[council] Proposal for a Specification 13 to the ICANN Registry Agreement to Contractually Reflect Certain Limited Aspects of ".Brand" New gTLDs

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/spec13-06dec13-en.htm
Proposal for a Specification 13 to the ICANN Registry Agreement to 
Contractually Reflect Certain Limited Aspects of ".Brand" New gTLDs


Comment / Reply Periods (*)
Comment Open Date: 6 December 2013
Comment Close Date: 9 January 2014 - 23:59 UTC
Reply Open Date: 10 January 2014
Reply Close Date: 31 January 2014 - 23:59 UTC
Important Information Links
Public Comment 
Announcement<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-06dec13-en.htm>
To Submit Your Comments (Forum)<mailto:comments-spec13-06dec13@xxxxxxxxx>
View Comments Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-spec13-06dec13/>
Brief Overview
Originating Organization:
ICANN
Categories/Tags:

 *   Contracted Party Agreements
 *   Legal/Regulatory
 *   Top-Level Domains
Purpose (Brief):

ICANN is posting today for public comment a proposal requested by the Brand 
Registry Group to incorporate a new Specification 13 to the new gTLD Registry 
Agreement, which would be available to a Registry Operator that operates a TLD 
that ICANN determines qualifies as a ".Brand TLD".

The proposed draft of Specification 13 and the concepts reflected therein have 
not been approved by the New gTLD Program Committee of ICANN's Board of 
Directors. ICANN is seeking public comment on all aspects of the proposal.

ICANN is also posting with the proposed draft of Specification 13 a position 
statement of the Brand Registry Group in support of the proposed draft.
Current Status:
Awaiting comments
Next Steps:

ICANN staff will review comments submitted by the community and will provide a 
summary and analysis of these comments to ICANN management and the New gTLD 
Program Committee of ICANN's Board of Directors. ICANN management and the 
Committee will review the feedback as well as the additional research and 
analysis directed to inform its consideration of the proposal.
Staff Contact:
Cyrus Namazi
Email Staff 
Contact<mailto:cyrus.namazi@xxxxxxxxx?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Proposed%20Spec%2013%20public%20comment%20period>
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose:

ICANN is seeking public comment on a proposal requested by the Brand Registry 
Group to incorporate a new Specification 13 for the gTLD Registry Agreement, 
which would be available to a Registry Operator that operates a TLD that ICANN 
determines qualifies as a ".Brand TLD".  Specification 13 affords a .Brand TLD 
certain modifications to the gTLD Registry Agreement.  Stakeholder views are 
invited to help define and consider all aspects of the proposal.  In 
particular, comments would be helpful in regard to the following:

 *   whether it is appropriate to classify certain TLDs as ".Brand TLDs";
 *   whether the definition of ".Brand TLD" is sufficiently narrow to capture 
only what is commonly recognized as a corporate brand;
 *   whether there may be unintended consequences associated with the 
implementation of draft Specification 13;
 *   whether it is appropriate to permit a Registry Operator for a .Brand TLD 
to limit its registrar use to one or more preferred ICANN accredited 
registrar(s); and
 *   whether a two year "cooling off" period prior to re-delegation of the 
.Brand TLD upon expiration or termination of the Registry Agreement is 
appropriate (subject to the limitations provided in the draft Specification).
Section II: Background:

The Brand Registry Group first engaged with ICANN regarding modifications to 
the new gTLD registry agreement to address concerns of their constituents at 
ICANN's Beijing Conference in April 2013. Following the Beijing Conference, 
numerous discussions where held telephonically leading up to both ICANN's 
Durban and Buenos Aires meetings. Following discussions at ICANN's Buenos Aires 
Conference, ICANN staff and the Brand Registry Group agreed that posting a 
draft of Specification 13 would be helpful to facilitate community input and 
discussion. If adopted, it is anticipated that Registry Operators will apply 
for qualification as a ".Brand TLD" prior to executing a Registry Agreement.
Section III: Document and Resource Links:

 *   Draft Specification 
13<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/base-agreement-spec-13-proposed-06dec13-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 80 KB]
 *   Brand Registry Group's supporting 
statement<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/brand-spec-13-statement-06dec13-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 83 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