[council] ICANN Reaffirms Commitment to Second Round in New gTLD Program, Seeks Public Comment on Trademark Protections, Moves Forward on Applicant Support Program

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-09feb12-en.htm

ICANN Reaffirms Commitment to Second Round in New gTLD Program, Seeks Public 
Comment on Trademark Protections, and Moves Forward on Applicant Support Program

9 February 2012

On 7 February 2012, the ICANN Board reaffirmed ICANN's commitment to opening a 
second round of applications in the New gTLD Program as expeditiously as 
possible.

ICANN will publish a document describing the work plan required prior to 
initiating a second application window for the New gTLD Program.

It is not possible yet to state a specific date for the second round because of 
the work ICANN has committed to related to the first round. First, the 
applications from the first round must be processed, and the amount of 
applications to be received will not be known until the first-round application 
window ends. In addition, ICANN previously committed to addressing the 
recommendations of the Governmental Advisory Committee requirements for 
assessment of trademark protections and root zone operation as a result of the 
first round.

In furtherance of the resolution, after the publication of the description of 
the work plan, ICANN will continue working with the community to refine that 
work plan.

The full text of the resolution is available on ICANN's website at: 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-07feb12-en.htm

In addition, ICANN is seeking public comment on certain trademark 
protections<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/newgtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm>
 in the New gTLD Program. Some stakeholders recently indicated that there are 
concerns about the perceived need for "defensive" applications at the top 
level, and encouraged ICANN to ensure that the program was launched in a manner 
that protects intellectual property rights. The public comment will help ICANN 
clarify the scope and benefits of the available protections as well as 
understand and respond to specific concerns with them.

Finally, ICANN continues to push forward with its program to provide financial 
and other forms of assistance to qualifying applicants. Having designed an 
Applicant Support 
Program<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/candidate-support> and an 
Applicant Assistance 
Handbook<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/candidate-support#financial-assistance>,
 ICANN is now seeking independent panel 
members<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-03feb12-en.htm> to 
help make financial award decisions. Global diversity and broad sets of 
experiences will be required and ICANN encourages those interested to seek 
additional information.


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