Re: [ga] Wallpapering the WHOIS Comment Forum

[Ross Rader <ross@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On 24-Oct-07, at 9:08 PM, Joop Teernstra wrote:

> At 07:41 a.m. 25/10/2007, you wrote:
>
> > Another orchestrated campaign by the Intellectual
> > Property Community -- see the posts at http://forum.icann.org/ 
> > lists/whois-comments-2007/index.html
>
> The "public comment" synopsis on the RAA also showed a rather large  
> input from the IP lawyers' lobby in the form of clauses that  
> restrict registrants' rights and privacy.
If you are interested in the type of rhetoric that motivates a lawyer  
to post off-topic drivel like that found in the forum (the call for  
comments was on the reports, not on the motions sitting before  
council), at least one of the posts in the forum replaces the  
original INTA call to action. I'd like to personally thank the  
intellectual property community for yet again wasting my time.
From: Claudio Di Gangi, INTA External Relations Manager, Internet &  
Judiciary
[mailto:communications@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 5:50 PM
To: Richard Flynt
Subject: INTA Call to Action: Whois System



International Trademark Association - Representing Trademark Owners  
Since 1878
Dear Member,

As the complexity and size of the Internet grows, the International  
Trademark
Association (INTA) continues to support public policy that promotes
intellectual property as an element of international commerce and  
fair trade.
Today, INTA would like to draw your attention to an Internet policy  
development
that concerns the open access to domain name ownership information:

ICANN, the Internet's rule-making and coordination authority, is  
currently
seeking feedback from Internet stakeholders and their representatives on
whether to change or eliminate the Whois database - the online system  
that
provides free public access to contact and ownership details for all  
generic
Top-Level Domain name registrations (.com, .net, .info, .biz, .org,  
etc.).
What is Whois?
The Whois system is important for trademark owners because it is used  
daily by
law enforcement, businesses and consumers to manage domain names,  
perform due
diligence, protect intellectual property rights, and locate and  
contact the
true owners of problematic web sites.

In many cases, free open access to domain name ownership information  
is a
prerequisite for taking swift legal action that can prevent Internet  
fraud and
other schemes that confuse and deceive the public in the Internet  
marketplace.
What is ICANN doing with Whois?
On October 31, 2007, ICANN's policy advisory body (the Generic Names  
Supporting
Organization (GNSO) Council) will vote on three motions that will  
determine the
future structure of the domain name and Whois system.

Motion 1 proposes a new 'Operational Point of Contact' (OPoC) - with  
undefined
legal responsibilities - to replace the current domain registration  
contacts.
The 'OPoC' proposal also limits the amount of publicly displayed  
domain name
ownership information - data which is often used by consumers, law  
enforcement
and Internet stakeholders to manage, police and protect consumer and
intellectual property rights on the Internet.

Motion 2, advanced and supported by INTA's Internet Committee,  
proposes that
ICANN conduct an objective and comprehensive study on the legitimate  
abuses and
uses of Whois data - before making policy changes that may  
permanently alter
the structure of the domain name and Whois system.

Motion 3 proposes eliminating all contractual obligations which require
registrars to display domain name ownership and contact details,  
effectively
abolishing the entire Whois system for Generic-Top-Level domain names.

How can I let ICANN know that Whois is important to the brand owners I
represent?
INTA urgently requests that you respond to ICANN by October 30, 2007  
with your
opinions on the Whois database and to support adoption of Motion 2 by  
sending
your comments to: whois-comments-2007@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:whois-comments-2007@xxxxxxxxx>

Certainly, specific information about how your company uses Whois and  
why it is
important would be useful to provide in your comment. But if that is not
possible, even a brief statement that you believe Whois is important for
consumers and business - and to help businesses protect their  
consumers online
- and that the GNSO Council should adopt Motion 2 and reject Motions  
1 and 3
would be very helpful. The important thing is to make your voice  
known, and
that you do so in your own words.

Please keep in mind that you must respond to the confirming email you  
will
automatically receive from ICANN, otherwise, your comments may not be  
posted.
Thank you. Should you have any questions or if you require further  
assistance,
please contact me at: +1-212-642-1720 or cdigangi@xxxxxxxx

Sincerely,

Claudio Di Gangi
External Relations Manager, Internet & Judiciary