[council] Resolutions from meeting of the new gTLD Program Committee on 10 April 2012

[Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: 
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-new-gtld-10apr12-en.htm

Covering:  
 
 1. Defensive Applications for New gTLDs

 2. GNSO Recommendation for Protection of Red Cross and International Olympic 
Committee Names in New gTLDs

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin



10 April 2012
 


Note: On 10 April 2012, the Board established the New gTLD Program Committee, 
comprised of all voting members of the Board that are not conflicted with 
respect to the New gTLD Program. The Committee was granted all of the powers of 
the Board (subject to the limitations set forth by law, the Articles of 
incorporation, Bylaws or ICANN's Conflicts of Interest Policy) to exercise 
Board-level authority for any and all issues that may arise relating to the New 
gTLD Program. The full scope of the Committee's authority is set forth in its 
charter at http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/new-gtld.


 1. Defensive Applications for New gTLDs


Whereas, the Board approved the New gTLD Program with protections for certain 
interests and rights, and intellectual property rights in particular 
(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-20jun11-en.htm);

Whereas, the Board provided its rationale for approving the New gTLD Program 
with these elements 
(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-20jun11-en.htm);

Whereas, the availability of the objection process and other aspects of the 
program have been actively communicated;

Whereas, ICANN received comment describing an apparent need to submit gTLD 
applications for defensive purposes to protect established legal rights;

Whereas, ICANN responded by establishing a public comment period to seek input 
on the sources of this perception and how it could be addressed 
(http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/new-gtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm);

Whereas, ICANN held a public workshop during ICANN's public meeting in Costa 
Rica to hold a community discussion regarding suggestions raised during the 
comment period, and additional suggestions with participation from the 
community (http://costarica43.icann.org/node/29711);

Whereas the New gTLD Program goals include the protection of established legal 
rights,;

Whereas, a summary and analysis of public comment was performed and the 
discussion in the public workshop was transcribed;

Whereas the sense of the public discussion indicated that trademark protections 
should continue to be discussed and developed for the registration of 
second-level domain names and also indicated that cybersquatting was not likely 
to be a significant issue in the registration of top-level domain names;

Whereas, ICANN is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of the application 
and evaluation process, and of the safeguards put in place to mitigate issues 
involved in the introduction of new gTLDs, following the initial application 
round;

Whereas, the comments indicated that significant concerns about awareness of 
the protections available and that renewed efforts should be undertaken to 
broadly communicate those protections to rights holders;

Resolved (2012.04.10.NG1), the New gTLD Program Committee thanks the community 
for its participation in the discussion of this issue.

Resolved (2012.04.10.NG2), while the New gTLD Program Committee is not 
directing any changes to the Applicant Guidebook to address defensive gTLD 
applications at this time, the New gTLD Program Committee directs staff to 
provide a briefing paper on the topic of defensive registrations at the second 
level and requests the GNSO to consider whether additional work on defensive 
registrations at the second level should be undertaken;

Resolved (2012.04.10.NG3), the New gTLD Program Committee directs staff to 
continue implementing targeted communications about the processes used and 
protections available in the New gTLD Program.


Rationale for Resolutions 2012.04.10.NG1-2012.04.10.NG3

[Rationale to be provided with Minutes.]



2. GNSO Recommendation for Protection of Red Cross and International Olympic 
Committee Names in New gTLDs


Resolved (2012.04.10.NG4), the New gTLD Program Committee acknowledges receipt 
of the GNSO's recommendation on extending certain protections to the Red 
Cross/Red Crescent and the International Olympic Committee names at the top 
level.

Resolved (2012.04.10.NG5), the New gTLD Program Committee chooses to not change 
the Applicant Guidebook at this time.


Rationale for Resolutions 2012.04.10.NG4-2012.04.10.NG5

[Rationale to be provided with Minutes.]