Released on: January 17, 2008, 2:19 am

Press Release Author: DotAsia Organisation

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Launch of Celebrity Pioneer Program

Press Release Body: Hong Kong, 16 January 2008 - DotAsia Organisation announced the
launch of its groundbreaking Celebrity Pioneer Program, offering celebrities
worldwide the priority to register their name with .Asia before the public
"landrush" launch on February 20, 2008. Early adopters announced included the
latest major motion picture release from the director of Kung Fu Hustle, CJ7. The
movie will start to utilize "www.cj7.asia" to promote its release in the next few
months.

Under the program, celebrities from entertainment, art, culture, sports, business,
politics, academia, are invited to participate as Celebrity Pioneers. Celebrity
names are often neglected in the startup of a new domain registry. Yet they are
often highly vulnerable to cyber-squatting. Through the Celebrity Pioneers Program,
renowned individuals can utilize their .Asia domain to reach fans all over Asia for
their next concert, movie or tour, while protecting their personal brand online.

Mr. Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia joined hands with specially invited celebrities and
guests to unveil the Celebrity Pioneer Program today. Guests included acclaimed
novelist Zita Law, columnist Joe Nieh, singer Remus Choy (Choy Yat Kit), Feng Shui
master Mak Ling Ling, celebrity make-up artist Rick Chin, as well as Roy Szeto
(Director of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre), James Chan (Director of Internet
International Federation Against Copyright Theft - Greater China), and Mr. Charles
Mok (Chairman of Internet Society Hong Kong).

Mr. Chung remarked, "We are extremely pleased to have received very positive and
enthusiastic response around the world since the launch of .Asia Sunrise process
last October. Nevertheless, the awareness in the Asia region for online brand
protection is still relatively weak, especially for celebrities and artists in the
region. As the intellectual property right infringement in the creative industry
has been increasingly abused in recent years, many celebrities and movie stars are
finding it more difficult to protect their work online. The Celebrity Pioneer
Domains Program is especially designed to raise the awareness of the importance of
name protection amongst entertainment, sports and other creative celebrities."
DotAsia believes that the Celebrity Pioneer Domains Program could also help raise
the general awareness for proactive protection of online intellectual property
rights.

Mr. Sam Ho, Executive Director and General Manager, International Federation Against
Copyright Theft - Greater China (IFACT-GC) says, "IFACT-GC is pleased to be able to
work with DotAsia to protect the Film and TV industry in this region. We hope our
joint effort will serve to deter the growth of online piracy in Asia". Mr. Charles
Mok, Chairman of Internet Society Hong Kong, commented saying, "Domain names have
already become a crucial part of branding in the IT era today. Domains containing
names of celebrities are often quickly snatched by cyber-squatters. Owners then end
up paying exorbitant prices to buy them back. Renowned individuals from all fields
should take this golden opportunity to protect their names and prevent such
misfortunes from happening."

Celebrities are thrilled to learn about the launch of the Celebrities Pioneers
Program by DotAsia.

"Artists in Hong Kong do not pay enough attention to the protection of their
personal name brand online, especially in the preservation of corresponding domain
names. The Celebrity Pioneer Domains Program is therefore a great idea. Not only
am I applying immediately for myself, I will definitely recommend it for my friends
in the industry." says Mr. Joe Nieh. Zita Law added that, "The effort from DotAsia
to protect the intellectual property rights of artists online by allowing renowned
individuals to register their own names with priority is a noble cause worth all the
support." Rick Chin expressed that, "I am delighted to see the launch of a new
Internet address that comes from Asia and represents Asia. In the past the choice
was only the already very crowded .com space or the local domain. The launch of
.Asia is a perfect timing for the trend towards a global economy with emphasis on
regional markets, such as the Asia wide market."

"The Celebrity Pioneer Program launched by DotAsia will definitely help artists in
Hong Kong, like myself, by enhancing the awareness of protecting our own personal
brands online." states Mr. Remus Choy. Mr Roy Szeto concluded in saying, "I am glad
to finally see an organization come forward with a great program and commitment
towards the protection and promotion of intellectual property rights online."

Celebrity Pioneers Program Application:

Application Form: Download the Celebrity Pioneer Application Form from
http://www.think.asia/celebrity.html

Deadline: 13 February, 2008

Submission: By Email - celebrity@pioneerscommission.asia

By Mail - .Asia Pioneers Commission
DotAsia Organisation Limited
Unit 617, Miramar Tower,
132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong


Upcoming .Asia launch phases:

1. Landrush - from 20 Feb to 12 March 2008. This period is open to anyone around the
world who wish to apply for any .Asia domain. If there is more than one applicant
interested in applying for the same domain name, an auction will be held for the
domain between the qualified applicants. Otherwise, domains will be allocated
immediately to the applicant.

2. Go Live -begins on 26 March 2008. From this date onwards, the policy of
first-come-first-serve applies.

About DotAsia Organisation:

DotAsia Organisation (www.dotasia.org) is the Sponsoring Organisation and Registry
Operator for the .Asia Sponsored Generic Top Level Domain. DotAsia is a
not-for-profit, community-based organisation incorporated in Hong Kong. Asia has
developed into a global force in the international commercial, political and
cultural network. The .Asia domain aspires to embrace this dynamism in the Asia
Century to become a nucleus, intersection and breeding ground for Internet activity
and development in the region. To learn more about DotAsia, please visit:
http://www.registry.asia.


Web Site: http://www.registry.asia

Contact Details: Pavan Budhrani
DotAsia Organization
Unit 617, Miramar Tower, 132 Nathan Road, TST, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-6255-5775
Email : pavan@registry.asia