
user would not be able to differentiate between the two strings, and in the absence of some otherexternal information (such as an index or guidebook) would have to guess which of the twostrings contains the information the user is looking to view.
The adopters of the applicable standard of review for string confusion hypothetically
could have allowed an unlimited number of top level domain names using the same root, andsimply differentiate them by numbers, e.g., <.shop1>, <.shop2>, <.shop3>, etc., or othermodifiers, including pluralization, or other similar variations of a root word, or other modifiers
before or after the root word. While that might allow for increased competition, as argued byApplicant, it would only lead to a greater level of confusion and uncertainty among average,
reasonable Internet users. Accordingly, the Applicant’s argument that the concurrent use of aroot word and its participle version in a string increases competition is not persuasive in thiscontext, and is rejected.
Accordingly, the Applicant’s arguments do not appear to be consistent with theapplicable standard of review, the apparent purpose or goal of implementing gTLD’s, or the
purpose or goal in allowing a string confusion objection.
Determination:
Therefore, the Objector has prevailed and the Objection is sustained.
DATED:

October 14, 2013______________________________ROBERT M. NAU,Sole Expert Panelist5