[bc-gnso] New gTLD Program Updates

["BC Secretariat" <secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-10jun09-en.htm

New gTLD Program Updates
10 June 2009

A ICANN offers a set of announcements for public discussion as meeting in 
Sydney nears. The announcements include:
New Explanatory Memo for Pre-delegation Testing for New gTLDs
The module 5 of the Draft Applicant Guidebook version 2 available since 
early February describes procedures applicable at the concluding stages of 
the gTLD application process, more specifically, a pre-delegation test 
addressing technical and other requirements the applicant will be asked to 
fulfill.
ICANN is posting today the Pre-Delegation Testing explanatory memoranda 
[PDF, 108K]. This explanatory memo has been incorporated to the following 
currently open public comment forum 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-e-en.htm. The deadline for 
comments is 20 July 2009.

The purpose of the pre-delegation technical test is to verify the applicant 
has met its commitment to establish registry operations in accordance with 
ICANN’s technical and operational criteria described in the Applicant 
Guidebook. The checks are also intended to ensure that the applicant can 
operate the gTLD in a stable and secure manner. There are three sets of 
tests or verification: DNS infrastructure testing and prerequisites, 
registry system testing and prerequisites, and an additional requirement to 
provide for continuity of basic registry operations.
ICANN encourages comments on the interim language provided. The comments 
received will be considered for version 3 of the draft Applicant Guidebook, 
scheduled to be published in September 2009.

IRT Report of Trademark Protection in New gTLDs Public Comment Period 
Extended
The public comments period for the Final Report on Trademark Protection in 
New gTLDs [PDF, 299K] prepared by the Implementation Recommendation Team 
(IRT) has been extended to July 6th, 2009.

Malicious Behavior Overarching Issue
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) has provided a working draft of their 
comprehensive ongoing study on the topic of potential malicious abuse of the 
DNS and new gTLD expansion.  The draft report describes several issues and 
is available for review on the ICANN New gTLD Overarching Issues Wiki.
Recommended New gTLD Sessions during ICANN Sydney Meeting

The ICANN Meeting in Sydney (June 21 – 26) will have several New gTLD 
program sessions. The selection below is a recommendation only and we 
encourage the ICANN community to see the Sydney schedule for additional 
details.

21 June 2009
New gTLD Program Updates
This session will provide an overview on the progress being made on the New 
gTLD Program. There will be an opportunity for public feedback.
Workshop on Registry-Registrar Cross-Ownership

One of the remaining issues to be resolved with regard to the New gTLD 
Applicant Guidebook is what restrictions should be imposed on new gTLD 
operators concerning the ownership or control of registrars. This Workshop 
will focus on potential harms and benefits associated with vertical 
integration of gTLD registries and registrars, and tools ICANN and the 
community could consider to attempt to address the issue. The workshop will 
include presentations from a panel of economists, plus an opportunity for 
comments from interested registries and registrars, other industry 
stakeholders, and the public.

New gTLD Program: Managing a Registry: Best Practices
At this session, few Top-Level Domain (TLD) Registry managers will share 
their experience discussing the practical aspects of managing a TLD 
Registry. This session will cover business, operational and technical 
aspects of day-to-day Registry management. Some of the topics covered will 
be: buy vs build; security and scalability considerations; channel 
management; TLD acceptance issues; IDNs management.

June 24 2009
New gTLD Program – Consultation Session on Trademark Protection & Malicious 
Behavior
This session is designed to discuss with the community two of the four 
overarching issues identified in the New gTLD Program: (a) trademark 
protection; (b) and potential for malicious behavior. This session will be 
divided in two parts: (1) Trademark Protection - a panel of experts will 
present and discuss with the community several proposed mechanisms for 
enhancing protection of intellectual property rights in the New gTLD 
Program; (2) Malicious Behavior – a panel of experts will provide the 
community with an update of work done to identify and mitigate potential 
increases in malicious conduct following the introduction of new gTLDs.

Other New gTLD Related Events
Sydney marks the first of a series of overarching issues consultation 
sessions ICANN staff is planning to conduct in June and July. The four 
overarching issues that were identified in the first two public comment 
periods of the Draft Applicant Guidebook (DAG) are: Trademark Protection; 
Malicious Behavior; Security & Stability; Scale & Demand (the economic 
impact of the new gTLDs).

Upcoming live consultation sessions will be held in New York (July 13) and 
London (July 15).
In addition to the overarching issues consultation sessions described above, 
ICANN will also be hosting live outreach/educational events and webinars to 
offer an introduction about New gTLDs, give up-to date program developments 
and make available relevant ICANN staff for face to face discussions. These 
events are designed in a wide range of formats to address different levels 
of knowledge.
A pre-registrations page for these events will be made available soon. For 
updates, please go to the New gTLD Program page.

Resources:
New gTLD Program: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm
Overarching Issues Wiki: 
https://st.icann.org/new-gtld-overarching-issues/index.cgi?new_gtld_overarching_issues
Sydney Meeting: http://syd.icann.org/

Relevant Open Public Comments:
Trademark Protection (IRT Final Report): 
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-200906.html#irt-report
Revised Excerpts of New gTLD Applicant Guidebook (DAG): 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-e-en.htm

New GTLDs and the Internet
Openness Change Innovation
After years of discussion and thought, new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) 
are being expanded. They will allow for more innovation, choice and change 
to a global Internet presently served by only 21 generic top-level domain 
names. As a not-for profit corporation dedicated to coordinating the 
Internet's addressing system, ICANN is not doing this to add to its revenue. 
An implementation plan is being developed with opportunities for public 
comment.  There will be processes for objections. There has also been 
detailed technical scrutiny to ensure the Internet's stability and security. 
There will be an evaluation fee but it will recover costs only (expenses so 
far, application processing and anticipated legal costs).
Promoting competition and choice is one of the principles upon which ICANN 
was founded. In a world with 1.5 billion Internet users (and growing), 
diversity, choice and innovation are key.  The Internet has supported huge 
increases in choice, innovation and the competition of ideas, and expanding 
new gTLDs is an opportunity for more.
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat