[bc-gnso] GAC Responds to Board on Geographic Names

[BC Secretariat]

GAC Responds to Board on Geographic Names

28 May 2009

On 26 May 2009, the GAC submitted a final letter [PDF, 72K]
http://www.icann.org/correspondence/karklins-to-twomey-26may09-en.pdf
responding to the ICANN Board's concerns about the ability to implement the 
provisions of article 2 of the GAC Principles regarding new gTLDs, 
particularly paragraph 2.71. The letter recommends, as a minimum, that the 
names contained in three internationally recognised lists must be reserved 
at the second level at no cost to governments of all new gTLDs. However, 
other issues relating to geographic names at the top level and the potential 
misuse of the respective names at the second level requires further 
discussion.

The GAC's letter is in response to the 6 March, 2009 ICANN Board resolution, 
and subsequent letter from ICANN of 17 March, 2009 seeking GAC members input 
on possible options to resolve the outstanding implementation issues 
regarding the protection of geographic names at the second level 
(http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-06mar09.htm#08 and 
http://www.icann.org/correspondence/twomey-to-karklins-17mar09-en.pdf) [PDF, 
245K].

The GAC provided an interim response to this request on 24 April 2009 
http://www.icann.org/correspondence/karklins-to-twomey-24apr09.pdf [PDF, 
95K].

On 15 May 2009, the GNSO Council provided comments on the proposal outlined 
in the GAC's letter of 24 April 2009, 
http://gnso.icann.org/correspondence/gnso-ltr-to-gac.pdf [PDF, 69K].

The Board requested a final report from the GAC by 25 May, 2009 and which 
will now be published 29 May, 2009. 
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-24apr09-en.htm


Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat