[gnso-vi-feb10] RE: VI definitions from staff

[Milton L Mueller <mueller@xxxxxxx>]

I note that the definition of "vertical integration" has been subdivided into 
two: a broader definition that includes cross ownership or control of firms at 
various levels of production, and then there is a more limited and specific 
term called "vertical integration with exclusivity," which refers to the 
situation where a registry acts as the _only_ registrar for its own TLD. 

This distinction is useful, I propose that we take note of it and adopt it 
consistently in our discussions. One could quibble about the various shades of 
gray between what they define as "cross ownership," "vertical integration" and 
"vertical integration with exclusivity," but as long as we all use the terms 
consistently it doesn't matter. 

--MM
________________________________________
From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf 
Of Mike Zupke [Mike.Zupke@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 6:20 PM
To: vertical integration wg
Subject: [gnso-vi-feb10] VI definitions from staff

Greetings, VI working group members,

As you may be aware, staff was tasked with crafting some definitions of
terms that might be relevant to the discussion of vertical integration concepts
in order to help the GNSO and, in particular, the VI working group, develop VI
policy that is built on common understanding.

We started this exercise with a handful of terms and the list grew as we
continued development of the Draft Applicant Guidebook and followed the
working group's discussions.

Attached you will find a draft list of terms and definitions we thought
would be helpful to the VI WG.  We spent a fair amount of time researching,
debating, and editing the definitions and then sent them to ICANN's
economists as a check on our work.  You will likely notice that these have
been influenced by v4 of the Guidebook.

To be clear, though, we do not view this draft list of definitions as a final,
authoritative glossary for ICANN work related to vertical integration.  We
are aware that some working group members have undertaken independent
efforts to craft definitions and would not want to foreclose that work.
Indeed, to the extent there is divergence among the staff definitions and
others', I'm happy to work with the authors or the larger group to try to
help reconcile those differences.

I hope you find this helpful.  As always, please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Mike Zupke
Registrar Liaison Manager
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers