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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Dear colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>I hesitate to wade into the middle of a
lawyer’s debate (not being one), but there are some relevant points being
made in this discussion and I would like to highlight that. Both Phil and
Mike have ‘dogs in this fight’ as they say, and for the record I do
not. It seems to me that even though the BC has some members who are
applicants for generic words, the BC as a whole needs to have more discussion
on this matter to get some clarity and sadly I, for one, am not seeing enough
discussion on this list. Generic words as TLDs is a BIG deal and it
behooves us to flesh this out and take a position on it one way or the other
(allowing for dissenting statements to the greater BC position). To turn
a blind eye is to ignore the elephant in the room, in my view. Lack of
action could also send a message that the members are so conflicted that the BC
neglected its responsibility to bring the voice of small and big business to
the ICANN debate on this matter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>With regard to Mike’s comment: “</span></font><font
size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
Calibri;color:#1F497D'>…care much more about the problem of .sport and
.sports, for example, coexisting as ICANN appears set to allow. That
seems to have a much higher likelihood of massive consumer confusion…”
</span></font><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>I believe this issue
needs to be pushed back both vigorously and rapidly, before it can gain a
foothold. Clearly, plurals and singular words are confusingly similar…
one only need pronounce both words right after each other to hear how confusingly
similar they are. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>These are my two cents! I welcome
hearing other members’ thoughts on these two critically important issues.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>RA<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Ronald N. Andruff</span></font><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><a href="http://www.rnapartners.com">RNA
Partners, Inc.</a></span></font><span class=MsoHyperlink><u><font size=2
color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
owner-bc-gnso@icann.org [mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Phil Corwin<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, March 06, 2013
3:15 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">mike@rodenbaugh.com</st1:PersonName>;
'bc - GNSO list'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> 'IPC Discussion List'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [bc-gnso] RE:
McCarthy/Franklyn comments on closed generics</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Mike:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>I appreciate the
disclosure in the attachment that you represent “a number of applicants
intending to operate ‘Single-Registrant’ TLD models as allowed by
the terms of the Final Applicant Guidebook and Draft Registry Agreement”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>While you know that
I love to engage in vigorous legal and policy debate, I regret that I
don’t have the bandwidth today to respond to all your questions because
of client work being done under deadline. I have no doubt this dialogue will
continue, and others on the distribution list can of course join in, and I look
forward to further engagement myself when my In Box is a bit less overflowing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>I would state that
if .brands and closed generics are viewed as joined at the hip, my personal
preference would be to deny the COC exemption to closed generics and allow
.brands to amend their applications so that they are for non-generic terms
(e.g., let Microsoft apply for single registrant operation of, for illustrative
example, .mswindows, Apple for .iApple, etc.) These are not multi-registrant
gTLDs that need to attract intuitive type-in traffic, and to the extent they
may be used for external as well as internal purposes they have the marketing
clout to readily educate customers, suppliers, and Internet users regarding
their proprietary right of the dot address.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>I do note that while
your attachment asserts that “ICANN has reopened a significant policy
issue that was debated many years ago”, neither it nor your e-mail
address a central point I’ve made – that the registry agreement requires
adherence to the COC, that the COC generally restricts self-registrations by
the registry operator, and that the Section 6 exemption for single-registrant
gTLDs requires an ICANN discretionary decision and application of a public
interest standard. I know of no prior debate on what that public interest
standard should be. Any comment on the relevance of the Code of Conduct to this
discussion? I’m sure your clients must have been aware of it as they
prepared their applications.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Philip<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Philip
S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Virtualaw
LLC</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>1155 F Street, NW</span></font></b></st1:address></st1:Street><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Suite</span></font></b></st1:Street><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'> 1050</span></font></b></st1:address><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><b><font size=2
color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Washington</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">20004</st1:PostalCode></span></font></b></st1:place><font size=2
color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-559-8597/Direct</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-559-8750/Fax</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-255-6172/cell</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Twitter:
@VlawDC</span></font></b><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></font></i></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> owner-bc-gnso@icann.org
[mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of
</span></b><st1:PersonName w:st="on">icann@rodenbaugh.com</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, March 06, 2013
2:03 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Phil Corwin; 'bc - GNSO list'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> 'IPC Discussion List'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [bc-gnso] RE:
McCarthy/Franklyn comments on closed generics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Phil,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>My disclosure is
contained at the head of my response to ICANN’s request for public
comments, attached. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>You have not tried
to answer some key questions. Why should Microsoft get to keep .windows
closed from the rest of the world? What about the fact that almost all
‘generic’ words in fact are registered as trademarks? What
about the fact that generic terms have been exclusive domain name property
since the beginning of the DNS, apparently with no adverse impact on either
competition or consumer confusion? Why should TLD policy be any
different?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>It has been very
difficult for me, personally, to criticize Professor McCarthy. He is
quite simply the best teacher I have ever had, and taught me the core
principles of trademark law on which I have built my career. But he is
wrong here, his reasoning is speculative and suspect on this important point,
as I have tried to explain. I would love to see his or your answers to my
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Mike Rodenbaugh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>RODENBAUGH LAW<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>tel/fax:
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style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://rodenbaugh.com">http://rodenbaugh.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Phil Corwin [<a
href="mailto:psc@vlaw-dc.com">mailto:psc@vlaw-dc.com</a>] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, March 06, 2013
10:12 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <a
href="mailto:mike@rodenbaugh.com">mike@rodenbaugh.com</a>; 'bc - GNSO list'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> IPC Discussion List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [bc-gnso] RE:
McCarthy/Franklyn comments on closed generics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Mike:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>With all respect,
Prof. McCarthy’s 7-volume treatise on Trademarks and Unfair Competition
has been cited in more than 3,000 judicial opinions <i><span style='font-style:
italic'><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Thomas_McCarthy">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Thomas_McCarthy</a></span></i>.
