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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>This is exactly right. Since international law is, in the main as Dr. Lisse has said, an agreement between nation states and since, as well, there is almost no consensus on what the substantive content of international law is (beyond the very limited area of IHL) the idea of making ICANN subject to some amorphous idea of an international law is I think unworkable. ICANN is a limited purpose entity. It should be subject to the commercial agreements it makes (with contracted parties, mostly) and to the commitments it makes and/or are adopted by its “member/stakeholders” – that is, us. It cannot and should not be a vehicle for us pouring into it our dreams and hopes about human rights or some undefined public good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Paul Rosenzweig<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:paul.rosenzweigesq@redbranchconsulting.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>paul.rosenzweig@redbranchconsulting.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>O: +1 (202) 547-0660<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>M: +1 (202) 329-9650<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>VOIP: +1 (202) 738-1739<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Skype: paul.rosenzweig1066<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.redbranchconsulting.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=9"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Link to my PGP Key</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.rsaconference.com/events/us15/register?utm_source=inhouse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=signature-us2015"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=579 height=93 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D06095.5033A5A0"></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> David Post [mailto:david.g.post@gmail.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 16, 2015 5:49 PM<br><b>To:</b> Rahul Sharma<br><b>Cc:</b> Accountability Cross Community<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [CCWG-ACCT] Regarding ICANN's adherence to "international law"<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At 10:41 PM 3/15/2015, Rahul Sharma wrote:<br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal>+1 David and Phil<br><br> <br><br>Since IRP is only meant to review if Board decisions are in line and consistent with procedures and principles established, and as such cannot challenge any Board decision, a Body that ensures that ICANN adheres to international laws, and if its decisions are legitimate or not  and should be challenged should be (1) an independent body, constituted by a process independent from ICANN and (2) and have expertise in international law, and not just commercial arbitration<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><br>Rahul: Just to be clear: it wasn't my understanding that there would be a body the "ensures that ICANN adheres to international laws." In my opinion (which may or may not be shared by others), an Independent Review Panel, which ensures that ICANN adheres to (a) its commitment to consensus decision-making (b) within the stated mission (i.e., only makes policies reasonably necessary for security and stability of the DNS), that will go a long way to keeping the Board within proper limits. I'm not convinced that a second body charged with enforcing international law would be helpful or necessary, and might just over-complicate the process.<br>David<br><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On 16 March 2015 at 05:10, Phil Corwin <<a href="mailto:psc@vlaw-dc.com">psc@vlaw-dc.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>That’s exactly right, David, and what we just saw in the IRP brought by Booking.com over the finding that .Hotels and .Hoteis were in the same new gTLD contention set<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>The available accountability mechanisms were restricted to reviewing whether proper procedure had been observed, but could not reach the admittedly questionable merits of the original decision that found them confusingly similar at the gTLD level.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>So when should the merits of a Board decision be susceptible to modification or reversal, who has standing to bring such a challenge, and what should be the standard of review? Important questions, and not easy to answer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Virtualaw LLC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>1155 F Street, NW<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Suite 1050<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Washington, DC 20004<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>202-559-8597/Direct<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>202-559-8750/Fax<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>202-255-6172/cell<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Twitter: @VlawDC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>From: <a href="mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org">accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org</a> [<a href="mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org"> mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org</a>] On Behalf Of David Post<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2015 9:26 AM<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>To: Accountability Cross Community<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Subject: Re: [CCWG-ACCT] Regarding ICANN's adherence to "international law"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>At 08:16 PM 3/14/2015, Bruce Tonkin wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Under its Articles of Incorporation ICANN already operates “for the benefit of the Internet community as a a whole, carrying out its activities in conformity with relevant principles of international law and applicable international conventions and local law.â€Â  See: <a href="https://wwww.icann.org/en/about/governance/articles">https://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/articles</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>The Independent Review Process allows parties to challenge Board decisions that are inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>[SNIP]<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Just by way of clarification, while it's true that the IRP allows parties "to challenge Board decisions that are inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws," the IRP panel does not have the power to actually decide the question of whether or not a Board decision WAS inconsistent with the Articles or Bylaws. See Bylaws, Art IV sec 3(4):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>"The IRP Panel must apply a defined standard of review to the IRP request, focusing on: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><a name="14c1fd026a73d48c_IV-3.4a"></a><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>did the Board act without conflict of interest in taking its decision?; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><a name="14c1fd026a73d48c_IV-3.4b"></a><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>did the Board exercise due diligence and care in having a reasonable amount of facts in front of them?; and <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><a name="14c1fd026a73d48c_IV-3.4c"></a><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>did the Board members exercise independent judgment in taking the decision, believed to be in the best interests of the company?" <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>That's a much narrower scope of inquiry than whether the Board acted outside the ByLaws, for example.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>David<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>*******************************<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>David G Post - Senior Fellow, Open Technology Institute/New America Foundation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>blog (Volokh Conspiracy) <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-post">http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-post<br></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>book (Jefferson's Moose) <a href="http://tinyurl.com/c327w2n%A0%A0%A0%A0%A0%A0">http://tinyurl.com/c327w2n     </a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>music <a href="http://tinyurl.com/davidpostmusic">http://tinyurl.com/davidpostmusic</a> publications etc. <a href="??">http://www.davidpost.com       </a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>******************************* <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>No virus found in this message.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'>Version: 2015.0.5751 / Virus Database: 4306/9294 - Release Date: 03/13/15<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><a href="mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community@icann.org">Accountability-Cross-Community@icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><a href="https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community">https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community</a> <o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><br>*******************************<br>David G Post - Senior Fellow, Open Technology Institute/New America Foundation<br>blog (Volokh Conspiracy) <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-post">http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-post<br></a>book (Jefferson's Moose) <a href="http://tinyurl.com/c327w2n%A0%A0%A0%A0%A0%A0%A0">http://tinyurl.com/c327w2n </a><br>music <a href="http://tinyurl.com/davidpostmusic%A0">http://tinyurl.com/davidpostmusic </a>publications etc. <a href="http://www.davidpost.com /">http://www.davidpost.com </a><br>******************************* <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>