Re: [gnso-vi-feb10] First stab at objectives and a definition of VI

[Stéphane Van Gelder <stephane.vangelder@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'd like to know what other members of the group think of the VI definition.

Milton, on a personal level I'm not on-board with your definition of cross 
ownership at all. I'm OK with the first sentence, but would rather not link CO 
to VI in the definition. If we set separate definitions of VI and CO, why link 
the two in the CO definition.

Once again, what do others think?

Stéphane

Le 6 févr. 2010 à 18:00, Milton L Mueller a écrit :

> 
>> The latest version of the one that has been proposed is:
>> 
>> VI is defined as a business structure in which there is no 
>> separation between the registry operator and the registrar 
>> in relation to a particular gTLD. They are either owner and 
>> operated by the same company or have another contractual 
>> affiliation that covers the specific gTLD, and the domain name 
>> supplier is not required to provide full and equal access to 
>> independent firms to sell names under its gTLD.
>> 
>> Is everyone OK with this?
> 
> I yam. 
> 
> Don't we also need a definition of cross-ownership, just to avoid further 
> confusion about that? 
> 
> Here's a stab at that: 
> "Cross ownership" is defined as the ownership of a controlling share of a 
> registry by a registrar, or vice-versa, while maintaining the contractual and 
> functional separation and equal access arrangements required by ICANN 
> policies and contracts. As long as equal access arrangements are in place, 
> cross-ownership that permits the registrar to sell the names of the 
> cross-owned  TLD registry shall not be considered a form of vertical 
> integration. 
> 
> What about the objectives that were proposed? 
> 
> Objective 1: to set policy and procedures that provide clear direction to 
> ICANN staff and new TLD applicants on whether, and if so under what 
> conditions, contracts for new TLD registries can permit vertical integration 
> or otherwise deviate from standard forms of registry-registrar separation and 
> equal access.
> 
> Objective 2: to examine current gTLD contracts and practices approved by 
> ICANN staff and determine if any of them are outside the current policy 
> framework regarding vertical integration, and, if so make recommendations as 
> to how to respond to these exceptions.
> 
>