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TLD Sponsorship Agreement: Attachment 1 (.coop) Posted: 5 November 2001 |
.coop Charter
The .coop TLD will be established to serve the needs of the international cooperative community ("Community"). It will be managed in accordance with the provisions of this charter ("Charter") and in the interests of the Community.
1. The Sponsor will be responsible for establishing registration requirements for the .coop TLD, provided that registrations shall be granted only to persons or entities that are defined in item 3 below.
2. For the purposes of this Charter, a "cooperative" is an organization meeting the definition and committed to the values and principles set forth in the Statement on the Co-operative Identity (see http://www.coop.org/ica/info/enprinciples.html) adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance ("ICA"), as set forth below and as it may be revised from time to time.
3. Sponsor's policies may permit registration within the Community by the following:
(a) members of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA);
(c) organizations formed as and/or considered cooperatives under applicable local law;
(d) associations comprised of cooperatives;
(e) organizations that are committed to the seven cooperative principles;
(f) organizations that are controlled by cooperatives;
(g) entities whose operations are principally dedicated to serving cooperatives; and
(h) for no more than 5000 registrants, persons or entities whose use of a .coop domain name would, in the opinion of the DCLLC Board, advance the interests of the cooperative sector in general or would assist in the development of cooperatives worldwide.
4. The Sponsor may establish stricter requirements for registrants according to the requirements of policy-development set forth in the TLD Sponsorship Agreement.
5. The Sponsor will promptly convey to ICANN any modifications that may be made to the definition of "cooperative" in the ICA Statement on the Co-operative Identity.
From Statement of Co-operative Identity
Definition - A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values - Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.
Principles - The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership - Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control - Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and co-operatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation - Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence - Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
5th Principle: Education, Training and Information - Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
6th Principle: Co-operation Among Co-operatives - Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
7th Principle: Concern for Community - Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Prior draft:
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