[bc-gnso] Important announcement -- Defensive Registrations

[Marilyn Cade <marilynscade@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Members
This is a reminder about the announcement regarding the defensive registration 
'issue'.  As several members have contacted me about this, we will want to have 
a discussion with members who face these issues and have first hand experiences 
and concerns.  I will work with Steve DelBianco and other members of the ExComm 
on a schedule and approach, which might be a mini online survey to gather 
information from members.   Concerns about defensive registrations -- their 
burdens, and challenges -- have remained an ongoing concern by members, and 
this is an opportunity to understand the range of those concerns within our own 
membership. 
We of course recognize that individual companies will probably want to 
participate directly in the comment process. 
Marilyn CadeBC Chair

Forum Announcement:Comment Period Opens onDate:6 February 
2012Categories/Tags:Top-Level DomainsPurpose (Brief):The New gTLD Program 
features carefully crafted, new protections for trademark owners and consumers. 
When considering applications for new top-level names, the process is designed 
to protect these important interests through independent objection and dispute 
resolution processes (and other processes). However, as the time of the opening 
of the new gTLD application window drew near, parties stated their perception 
that they will need to submit "defensive" gTLD applications as a means to 
protect their trademarks. ICANN is seeking public comment on the sources of 
this perception and how it can be addressed.Public Comment Box 
Link:http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/newgtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm