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<font face="Optima, Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10pt">ICANN’s Board held a special meeting on 5-Nov and voted to allow vertical integration in the new gTLD plan:<br>
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</span></font><blockquote><font face="Optima, Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10pt">ICANN will not restrict cross-ownership between registries and registrars. Registry operators are defined as the registry operator and all other relevant parties relating to the registry services.<br>
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The Board resolution added enforcement mechanisms against abusive conduct. New gTLD registry agreements will include: <br>
(1) a Code of Conduct prohibiting misuse of data or other abusive conduct arising out of cross-ownership; <br>
(2) auditing requirements; <br>
(3) graduated sanctions up to and including contractual termination and punitive damages; and <br>
(4) ICANN's right to refer competition issues to appropriate government competition authorities.<br>
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Their resolution was published last night. <br>
See <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-05nov10-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-05nov10-en.htm</a> <br>
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Also, ICANN did not post the next (last) applicant guidebook on 9-Nov as promised. Stay tuned ...<br>
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-- <br>
Steve DelBianco<br>
Executive Director<br>
NetChoice<br>
<a href="http://www.NetChoice.org">http://www.NetChoice.org</a> and <a href="http://blog.netchoice.org">http://blog.netchoice.org</a> <br>
+1.202.420.7482 <br>
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