[council] Preliminary report for meeting of the new gTLD committee on 26 March 2013

[Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All,

Further to the posting of the resolution regarding the contract with IBM for 
the trademark clearinghouse, ICANN has now published a preliminary report for 
the meeting held on 26 March 2013.

From:  
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/prelim-report-new-gtld-26mar13-en.htm

 
 1.    Approval to Enter Agreement with IBM for Trademark Clearinghouse

Due to a potential for conflict of interest, Thomas Narten was not present for 
the deliberation of this item.

The Committee received an update on the development of the Trademark 
Clearinghouse as it has been divided into two functions, one to be performed by 
Deloitte and the other by IBM, which will perform the sunrise and claims work. 
The Committee also received some detail on the negotiated costs for the IBM 
work. Staff confirmed that an RFP had been issued prior to the selection of the 
Trademark Clearinghouse providers.

The Committee then took the following action:

Whereas, ICANN and IBM have negotiated in good faith the terms for a proposed 
statement of work for operation of the Sunrise and Trademark Claims services 
offered by the Trademark Clearinghouse.

Whereas, the New gTLD Program Committee has reviewed the terms of the proposed 
Statement of Work for ICANN.

Whereas, approval is required to commit ICANN funds in the amount of USD 4 
million.

Whereas, execution of the agreement enables continuation of the technical build 
out to support these services for the New gTLD Program.

Resolved (2013.03.26.NG01), the New gTLD Program Committee authorizes the 
President and CEO to enter into the proposed agreement with IBM.

Ten members of the Committee voted in favor of the Resolution. Two members of 
the Committee were unavailable to vote. The resolution carried.


2.   Protections for Names of IGOs

The Committee received an update on the status of work regarding the 
establishment of protections of names of IGOs within the first round of the New 
gTLD Program, including a brief discussion of the advice from the GAC, issues 
relating to the protection of common acronyms that are also acronyms of IGOs, 
and the creation of a ongoing mechanisms that may need to be put in place to 
address the GAC advice.  The Committee agreed that further briefing was 
necessary, and that it would have a broader discussion of this issue at its 
meeting during ICANN's Beijing meeting.


3.  "Closed" Generics

The Committee briefly discussed the issue of "closed" generics and received an 
update on the work that was requested from staff on this issue, as well as the 
results of the public comment forum.  The Committee agreed that further 
discussion on this topic would be necessary at its meeting during ICANN's 
Beijing meeting.  The Committee also requested that this topic be on the agenda 
for the Public Forum in Beijing.


4.  Update on Registrar Accreditation Agreement Negotiations and the Registry 
Agreement

The Committee received an update on the status of the RAA negotiations as well 
as the status of the Registry Agreement after ICANN posted a version for public 
comment on 5 February 2013.   The President and CEO provided a brief summary of 
the public comments on the Registry Agreement.   The Committee also briefly 
discussed the Board-approved amendment process as well as proposed changes to 
that process to respond to community concern.

5.   Any Other Business

The Committee received a brief update from the President and CEO on the work 
towards a DNS summit in New York City on 23 April 2013, where the work of 
taskforces arising out of the CEO Roundtables will be progressed, and, if 
available and appropriate, a signing ceremony will take place regarding the new 
Registrant Rights and Responsibilities document within the RAA.  The Committee 
also received a brief update on the status of the Public Interest Commitments 
documents that were submitted by applicants.