[bc-gnso] eighty-seven-major-national-and-international-business-associations-and-companies-join-with-ana-forming-the-coalition-for-responsible-internet-domain-oversight-crido-to-oppose-icanns-top-level-domain-expansion-program

[martinsutton@xxxxxxxx]

For information:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eighty-seven-major-national-and-international-business-associations-and-companies-join-with-ana-forming-the-coalition-for-responsible-internet-domain-oversight-crido-to-oppose-icanns-top-level-domain-expansion-program-133610748.html

New York, NY ? November 10, 2011 ? Eighty-seven major national and 
international business associations and companies have joined forces with 
the ANA (Association of National Advertisers), forming the Coalition for 
Responsible Internet Domain Oversight (CRIDO) to oppose the rollout of 
ICANN?s top-level domain expansion program. Among the many influential 
members of CRIDO are the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National 
Association of Manufacturers, the American Society of Association 
Executives, the National Restaurant Association, the Intellectual Property 
Owners Association, the American Council of Life Insurers, the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce, and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). The 
WFA represents a global network of 51 advertiser associations representing 
some 90 percent of global marketing communications spending, equivalent to 
$700 billion annually.
On behalf of its many constituencies and industries, CRIDO is committed to 
aggressively fighting ICANN?s proposed program, citing its deeply flawed 
justification, excessive cost and harm to brand owners, likelihood of 
predatory cyber harm to consumers and failure to act in the public 
interest, a core requirement of its commitment to the U.S. Department of 
Commerce.
The proposed ICANN program would permit applicants to claim virtually any 
word, generic or branded, as an Internet top-level domain. Top-Level 
Domains are everything to the right of the dot, such as .com and .org. In 
the first year alone, the ICANN plan would allow hundreds of new Top-Level 
Domains, and thousands in the future. This would strongly pressure brand 
owners at every level of business including small businesses, consumers, 
NGOs, charities and foundations to defensively buy and protect new 
top-level domains.
?This unprecedented, united opposition to ICANN?s top-level domain 
expansion program clearly demonstrates the enormity of the dissatisfaction 
across the Internet stakeholder community,? said Bob Liodice, president 
and CEO of the ANA. ?The major global industries represented by CRIDO 
foresee immense damage to their constituents, consumers and the economy. 
We implore ICANN to discontinue its efforts to roll out this 
ill-conceived, unwanted and destructive program.?
If the ICANN program proceeds, CRIDO firmly believes, the loss of trust in 
Internet transactions will be substantial. In addition, the for profit and 
non-profit brand community will suffer from billions of dollars in 
unnecessary expenditures ? money that could be better invested in product 
improvements, capital expenditures and job creation.
?The World Federation of Advertisers and its members strongly urge ICANN 
to abandon its top-level domain program in its current form and proceed in 
a manner that suitably acknowledges the legitimate interests of 
client-side marketers and brand owners across the globe,? said Stephan 
Loerke, managing director, WFA. WFA?s members represent advertising 
associations in all regions of the world, including the Association of 
Canadian Advertisers, the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, the 
Russian Association of Advertisers, the Advertisers Association of Turkey, 
the Indian Society of Advertisers, the Japan Advertisers Association, and 
the China Association of National Advertisers.
At the recent ANA Masters of Marketing Annual Conference, attended by more 
than 1,700 marketers, Liodice announced that the Association?s Board voted 
unanimously to fight ICANN?s top-level domain expansion program. He also 
urged attendees to rally support from additional trade associations in 
their industry sectors, creating a massive groundswell of opposition to 
ICANN?s program before it causes irreparable damage. At the meeting, 
several hundred attendees signed petitions personally opposing ICANN?s 
proposal. The petitions will be circulated at upcoming conferences and 
events to garner support from even more members.
To date, the following 47 associations have joined CRIDO and signed a 
petition that will be sent to the DOC that publicly states their 
opposition to the proposed ICANN program:


AAF-Amarillo 
AAF-Dallas 
AAF-Fort Worth 
AAF Hampton Roads 
AdClub Cincinnati 
American Advertising Federation (AAF) 
American Advertising Federation of Des Moines 
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) 
American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) 
American Beverage Association (ABA) 
American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) 
American Health Care Association (AHCA) 
American Insurance Association (AIA) 
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) 
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 
Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA) 
Association of National Advertisers (ANA) 
Austin Advertising Federation 
Boise Advertising Federation 
Cable Advertising Bureau (CAB) 
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) 
Direct Marketing Association (DMA) 
European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) 
European Publishers Council (EPC) 

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) 
Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) 
Idaho Advertising Federation 
Idaho Falls Advertising Federation 
Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) 
Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) 
IAB Europe 
Lewis-Clark Valley Advertising Federation 
Magic Valley Advertising Federation 
Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) 
MPA - the Association of Magazine Media 
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 
National Confectioners Association (NCA) 
National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) 
National Restaurant Association (NRA) 
Pocatello Advertising Federation 
Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) 
Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) 
Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) 
Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 
World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) which includes 50 independent 
federations throughout the world
To date, the following 40 companies have joined CRIDO and signed a 
petition that will be sent to the DOC that publicly states their 
opposition to the proposed ICANN program:


Acxiom 
Adobe Systems Incorporated 
Allstate Insurance Company 
American Express 
Brinker International 
Burger King Corporation 
The Coca-Cola Company 
Combe Incorporated 
ConAgra Foods 
Costco Wholesale Corporation 
Darden Restaurants, Inc. 
Dell Inc. 
Dunkin Brands, Inc. 
Educational Testing Service (ETS) 
Fidelity Investments 
Ford Motor Company 
General Electric Company 
Hack Creative 
Hewlett-Packard Company 
Hunter Douglas NA 

J.C. Penney Company, Inc. 
Johnson & Johnson 
Kellogg Company 
La Quinta 
Liberty Mutual 
MillerCoors 
Money Mailer of Amarillo 
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company 
Neon Sun Tanning Salon 
Nestlé USA 
ORCI 
OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC 
Papa John's 
Procter & Gamble 
Publicis Groupe 
Pulte Group 
Samsung 
US Bank 
Vanguard 
Verge 



Martin C SUTTON 
Group Risk 
Manager, Group Fraud Risk and Intelligence | HSBC HOLDINGS PLC HGHQ
Group Security & Fraud Risk
8 Canada Square,Canary Wharf,London,E14 5HQ,United Kingdom
________________________________________________________________

Phone.     +44 (0)20 7991 8074 / 7991 8074
Mobile.     +44 (0) 7774556680
Email.       martinsutton@xxxxxxxx
________________________________________________________________

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HSBC Holdings plc
Registered Office: 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, United Kingdom
Registered in England number 617987
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************************************************************
HSBC Holdings plc
Registered Office: 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, United Kingdom
Registered in England number 617987
************************************************************


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