So I would hesitate to agree that he is “obviously wrong” on this
matter. At a minimum, given all the time and energy that ICANN has
devoted to respecting and protecting trademarks through such new gTLD RPMs as
the TMC and URS, his expert view on the incompatibility of closed gTLDs with trademark
law should be taken very seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>While I personally
disagree that closed generics [which I regard as applications in which it is
proposed that the registry operator be the sole registrant in a proposed string
in which the applicant holds no trademark rights; that is, not a .brand]
don’t raise trademark law concerns, I do concur that competition issues
also arise and may even be the primary issue. In that regard, as well as in
regard to claims that the ICANN request for comments on closed generics somehow
raises a new issue, sets a precedent for major changes in the Applicant
Guidebook, or portends an unfair change in rules that applicants relied upon, I
would respond that the need to obtain an exemption from the Code of Conduct
(COC) for a closed registry has always been present, as well as the application
of a public interest standard to the granting of such a waiver, and that
applicants cannot now claim surprise or ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Section 2.14 of the
Registry Agreement has always stated that a registry operator must comply with
the COC set forth at Specification 9.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Section 1.b of the
COC has always stated that the registry operator and its parents, affiliates,
subcontractors, or other related entities can only register domains in the
registry to a very limited extent – restricted to names that are
reasonably necessary for the management, operations, and purpose of the TLD.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Section 6 of the COC
provides for an exemption process whereby ICANN may, in its sole discretion and
conditioned on its “reasonable satisfaction”, allow the registry
operator to register and maintain all domain registrations for its own
exclusive use – if ICANN determines that “application of this
Code of Conduct to the TLD is not necessary to protect the public
interest”. My understanding of the exemption clause is that it arose from
the BC to accommodate .brands, without any contemplation that certain
applicants would seek to lock up dozens of key dictionary words for their own
exclusive use (in fact, their goal may be less to use the registries than to
deny access to current and potential competitors).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>So in my view this
debate is not about creating a new definition for “closed generics”
but whether the public interest requires ICANN to deny exemption requests for
proposed non-.brand closed registries. (And I absolutely reject the sophistic
and unconvincing arguments I have seen that an applicant can bypass the
exemption process entirely by simply declaring that its gTLD’s
“purpose” is to be for its own exclusive use – that would
allow the exception to swallow the rule and render Section 6 a pointless
nullity.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>My personal view is
that closed generic gTLDs are inherently anti-competitive monopolies and that
ICANN should adopt a position that denial of such exemption requests is
necessary to protect the public interest. These applications are incompatible
with the competition and innovation justifications made for the new gTLD
program because they are motivated by anti-competitive self-interest and the
goal of denying these strings as a platform for pro-competitive innovation to
others. New gTLDs are the perfect platform for competitive vertical search
– are competition, innovation and the public interest better served by a
.book for Amazon’s exclusive use and protection of its existing
dominance, a .search for Google’s exclusive use and protection of its
existing dominance, or by open gTLDs for those strings that can be
utilized by thousands of innovative market entrants?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>I further believe
that such a position is in ICANN’s best long-term interest, as well as
the interest of all who want to preserve its multi-stakeholder model against
governmental intrusion. While it is true that the competitive issues raised by
closed gTLDs are the ultimate responsibility of national competition
authorities, ICANN will do itself no favors if it approves closed generic gTLDs
that subsequently require years of investigation, enforcement actions, and
expenditure of human and financial resources (in an era of constrained public
resources) by such authorities when the matter could have been avoided in the
first place by adopting a responsible position of the public interest
consideration for granting COC exemptions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>A final
consideration is the potential spectacle of thousands of closed generic applications
flowing into ICANN on the second round if it accommodates them in the first.
