[gnso-ppsc-wg] Your feedback requested - section 6.2.3.4. SOI and DOI

[Marika Konings <marika.konings@xxxxxxxxx>]

6.2.3.4.        Statements of Interest (SOI) and Disclosure of Interest [As 
developed by the OSC GNSO Operations Work Team. To be cross-referenced and 
updated once Operations Work Team has finalized the language]

This section will contain guidelines relating to the elements and content of 
SOIs that each member of the WG is required to supply to the team. The 
following template has been developed by the OSC GNSO Operations Work Team 
(version April 2010):


 1.  Please identify your current employer(s) and position(s).
 2.  Please identify your declared country of residence, which may be the 
country to which you pay taxes.
 3.  Please identify the type(s) of work performed at #1 above.
 4.  Please identify any ownerships, investment interests, or compensation 
arrangements by answering the following three questions:   (i) Do you have any 
ownership or investment interest, excluding ownership of a de minimis number of 
shares in a publicly traded company, in any entity with which ICANN has a 
transaction, contract, or other arrangement (e.g. Registries, Registrars, 
Consultants, etc.)?  Please answer “yes” or “no.”  If the answer is “yes,” 
please provide the name of each entity for which such an interest exists.   
(ii) Do you have a compensation arrangement with any entity or individual with 
which ICANN has a transaction, contract, or other arrangement (e.g. does the 
Relevant Party have a consulting arrangement with a Registrar)?  Please answer 
“yes” or “no.”  If the answer is “yes,” please provide the name of each entity 
for which such an arrangement exists.  (iii) Do you have potential ownership or 
investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or 
individual with which ICANN is negotiating a transaction, contract, or other 
arrangement?  Please answer “yes” or “no.”  If the answer is “yes,” please 
provide the name of each entity for which such a potential ownership, interest, 
or arrangement exists.
 5.  Are you participating in the GNSO policy process as a representative of 
any individual or entity, whether paid or unpaid?  Please answer “yes” or “no.” 
 If the answer is “yes,” please provide the name of the represented individual 
or entity.
 6.  Please identify any other relevant arrangements, interests, or benefits as 
requested in the following three questions:   (iv) Do you have any type of 
commercial or non-commercial interest in ICANN GNSO policy development 
processes and outcomes?  Please answer “yes” or “no.”  If the answer is “yes,” 
please describe the commercial or non-commercial interest in ICANN GNSO policy 
development processes and outcomes.  (v) Are there any arrangements/agreements 
between you and any other group, constituency or person(s) regarding your 
participation as a work team member?  Please answer “yes” or “no.”  If the 
answer is “yes,” please describe the arrangements/agreements and the name of 
the group, constituency, or person(s).   (vi) Do you receive any tangible or 
intangible benefit from participation in ICANN GNSO policy development 
processes and outcomes?  For example, if you are an academic or NGO and use 
your position to advance your ability to participate, this relationship should 
be disclosed in the Statement of Interest just as should employment by a 
contracted party or a business relationship with a non-contracted party that 
has an interest in policy outcomes.  Please answer “yes” or “no.”  If the 
answer is “yes,” please describe the tangible or intangible benefits.

Disclosure of Interest   A Relevant Party shall provide a Disclosure of 
Interest setting forth any direct or indirect interests that may affect a 
Relevant Party’s judgment on an issue that is under review, consideration, or 
discussion. Additional requirements that should be considered by the chartering 
organization include where SOIs are to be submitted/posted, indication that 
only one SOI is needed per individual, and important characteristics of SOIs 
such as being complete and current. It should be made clear that WG 
participants are expected to update their SOI during the course of a WG if 
there are any significant changes.  Further guidance is provided in section 
2.1.2 of the GNSO Working Group Guidelines on how to deal with any participant 
that does not provide an SOI despite multiple requests and reminders.

________________________________
Comments:

CG: Under Disclosure of Interest, there is reference to “the Working Groups 
Operating Model Guidebook”. Is that referring to this document or to some other 
document. It would be helpful to clarify.

INTA: The difference between the “Statement of Interest” and “Disclosure of 
Interest” is not entirely clear (even after reviewing footnotes 1 and 2). To 
avoid confusion, the Committee recommends:

· That these terms either be combined into a single term and concept, or the 
distinction between them should be made more clear throughout (perhaps through 
eliminating the use of the word “interest” in both labels, which is confusing 
given that the intended meaning of the word is different in each context).

· some additional information should be required from potential WG members in 
this regard, including disclosure of other committees, organizations, working 
groups, etc. that the prospective member serves on (or has served on) within 
the same field, as well as any relevant publications that the person has 
authored or been involved in.

· in the “Disclosure of Interest” section, specifically requesting information 
about any interests that could present, or give the appearance of presenting, a 
conflict of interest in connection with the member’s work as part of the 
Working Group, and possibly provide some examples.

· specifying consequences of a member’s failing to provide a complete or 
accurate disclosure.