.Kids Domains, Inc.

.Kids Domains, Inc. (KDI) strongly believes that a kids-safe space should be comprised of more “do’s” than “don’ts”. We agree with Mr. David Kleenam, Executive Director of the American Center for Children and Media, that we need to focus on determining appropriate content. If we can accomplish this task, much of what is inappropriate will define itself.

Having said that, we agree with UNESCO that there is broad international consensus that certain kinds of content, which may be appropriate for adults to access, is unsuitable for children. The concept of shielding or protecting our children from harmful content is not only global, but also timeless. In fact, global concern and comment is so prevalent, that it is not a difficult task to establish common ground at the base level. KDI has adopted this approach in establishing our Content Policy. We have never set precedence, but rather relied on International Organizations, Foundations, Seminars, and Legal codes that are focused on Children.

The primary goal of our efforts is to organize and support a community of kid-friendly websites, dedicated to children under the age of 13, that provide an interesting, educational, fun, and growing experience. Therefore, sites that contain material that is deemed offensive or inappropriate to children under 13 will be blocked and possibly removed from the .kids domain.

KDI will have, at the least, agreement from our registrants to abide by our policies via binding private contract. However we are much more optimistic that the .kids gTLD will attract businesses and individuals that want to partner in the spirit of the Greenspace we will create.

Chat
KDI realizes the enormous value of chat from both the user and provider sides. Not only are chat forums extremely “sticky”, but also offer an unparalleled opportunity for kids to encounter and explore other perspective and cultures from across the block or around the world. Chat forums can be exciting, stimulating, and educational.

They also have, unfortunately, the potential to be a “hunting ground” for abuse and child molesters. KDI is in the final stages of developing guidelines to allow moderated chat on websites within the .kids domain. ChatDanger.com guidelines will form the backbone of our policies and we encourage interested parties to visit their site (http://www.chatdanger.com) and browse. We welcome input and suggestions from interested individuals and/or companies as our goal in all of our guidelines is to develop consensus-based policies.

If a chat forum(s) is/are an integral component of your site, please contact us (feedback@kidsdomains.org) immediately and we will work with you to certify your site without delay.

.Kids Domains, Inc. will restrict the sale, advertising, portrayal, or marketing of the following:

1. Firearms
Sale or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or ammunition feeding devices, persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing a person to use firearms, ammunition, or explosive devices to commit illegal activity, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: U.S. House Bill H.R. 1502, Sec. 402, 18 U.S.C. § 924

2. Violence
Content in nature or reference that portrays crime, cruelty, violence, revolting or abhorrent behavior or exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse individuals, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Australia WA Bill (cl 100), Singapore Broadcasting Authority Act (Chapter 297)

3. Hate Language
The Anti-Defamation League says children are especially vulnerable to hate language, because they are more likely to accept them as fact. Material that vilifies on the basis of gender, race, political ideology, or sexual orientation, obscene, obscene gestures, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent material that has, as it’s intent, to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Unicef Convention of the Rights of the Child, U.S. Communications Decency Act, 1996, UNESCO 1997 comparative study

4. Pornography Material that is (or would be) classified as RC or X (Australian Broadcasting Association) or R, NC-17 or X by the MPAA: violent coercion of sexual conduct, necrophilia, use of urine or excrement in association with degrading or dehumanizing conduct, bestiality, acts of torture or the infliction of extreme violence or extreme cruelty that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites. Sources: UNESCO ISBN 0 642 27025 2, Australia WA Bill (cl 102(2)), (cl 100) Singapore Broadcasting Authority Act (Chapter 297), ACLU Press Release 24 June 98

5. Alcohol Because children are the only constituency, the advertising of alcoholic products, promotion by and for the alcohol industry, links to alcohol industry sites, promotional material, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Singapore Broadcasting Authority Act (Chapter 297), UNESCO comparative study 1997, each of the 50 States of the USA have laws forbidding minors access to alcohol.

6. Illegal Drugs Sale, promotion, distribution, or production or synthesis information of illegal drugs, hiring, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a person to use illegal drugs, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Australian WA Bill (cl 100), (cl 103), UNESCO comparative study 1997

7. Gambling Engaging in, construction or operation of, games for money or property where the wagering party may lose money or property, or links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Each of the 50 States of the USA have laws forbidding gambling by minors.

8. Tobacco Because children are the only constituency, the advertising of tobacco products, promotion by and for the tobacco industry, links to tobacco industry sites or promotional material, obviously the sale of tobacco products, and links to the above material will be strictly prohibited on .kids websites.
Sources: Hong Kong Law Chpt. 371, Sec. 13B, Each of the 50 States of the USA have laws forbidding tobacco use by minors.

9. Profanity and Obscenity: Since the .Kids community is comprised of children (ages 13 and under), the use of all forms of profanity and obscenity are strictly prohibited. This includes pictures, gestures, videos, or audio recordings which, when, applying community standards are deemed offensive. Likewise, .Kids Domain, Inc. proscribes all links to sites that include profanity and obscenity. Inappropriate content “includes the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or 'fighting' words-those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.” (CHAPLINSKY v. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE )
Sources: ROTH v. UNITED STATES, 354 U.S. 476 (1957); CHAPLINSKY v. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE , 315 U.S. 568 (1942); U.S. Code Title 18 chapter 71;

10. Sexual Themed Content: Because the .KIDS community is comprised of children (13 and under) KDI expects that ultimately the access of children to sexually themed material should be determined by their parent or guardian, and therefore content that is, contains, describes, depicts, or illustrates material of a sexual theme is prohibited. As such, nudity within the .KIDS community is prohibited.

11. Registration Limitations: In an effort to restrict confusing or misleading registrations, Famous Names registrations not initiated by the trademark or other legitimate holders will not be allowed and the registration funds returned to the registrant. Registrants will have an opportunity to submit any and all information to the TLD Manager as to their right to use any Famous Names and also the right to initiate arbitration at their expense to implement registration.

12. Contact Information: All registrants must keep up to date contact information and reply to normal requests within three days and urgent requests within 24 hours.