Domain and marketing consultants will surely be advising the world’s
largest companies that if they don’t file applications to lock up key
dictionary words for their own primary commercial activities that their
competitors may well grab then and close them off. ICANN could well realize a
$billion in application fees in the second round by marketing key words in the
world’s major languages for the purpose of locking them away rather than
making them available to global Internet users. I for one find the prospect of
selling off exclusive use of such words as if they were municipal stadium
naming rights to be crass and unseemly and, while in ICANN’s financial
interests, inconsistent with its responsibilities and role of managing the DNS
in a manner consistent with the public good.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>In closing, while I
shall leave it to Professor McCarthy to decide whether to take offense and
respond to your assertion that his comment letter constitutes an
“apparent conflict of interest” because of Microsoft’s
sponsorship of the annual McCarthy Symposium, I am incredulous that he would
make the statements contained in his comment letter if he did not fully
subscribe to them. For the sake of full disclosure, while the views expressed
above are my personal views, I am providing counsel to a new gTLD applicant
that is in contention with a Google application for a closed generic (ICA, the
client with whom I am generally associated and which I represent on the BC, did
not have a consensus among its members on closed generics). For the sake of
full disclosure, and especially given your assertion that Professor
McCarthy’s comments evidence a conflict of interest, will you disclose
whether you are advising applicants for closed generics?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Philip <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Philip
S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Virtualaw
LLC</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Twitter:
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></font></i></b><font
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Mike Rodenbaugh
[<a href="mailto:mike@rodenbaugh.com">mailto:mike@rodenbaugh.com</a>] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, March 06, 2013
11:43 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Phil Corwin; 'bc - GNSO list'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> IPC Discussion List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [bc-gnso] RE:
McCarthy/Franklyn comments on closed generics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Phil, thanks for
sending around Prof. McCarthy and Prof. Franklyn’s statement on so-called
‘closed generic’ TLD strings. I have great respect for Prof.
McCarthy; he taught me trademark law at USF in the early ‘90’s and
his treatise is a leading authority. However, this statement is not
persuasive. The fundamental premise you quote is obviously wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>While trademark law,
by definition, may prohibit trademark registration of generic terms, it does
not and has never prohibited individuals from gaining exclusive property rights
in generic terms. There are millions of generic terms that are the
subject of exclusive domain name property rights, i.e. chocolate.com, sex.com,
etc. Many countries recognize that chocolate.com, for example, can
function as a trademark even for the service of selling chocolate, particularly
after a period of exclusive use by which distinctiveness is acquired. As
you well know, there are many such trademark registrations in many
jurisdictions. Exclusive ownership has always been permitted in regards
to domain names at all levels of the DNS – including the top level.
Why should there be any policy difference between TLDs and .com domains?
Though the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> has been more
conservative in granting trademark rights in domain names or TLD strings, no <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> law has ever
sought to prohibit exclusive use of generic domain names, and many arguably
generic words are registered as marks for related goods and services (as well
as a few arguably generic TLD strings). Indeed many TLD operators and
prospective TLD operators have secured trademark registration in their TLD
string, some in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and
many more in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>As Prof. McCarthy
taught me and thousands of others, trademark law seeks to prevent confusion as
to source of a good or service. The type of confusion he and Prof.
Franklyn cite in their statement on this issue has nothing to do with product
source, and is purely speculative. They say (and you quote):<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>“consumers
may mistakenly believe they are using a gTLD that allows for competition, when
in reality the gTLD is closed and the apparently competitive products are being
offered by a single entity”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>They are
speculating, without citation to any evidence or authority, that consumers
“may” be confused as to some aspect or quality of the TLD service,
but that has nothing to do with confusion as to the source of that
service. They are speculating that the marketing of such TLDs will be
confusing, when there is no factual basis whatsoever for such
speculation. Web users have had long exposure to generic domain names
used by myriad businesses, including well-known brands, throughout the world
for more than 20 years, with absolutely no confusion ever documented as far as
I am aware. That evidence ought to trump the blank speculation even of
well-respected trademark academics.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Furthermore, they do
not address why Apple Computer should get to own .apple or Microsoft should get
to own .windows (among many other examples of ‘generic’ dictionary
words that are trademarks, and that will be closed TLDs), and exclude anyone
else from registering domains in that TLD, even if they want to refer to the
fruit or to the glass building component. They do not address how
consumer confusion in that case would logically be any different than the
consumer confusion they posit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Finally, it must be
noted that the annual McCarthy Symposium, probably not coincidentally held just
a few days ago, counts on Microsoft as its major sponsor. And of course
Microsoft has become one of the most outspoken critics of so-called closed
generic TLDs, quite curiously despite its own applications for .docs, .windows
and other ‘closed generic’ TLDs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Given this apparent
conflict of interest, the blatantly faulty premise in its core reasoning, and
the misguided speculation as to future consumer expectations that appears
central to their argument, this one page statement leaves a lot of questions
and is far from persuasive, imho. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>This is not a
trademark issue, but a competition issue. It is also an issue of fairness
given that closed business models have been accepted by the community since
2006, and many companies have invested heavily in reliance on the fact that
such models are not prohibited by ICANN’s rules. All companies had
the same opportunity to make such investments. The primary voices arguing
against these models now are surrogates for those who passed on the opportunity
(and, curiously, Microsoft), those who are competing in contention sets with
closed business models, and those who want to sell unrestricted domain names
and fear disruption to the traditional domain name business model on which they
have built their business. Those patently self-interested concerns are
not the sort of concerns that should make any difference to ICANN at this point
