[CCWG-ACCT] Nomenclature re "Empowered Community": ICANN Board comments - Recommendation 3 - Fundamental Bylaws

Nigel Roberts nigel at channelisles.net
Thu Jan 28 00:26:48 UTC 2016


Like us all, it has feet of clay.

On 27/01/16 20:56, Greg Shatan wrote:
> Jordan,
>
> Succinct and accurate.  Thank you.
>
> I will just emphasize and reiterate one part of your message:  The
> Empowered Community "has all the powers we will give it through the
> ICANN bylaws" including the power to appoint and remove directors.
> Since this last power is defined by California statute as the
> "designator" right, we have been calling the "Empowered Community" the
> "Sole Designator," and vice versa.
>
> If one wants to see the "powers" of the Empowered Community/Sole
> Designator Entity (ECSDE?) one just needs to look at the community
> powers in our proposal.  Where the community comes together (more or
> less) as one, that's the ECSDE.
>
> Of course, we should come up with a better name for this and use only
> one name rather than two, which has sowed confusion.  One suggestion:
>   Good Old Legal Empowerment Mechanism (GOLEM).
>
> I feel this is all clear.
>
> Greg
>
> On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 3:31 PM, Jordan Carter <jordan at internetnz.net.nz
> <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>> wrote:
>
>     Dear all, dear Kavouss
>
>     I don't feel any questions on my part are missing.
>
>     I am clear and I think from this whole thread, it is clear to
>     everyone that there is one entity - the Empowered Community.  It is
>     established as an unincorporated association, and it has all the
>     powers we will give it through the ICANN bylaws. One of those powers
>     is appointment and removal of directors. It can back those powers up
>     in Court if need be because it is recognised as a Designator under
>     the law of California.
>
>     So: the powers are set out in the bylaws as per our report. The
>     single entity is the Empowered Community. It is the Sole Designator.
>
>     I'm happy and don't need any legal input, and my reading is that we
>     are all on the same page.
>
>
>     bests
>     Jordan
>
>
>     On 28 January 2016 at 03:44, Kavouss Arasteh
>     <kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com <mailto:kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>         Dear Holly
>         No ,you have not said any thingabout the claim of Some people
>         providing all and every power for the " Empowred Community"/"
>         Sole Designator " versus what Bruce said and versus what Jordan
>         said ( with which I fuklly agreed ) .
>         You said the following
>         Quote
>         "/does not adequately describe the other important roles for the
>         new entity, which extend well beyond the rights given to
>         designators by California corporate law/"
>         Unquote
>         The wexpression / part of what you have said  " which extend
>         well beyond the rights given to designators by California
>         corporate law"
>         This portion is totally vague and does not any thing as requested
>         Pls kindly and specifically , if you wish and if you respect me
>         what is the role, responsibilities and authorities of the  "
>         *Empowred Community"/" Sole Designator " in regard *with what
>         contained in the Article of incorporation, and proposed Bylaws.
>         As you have noted the views of ICANN is ,for instance, right of
>         ispection is reserved for the COMMUNITY AND NOT the Sole
>         designtor . See read ICANN Comments ( Bruce as well ), Grec's
>         Comments and Jordan Comments
>         Regards
>         Kavouss
>
>         2016-01-27 15:20 GMT+01:00 Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com
>         <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>>:
>
>             Hello Kavous,
>
>             I don't understand what other study is required in this. The
>             lawyers have provided the clarification required(indicating
>             theroles and the relevant vehicles to exercise them) and if
>             the 3 you mentioned have a different opinion then they would
>             have indicated it (I note that Greg already acknowledged the
>             response from legal).
>
>             I don't think there is need(neither is it economical) to
>             further utilise legal hours on this unless you specifically
>             indicate what area is not clear to you as a person (which is
>             yet to be explained).
>
>             Regards
>
>             On 27 Jan 2016 14:58, "Kavouss Arasteh"
>             <kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com
>             <mailto:kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>                 Dear Holly
>                 Dear  Rosemary
>                 Thank you very much for definition
>                 However, the problem that was raised was not the
>                 definition but the scope of responsibility and mandate
>                 There were three options
>                 View one; From Bruce
>                 View Two  FromGrec
>                 View three;From Jordan
>                 Please kindly carefully study these three and comment in
>                 favour of one or other or a combination of those three.
>                 The three designator came first from you in APRIL 2015
>                 tHE eMPOWERED cOMMUNITY CASE FROM THE ccwg discussion.
>                 I agree that the latter is more appropriate but the
>                 problem raised was different as described above.
