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<BODY bgColor=#ffffff><A
href="http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-28sep09-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-28sep09-en.htm</A><BR>ICANN
is Seeking Independent Researchers to Respond to Request for Proposal on WHOIS
Misuse Studies<BR><BR>28 September 2009<BR><BR>The Generic Names Supporting
Organization (GNSO) is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN
Board substantive policies relating to gTLDs. The GNSO Council is now exploring
several extensive studies of WHOIS and has asked ICANN to estimate the cost and
feasibility of conducting several studies proposed by members of the ICANN
community and ICANN's Government Advisory Committee. The first area of study
focuses on "misuse" of public WHOIS information, and, pursuant to the above
request, ICANN is seeking to engage independent research organizations to
undertake one or more proposed WHOIS Misuse studies. The Misuse Studies RFP
Cover Letter illustrates the scope of work and the criteria for selection. This
document should be read in conjunction with the Terms of Reference for WHOIS
Misuse Studies RFP. Read together, these two documents provide the materials
necessary to respond to this Request for Proposals ("RFP") for WHOIS Misuse
Studies.<BR><BR>More information about WHOIS may be found at: <A
href="http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/index.html">http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/index.html</A><BR><BR>By
27 November, 2009, interested applicants should submit proposals by email to <A
href="mailto:rfpwhois@icann.org">rfpwhois@icann.org</A> to the attention of Liz
Gasster, Senior Policy Counselor, ICANN Policy Department. A confirmation email
will be sent for each proposal received.<BR><BR>Glen de Saint Géry<BR>GNSO
Secretariat<BR><A
href="http://gnso.icann.org">http://gnso.icann.org</A><BR><BR><BR><BR></BODY></HTML>