[council] Public Comments requested: PRO Cross-Ownership Removal Request

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-26jul13-en.htm
PRO Cross-Ownership Removal Request
Comment / Reply Periods (*)
Comment Open Date: 26 July 2013
Comment Close Date: 16 August 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Reply Open Date: 17 August 2013
Reply Close Date: 8 September 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Important Information Links
Public Comment 
Announcement<https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-26jul13-en.htm>
To Submit Your Comments 
(Forum)<mailto:comments-pro-xo-removal-26jul13@xxxxxxxxx>
View Comments 
Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-pro-xo-removal-26jul13/>
Brief Overview
Originating Organization:
ICANN
Categories/Tags:

 *   Contracted Party Agreements
Purpose (Brief):
ICANN is posting today for public comment the Afilias Limited request to 
removal of the cross-ownership restrictions reflected on the .PRO Registry 
Agreement dated 22 April 2010.
Current Status:
ICANN conducted a competition review in accordance to the process and has 
determined that the request does not raise significant competition issues.
Next Steps:
Following the public comment period, a summary and analysis will be posted, the 
request will be considered by ICANN and the result will be made public.
Staff Contact:
Karla Valente
Email Staff 
Contact<mailto:karla.valente@xxxxxxxxx?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20.PRO%20Cross-Ownership%20Removal%20Request%20public%20comment%20period>
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose:

Afilias Limited requests the removal of the cross-ownership restrictions 
reflected on the .PRO Registry Agreement dated 22 April 2010.

See: 
http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro>

This request is submitted according to the "Process for Handling Requests for 
Removal of Cross-Ownership Restrictions on Operators of Existing gTLDs" adopted 
by the Board on 18 October 2012. See: 
http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership>.

According to the approved process, in order to lift cross-ownership 
restrictions, existing gTLD registry operators could either request an 
amendment to their existing Registry Agreement to remove the cross-ownership 
restrictions or request to transition to the new form of Registry Agreement for 
new gTLDs. Any proposed material amendments to gTLD registry agreements would 
be subject to public comment prior to ICANN approval.
Section II: Background:

The current .PRO agreement dated 22 April 2010 has cross-ownership restrictions

See: 
http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro>

On 18 October 2012 the Board approved the "Process for Handling Requests for 
Removal of Cross-Ownership Restrictions on Operators of Existing gTLDs". See: 
http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership>.

In early 2013 Fundació puntCAT, the registry responsible for .CAT had a similar 
request approved by the Board.
Section III: Document and Resource Links:

 *   Current .PRO Registry Agreement and 
Appendices<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro>
 *   Board Approved 
Process<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership>
 *   Proposed Afilias Limited 
Amendment<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro/proposed-pro-amendment-26jul13-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 48 KB]
 *   Proposed Redlined 
Agreement<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro/proposed-pro-agreement-redline-26jul13-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 94 KB]
Section IV: Additional Information:
None
________________________________

(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to 
be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making 
that takes place once this period lapses.
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://gnso.icann.org