>                 Either you wish to reply or not but please kindly reply
>                 to the question raised
>                 Regards
>                 Kavouss
>
>                 2016-01-27 6:53 GMT+01:00 Seun Ojedeji
>                 <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>>:
>
>                     Thanks a lot Rosemary that answers my question
>                     perfectly.
>
>                     Regards
>
>                     On 27 Jan 2016 6:47 a.m., "Rosemary E. Fei"
>                     <rfei at adlercolvin.com <mailto:rfei at adlercolvin.com>>
>                     wrote:
>
>                         Dear Sean and all:____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         You are correct.  The power to designate (and
>                         correspondingly to remove) directors is one of
>                         the powers that will be given to the Empowered
>                         Community in the Bylaws. You could also say that
>                         acting as ICANN’s “sole designator” is one of
>                         the Empowered Community’s roles in the proposed
>                         accountability structure, along with other roles
>                         and powers that will also be given to the
>                         Empowered Community in the Bylaws. ____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         The Empowered Community could be given the other
>                         powers (except the removal right) without giving
>                         it the power to designate directors – those
>                         other powers can legally be given to any third
>                         party, not just one that holds designator
>                         powers.____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         I hope that answers your question.____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         Rosemary____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         *From:*Seun Ojedeji
>                         [mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com
>                         <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>]
>                         *Sent:* Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:41 PM
>                         *To:* Holly Gregory
>                         *Cc:* Thomas Rickert; ACCT-Staff; ICANN-Adler;
>                         Sidley ICANN CCWG;
>                         accountability-cross-community at icann.org
>                         <mailto:accountability-cross-community at icann.org>;
>                         León Felipe Sánchez Ambía; Mathieu Weill
>                         *Subject:* Re: [CCWG-ACCT] Nomenclature re
>                         "Empowered Community": ICANN Board comments -
>                         Recommendation 3 - Fundamental Bylaws____
>
>                         __ __
>
>                         Thank you Holly for the clarification. This has
>                         been my understanding as well.____
>
>                         One other thing that I would appreciate if
>                         clarified is to know whether the "empowered
>                         community" is able to carry out the other roles
>                         (like approval of bylaws et all) because it is
>                         the designator or just because it is the
>                         unincorporated entity setup as the third party
>                         to perform those roles in the bylaw.____
>
>                         In other words the unincorporated entity doubles
>                         as both the designator (with the power as
>                         described under California law) and the
>                         "enhanced community" (with the other powers as
>                         described in the bylaw).____
>
>                         Regards____
>
>                         On 26 Jan 2016 9:38 p.m., "Gregory, Holly"
>                         <holly.gregory at sidley.com
>                         <mailto:holly.gregory at sidley.com>> wrote:____
>
>                         Dear CCWG-ACCT Co-Chairs, Members, Participants
>                         and Staff, ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         We have been monitoring the recent discussion on
>                         the CCWG-ACCT listserv about the use of the
>                         terms “community”, “Empowered Community”, and
>                         “Sole Designator” in the draft Proposal, and we
>                         wish to share our understanding of these terms.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         We agree that the word “community” as used in
>                         the draft Proposal encompasses not only ICANN’s
>                         Board and all of its SOs and ACs and their
>                         individual members, but also those who
>                         participate in ICANN meetings and processes, as
>                         explained by Bruce Tonkin in his January 24
>                         email.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         “Empowered Community” is the name to be given to
>                         an unincorporated association to be created in
>                         ICANN’s Bylaws.  This new entity has also been
>                         described as the “Sole Designator,” but that
>                         term -- which arose from the new entity’s
>                         function as ICANN’s sole designator -- does not
>                         adequately describe the other important roles
>                         for the new entity, which extend well beyond the
>                         rights given to designators by California
>                         corporate law.  Therefore,  the “Empowered
>                         Community” is a more appropriate reference, and
>                         it has been used interchangeably with “Sole
>                         Designator” to date. ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         As a global final edit, we recommend using
>                         “Empowered Community” consistently to refer to
>                         the new legal entity, after the first discussion
>                         of the sole designator concept. ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Kind regards, ____
>
>                         Hlly and Rosemary____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         *HOLLY**GREGORY*
>                         Partner
>
>                         *Sidley Austin LLP**
>                         *+1 212 839 5853 <tel:%2B1%20212%20839%205853>
>                         holly.gregory at sidley.com
>                         <mailto:holly.gregory at sidley.com>____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         *From:*accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>                         <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org>
>                         [mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>                         <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org>]
>                         *On Behalf Of *Greg Shatan
>                         *Sent:* Monday, January 25, 2016 11:42 PM
>                         *To:* Jordan Carter
