[council] Continuing to Move New gTLDs Forward

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-26sep10-en.htm

Continuing to Move New gTLDs Forward

26 September 2010

The ICANN Board met in Trondheim Norway on 24-25 September,  focusing 
specifically on new gTLD issues. As ICANN completes preparations for expansion 
of the top-level domain space, the Board is working  to ensure that key issues 
(including competition, consumer protection, security, stability and 
resiliency, malicious abuse issues, and rights protection) will be adequately 
addressed prior to implementation.

The expansion of the top level domain space is intended to promote competition 
and consumer choice, and the work this week will ensure an effective 
application and evaluation process with safeguards to mitigate costs and risks.

The detailed Board discussion was guided by recent community input and provided 
direction in the implementation of trademark protections, the new registry 
agreement terms, measures to mitigate malicious conduct, and ensuring root zone 
stability. The resolutions 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm
indicate that many important issues have been addressed, including trademark 
protection, morality and public order, and vertical integration.

Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush indicated that "The board made considerable 
progress on the remaining issues and has asked staff to prepare additional 
working papers and a modified applicant guidebook for public review prior to 
the upcoming ICANN meeting in Cartagena in December 2010. The meeting results 
represent a key milestone after years of work by the ICANN community as we 
prepare for community discussion and debate in Cartagena."

Reviewing the Board direction, President and CEO Rod Beckstrom stated, "ICANN 
is prepared to implement this important new offering to increase consumer 
choice and to promote competition."


Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://gnso.icann.org