ICANN/GNSO GNSO Email List Archives

[ga]


<<< Chronological Index >>>    <<< Thread Index >>>

[ga] ICANN presents misleading blackline comparison document regarding pricing?

  • To: ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Subject: [ga] ICANN presents misleading blackline comparison document regarding pricing?
  • From: George Kirikos <gkirikos@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 06:20:51 -0800 (PST)

Hi folks,

I noticed ICANN posted a note today extending the comments deadline for
new gTLDs, and also posting a couple of documents, see:

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-03dec08-en.htm

I've attached a copy of the second PDF to this email, in case the one
posted by ICANN should change.

One of the major concerns of the new draft contracts has been the
elimination of pricing controls, i.e. section 7.3 of the 2005-2007 gTLD
agreement, see for example page 12 of:

http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/draft-expanded-summary-changes-02dec08-en.pdf

"Price controls have been removed for 2008 in favor of the transparent
pricing model outlined above."

Now, take a look at the annotated "blackline" comparison document that
I've attached, which is what they've posted at:

http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/draft-agreement-annotated-comparison-03dec08-en.pdf

Instead of section 7.3 being blacklined (say around page 22 or 23),
they've removed it entirely, misleading people into thinking that 7.3
didn't exist in the past and that a major change has not been proposed!
You can see 7.3 in the current .biz agreement, for example, at:

http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agreements/biz/registry-agmt-08dec06.htm

I cannot imagine why they would remove it entirely from the annotation
document, instead of blacklining it like every other section. This
either goes to pure incompetence, or ICANN intentionally presenting
misleading documents to the community in order to avoid debate on an
important change. 

This is the same ICANN staff who posted a demonstrably false
description about section 7.3 previously as noted at:

http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/ga-200709/msg02151.html

"ICANN's unsponsored gTLD registry agreements have not included price
controls."

and then simply made a change to an already posted document directly:

http://blog.icann.org/?p=380

"Update: I?ve just been told that our first correction is in. George
Kirikos has noticed a discrepancy on the issue of price controls on
previous new gTLDs, so we have added a clarifying note."

without archiving the prior version. This brings up the issue as to
whether any other ICANN documents have been changed in a stealth
manner, so that a document read on Day 1 might not be identical to one
read some time later. 

This is the same ICANN staff that wants to be able to amend contracts
without public comment and scrutiny -- see comment F.11 at

http://forum.icann.org/lists/gtld-guide/msg00026.html

ICANN's Board needs to investigate why this happened, and hold the
relevant staff accountable for this outrage. This is simply
unacceptable behaviour to present such a misleading document,
especially on a sensitive topic that ICANN is certainly aware has the
attention of many in the community.

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.kirikos.com/

Attachment: draft-agreement-annotated-comparison-03dec08-en.pdf
Description: 3465865143-draft-agreement-annotated-comparison-03dec08-en.pdf



<<< Chronological Index >>>    <<< Thread Index >>>