The Registry Operator Code of Conduct is a set of protections for registrants included in Specification 9 of the Base Registry Agreement. The Registry Operator Code of Conduct Exemption is a formal waiver that may be requested by a registry operator for a generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) in which all domain names are registered exclusively for the registry operator's own use or for use by its Affiliates as defined in the Base Registry Agreement, subject to meeting specific criteria and provided the gTLD is not a Closed Generic string. The exemption removes certain registrant protections for the registry operator and its Affiliates, provided that protections for the public interest are otherwise preserved.