>                         *Cc:* accountability-cross-community at icann.org
>                         <mailto:accountability-cross-community at icann.org>
>                         *Subject:* Re: [CCWG-ACCT] ICANN Board comments
>                         - Recommendation 3 - Fundamental Bylaws____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Recommendation 1 states:____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         . The entity created using the Sole Designator
>                         model will be referred to as the “Empowered
>                         Community.”____
>
>                         (Summary, Page 1, bullet point 3).____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         In other words the Sole Designator is the
>                         Empowered Community, and vice versa.  You are
>                         introducing a dichotomy where none exists.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Greg____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 5:39 PM, Jordan Carter
>                         <jordan at internetnz.net.nz
>                         <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>> wrote:____
>
>                         This isn't quite right - as far as I am aware
>                         the entity that is the Sole Designator will have
>                         the right to appoint and remove directors, and
>                         be the 'third party' that can approve changes to
>                         Icann fundamental bylaws or block changes to
>                         Icann standard bylaws.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         I'm not sure this is a revelation of any sort,
>                         or causes any confusion at all. These powers
>                         along with all the others will be set out in the
>                         bylaws, as has been the case all along. The only
>                         distinguishing feature is that the legislation
>                         in California gives designators the director
>                         rights, and gives the right of the articles /
>                         bylaws to include third party approvals.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Even if people are confused about this, there is
>                         no problem in substance to resolve.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Cheers____
>
>                         Jordan ____
>
>
>
>                         On Monday, 25 January 2016, Seun Ojedeji
>                         <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com
>                         <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>> wrote:____
>
>                         Hi Greg,____
>
>                         I don't think we are in disagreement in the
>                         substance of all these. It's just the naming we
>                         are in disagreement upon and I am still of the
>                         opinion that a designator only has the statutory
>                         power to remove/add board members. ____
>
>                         All other powers/process we have managed to put
>                         in the bylaw may need to be called/named
>                         something else as they are not made possible
>                         because of the designator but rather because of
>                         the fact that they are now written in the bylaw
>                         and the board normally would want to respect
>                         such a document.____
>
>                         In anycase, unless there is any other change you
>                         think has been proposed other than giving
>                         inspection rights to the community (which you
>                         and I are in agreement) that affects the current
>                         proposal,  I don't see any reason to still
>                         consider this open as such.____
>
>                         Regards____
>
>                         On 24 Jan 2016 18:02, "Greg Shatan"
>                         <gregshatanipc at gmail.com
>                         <mailto:gregshatanipc at gmail.com>> wrote:____
>
>                         Seun,____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         You misunderstand me.  The Designator does more
>                         than "enforce" powers.  Under our proposal, the
>                         designator is also the vehicle for
>                         _exercising_ a number of the powers (e.g.,
>                         approving/rejecting bylaws).  The exercise of
>                         the new powers by the designator will be a much
>                         more common occurrence than the enforcement of
>                         those powers by removing directors.  I
>                         anticipate the latter will rarely (if ever)
>                         occur, though the fact it can occur is part of
>                         our accountability framework.  There are other
>                         reasons for the Board to comply with the
>                         community's exercise of its powers, aside from
>                         sheer terror at being removed.  For one thing,
>                         these powers are enshrined in the bylaws, and
>                         the Board (like any Board) will not take the
>                         prospect of violating our Bylaws lightly.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         We have had a tendency to overemphasize the
>                         enforcement end of things, and I think this is
>                         one more action in that vein.  Let's try to
>                         avoid that.  Just like our proposal is about far
>                         more than "enforcement," so is the Single
>                         Designator.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         So, no, your statement did not "close this
>                         particular item."  Rather, it demonstrates
>                         exactly why this item is not really closed.____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         Greg____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         On Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 10:48 AM, Seun Ojedeji
>                         <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com
>                         <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>> wrote:____
>
>                         On 24 Jan 2016 16:15, "Greg Shatan"
>                         <gregshatanipc at gmail.com
>                         <mailto:gregshatanipc at gmail.com>> wrote:
>                          >
>                          > I agree with the result the Board came to (at
>                         least in part), but not the reasoning.  Each SO
>                         or AC should have the right to inspect.
>                         However, the role of the Designator is not
>                         merely to "add or remove Board members." The
>                         Designator plays a critical role in the exercise
>                         of several of the powers, in addition to its
>                         role in enforcing those powers via director
>                         removal.
>                          >
>                         SO: I guess Bruce was rightly mentioning the
>                         powers of the designator. I believe we we will
>                         only be getting those powers enforced as a
>                         result of the "add/remove" power of the
>                         designator. ____
>
>                         So in summary we don't get enforcement of the
>                         various powers because it's a role of the
>                         designator but on the basis that the designator
>                         may use its only statutory power, which is to
>                         add/remove board members.____
>
>                         I generally agree with the result and would have
>                         even preferred that a threshold be required for
>                         inspection. However, on the basis that each
>                         SO/AC may need access to certain information to
>                         make informed/independent decisions, it makes
>                         sense to allow such right to each SO/AC.____
>
>                         Hopefully this close this particular item.____
>
>                         Regards____
>
>                            on Recommendation 1.
>                          >>
>                          >> Just to provide a little more context in
>                         response to questions on the list.
>                          >>
>                          >> The role of the designator is to add or
>                         remove Board directors.   This role is
>                         enforceable under California law.
>                          >>
>                          >> The inspection right is a right for the ACs
>                         and SOs.   An AC or SO can exercise this right
>                         independently of the legal entity that will be
>                         the sole designator.     If ICANN doesn't
>                         respond to an appropriate request from an SO or
>                         AC, it would be in breach of its bylaws.   The
>                         community can then use the IRP to get a binding
>                         decision.    In the unlikely event that the
>                         Board does not comply with the outcome of the
>                         IRP decision, then the designator has the power
>                         to remove Board members.
>                          >>
>                          >> In the bylaws we want to make sure that we
>                         don't confuse the role of the designator (add or
>                         remove Board members) with the various roles of
>                         the SO and ACs in the bylaws.   The bylaws are
>                         primarily enforced by the IRP, and then the
>                         designator (via removal of Board directors) if
>                         the IRP is not complied with, and then the
>                         courts if the decision of the designator is not
>                         complied with.   This is a clear escalation path
>                         that applies to all bylaws.
>                          >>
>                          >> Regards,
>                          >> Bruce Tonkin
>                          >>
>                          >> _______________________________________________
>                          >> Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>                          >> Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>                         <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>                          >>
>                         https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>                         <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mm.icann.org_mailman_listinfo_accountability-2Dcross-2Dcommunity&d=CwMFaQ&c=Od00qP2XTg0tXf_H69-T2w&r=1-1w8mU_eFprE2Nn9QnYf01XIV88MOwkXwHYEbF2Y_8&m=du2OD2nYZAU6l2XqEbv_LKsFVqwjXyksiXMKhZ3VDQk&s=v4A3ZwzM9FERJEYcFy5L5NNJvUY3v00O8niOIrVLuSg&e=>
>                          >
>                          >
>                          >
>                          > _______________________________________________
>                          > Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>                          > Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>                         <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>                          >
>                         https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>                         <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mm.icann.org_mailman_listinfo_accountability-2Dcross-2Dcommunity&d=CwMFaQ&c=Od00qP2XTg0tXf_H69-T2w&r=1-1w8mU_eFprE2Nn9QnYf01XIV88MOwkXwHYEbF2Y_8&m=du2OD2nYZAU6l2XqEbv_LKsFVqwjXyksiXMKhZ3VDQk&s=v4A3ZwzM9FERJEYcFy5L5NNJvUY3v00O8niOIrVLuSg&e=>
>                          >____
>
>                         ____
>
>
>
>                         --
>                         Jordan Carter
>                         Chief Executive, InternetNZ____
>
>                         +64-21-442-649 <tel:%2B64-21-442-649> |
>                         jordan at internetnz.net.nz
>                         <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>____
>
>                         Sent on the run, apologies for brevity____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         ____
>
>                         ****************************************************************************************************
>                         This e-mail is sent by a law firm and may
>                         contain information that is privileged or
>                         confidential.
>                         If you are not the intended recipient, please
>                         delete the e-mail and any attachments and notify us
>                         immediately.
>
>                         ****************************************************************************************************____
>
>
>                         _______________________________________________
>                         Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>                         Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>                         <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>                         https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community____
>
>
>                     _______________________________________________
>                     Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>                     Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>                     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>                     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>
>
>
>                 _______________________________________________
>                 Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>                 Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>                 <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>                 https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>
>
>
>         _______________________________________________
>         Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>         Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>         <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>         https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>
>
>
>
>     --
>     Jordan Carter
>
>     Chief Executive
>     *InternetNZ*
>
>     +64-4-495-2118 <tel:%2B64-4-495-2118> (office) | +64-21-442-649
>     <tel:%2B64-21-442-649> (mob)
>     Email: jordan at internetnz.net.nz <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>
>     Skype: jordancarter
>     Web: www.internetnz.nz <http://www.internetnz.nz>
>
>     /A better world through a better Internet /
>
>
>     _______________________________________________
>     Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>     Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
> Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
> https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>


More information about the Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list