[bc-gnso] LAST CALL: BC comments on Expert Working Group (EWG) for directory services (Whois)

[Steve DelBianco]

This is "Last Call" for members who would object to filing the attached comments by tomorrow's deadline.

Since I circulated a draft on Monday, we have seen no objections.  But we did see some excellent debate about this paragraph:

Eligibility for privacy/proxy protection should only be extended to registrants who promise not to solicit sales, payments, or donations, and promise not to facilitate infringement of intellectual property rights.   And the EWG’s “Maximum Protected Registration” should only be available to registrants who demonstrate a need for privacy to protect at-risk free-speech uses.

Google questioned the idea of per-se restricting donation-seeking domains from using privacy/proxy services.  Looks to me like the majority of subsequent  comments were in favor of retaining the per-se restriction above.

But as a by-product of that discussion, several of you wanted to add a few more offenses to the list of things that privacy/proxy eligible domains would promise not to do. So I've revised that first sentence to read:

Eligibility for privacy/proxy protection should only be extended to registrants who promise not to solicit sales, payments, or donations, and promise not to facilitate infringement of intellectual property rights, distribution of malware, phishing, or other fraud.

Unless more than 5 members object, I will file these comments by 3pm EST on Friday 6-Sep.


From: Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco at netchoice.org<mailto:sdelbianco at netchoice.org>>
Date: Monday, September 2, 2013 11:45 AM
To: "bc-gnso at icann.org<mailto:bc-gnso at icann.org> list" <bc-gnso at icann.org<mailto:bc-gnso at icann.org>>
Subject: FOR REVIEW: Latest draft of BC comments on Expert Working Group (EWG) for directory services (Whois)

As a follow-up to Thursday's BC call, here's a new draft for member review.

First thing I did was re-read the EWG report on which we are commenting. (link<http://www.icann.org/en/groups/other/gtld-directory-services/initial-report-24jun13-en.pdf>)  It's also helpful to review FAQs published by the EWG (link<http://www.icann.org/en/groups/other/gtld-directory-services/faqs>)

Second thing I did was review prior BC positions on this, starting with our Jul-2011 "Response to WHOIS Policy Review Team Discussion Paper" (link<http://www.bizconst.org/Positions-Statements/BC_on_WHOIS_Review_Questions.pdf>) where the BC said:  "ICANN should also consider mechanisms to create and maintain a centralized WHOIS database."

Also see Jun-2012 BC comment on WHOIS Affirmation Review (link<http://www.bizconst.org/Positions-Statements/BC%20on%20WHOIS%20RT%20Final%20Report.pdf>), where we endorsed privacy/proxy obligations:
• Adopting agreed standardized relay and reveal processes and timeframes
• Conducting periodic due diligence checks on customer contact information;
• Providing clear and unambiguous guidance on the rights and responsibilities of registered name holders, and how those should be managed in the Privacy / Proxy environment.

And see our May-2013 comments on the new RAA (link<http://www.bizconst.org/Positions-Statements/BC%20Comment%20on%20final%202013%20RAA%20%5BFINAL%5D.pdf>), where we proposed Relay and Reveal obligations and timelines for privacy/proxy services.

Then I started with our 9-Aug draft comments and added discussion from 29-Aug BC member call.

Attached is my 2-Sep draft, plus a redline comparing with the previous draft distributed (9-Aug).

Please REPLY ALL with objections or comments before Thursday 5-Sep so we can meet the EWG deadline of 6-Sep.

Looking forward to an informed and respectful discussions, so we can get our thoughts to the EWG while they are working on their final report for October publication.

--
Steve DelBianco
Executive Director
NetChoice
http://www.NetChoice.org and http://blog.netchoice.org
+1.202.420.7482

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