GNSO Reference Documents

GNSO Reference Documents

1. ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains.
   
   Bylaws for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers: http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm

2. Section 6. POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
   
   http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm#X

   The policy-development procedures to be followed by the GNSO shall be as stated in Annex A to these Bylaws. These procedures may be supplemented or revised in the manner stated in Section 3(4) of this Article.

   Section 2. ORGANIZATION
   
   http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm#X

   The GNSO shall consist of:

   (i) A number of Constituencies, where applicable, organized within
   the Stakeholder Groups as described in Section 5 of this Article;

   (ii) Four Stakeholder Groups organized within Houses as described
   in Section 5 of this Article;

   (iii) Two Houses within the GNSO Council as described in Section 3(8)
   of this Article; and

   (iv) a GNSO Council responsible for managing the policy development
   process of the GNSO, as described in Section 3 of this Article.

   Except as otherwise defined in these Bylaws, the four Stakeholder Groups
   and the Constituencies will be responsible for defining their own charters
   with the approval of their members and of the ICANN Board of Directors.

3. ICANN's Major Agreements and Related Reports http://www.icann.org/general/agreements.htm

   • ccTLD Agreements
   • Registry and Sponsorship Agreements
   • Registry and Sponsors Monthly Reports
   • Registrar Accreditation Agreements/MoUs

   ICANN operates in large part by entering into agreements with various other parties involved in the operation of the Internet. These agreements fall generally into two categories: Transition Agreements and Implementation Agreements.

4. Consensus Policies: http://www.icann.org/general/consensus-policies.htm

   ICANN's agreements with accredited registrars and with gTLD registry operators require compliance with various specifically stated procedures and also with "consensus policies." Sponsors and registry operators of sponsored TLDs may be required to comply with consensus policies in some instances. The following policies are specifically identified as having been adopted as consensus policies by the ICANN Board of Directors as of the dates shown:

   1. Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (adopted by ICANN Board 26 August 1999; form of implementation documents approved 24 October 1999).
   2. Whois Data Reminder Policy (adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 16 June 2003).
   3. Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (effective on 12 November 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 25 April 2003; implementation documents issued 13 July 2004).
   4. Whois Marketing Restriction Policy (effective on 12 November 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004).
   5. Restored Names Accuracy Policy (effective on 12 November 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004).
   6. Expired Domain Deletion Policy (effective on 21 December 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 31 October 2003; implementation documents issued 21 September 2004).