in the new TLD program, or to anyone else in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>We should all care
much more about the problem of .sport and .sports, for example, coexisting as
ICANN appears set to allow. That seems to have a much higher likelihood
of massive consumer confusion than does the operation of closed TLDs.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Mike<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Mike Rodenbaugh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>RODENBAUGH LAW<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>tel/fax:
+1.415.738.8087<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://rodenbaugh.com">http://rodenbaugh.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <a
href="mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org">owner-bc-gnso@icann.org</a> [<a
href="mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org">mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org</a>] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Phil Corwin<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, March 01, 2013 4:29
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Steve DelBianco; bc - GNSO
list<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [bc-gnso] RE: Contention
sets for new gTLDs<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>“Unbelievably,
they did not consider the singular and plural versions of key words to be
confusingly similar.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Unbelievable indeed.
How about .dumb and .dumber?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Meanwhile the
leading trademark authority in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Professor Thomas
McCarthy, has just filed a statement opposing closed generic gTLDs as
being inconsistent with trademark law and its goals -- <a
href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-closed-generic-05feb13/msg00034.html">http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-closed-generic-05feb13/msg00034.html</a>
--<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>“Trademark law
in every country in the world forbids individuals to gain exclusive<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>property rights in
generic names of products. One of the primary rationales for this rule is to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>prevent a single
person or company from gaining an unfair competitive advantage in the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>marketplace. Private
ownership of generic language is not consistent with free enterprise and<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>fair competition in
an open economy. If ICANN were to approve closed, generic gTLDs, these<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>important goals
would be undermined…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Transparency and
consumer choice are goals of the trademark system of every country in<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>the world. In our
view, these values are threatened by closed, generic gTLDs. Indeed, should<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>these types of new
gTLDs be approved, consumers may mistakenly believe they are using a<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>gTLD that allows for
competition, when in reality the gTLD is closed and the apparently<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>competitive products
are being offered by a single entity. This would allow the owner of the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>generic gTLD to gain
exclusive recognition as the provider of a generic service, something that<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>is prohibited by
Trademark law.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>How will that reflect
on ICANN and the new gTLD program?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Philip
S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Virtualaw
LLC</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>1155 F Street, NW</span></font></b></st1:address></st1:Street><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Suite</span></font></b></st1:Street><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'> 1050</span></font></b></st1:address><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><b><font size=2
color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Washington</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font
size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">20004</st1:PostalCode></span></font></b></st1:place><font size=2
color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-559-8597/Direct</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-559-8750/Fax</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>202-255-6172/cell</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Twitter:
@VlawDC</span></font></b><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></font></i></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <a
href="mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org">owner-bc-gnso@icann.org</a> [<a
href="mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org">mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org</a>] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Steve DelBianco<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, March 01, 2013 6:50
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> bc - GNSO list<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [bc-gnso] Update:
Contention sets for new gTLDs<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>Wanted you all to see
this. I think it will reflect poorly on ICANN's expansion of TLDs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>ICANN hired an
international expert panel to scour 1900 new TLD strings and determine which
were confusingly similar, so they could be combines in the same contention set.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>This is to ensure we
don't delegate 2 TLD strings that would confuse Internet users because they are
too similar. I expected, for example, that the applications received for .hotel
and .hotels would be in the same contention set, since it would be confusing
for users to have both TLDs out there. (It would increase the cost of
defensive registrations, too, since hotels would have to buy domains in both
TLDs. )<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>After several months
of careful study, ICANN's experts published their contention sets yesterday. (<a
href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-26feb13-en.htm">link</a>)
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote style='margin-left:30.0pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<blockquote style='margin-left:30.0pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>They
"identified" 230 "exact match contention sets" where
multiple applicants sought the exact same string.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>And they found just 2
"non-exact match contention sets" (unicom and unicorm; hoteis
and hotels )<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>Unbelievably, they did
not consider the singular and plural versions of key words to be confusingly
similar. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>This means we will get
new TLDs for both the singular and plural versions of keywords such as:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>ACCOUNTANT<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>ACCOUNTANTS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>AUTO <span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>AUTOS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>CAR<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>CARS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>CAREER<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>CAREERS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>COUPON<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>COUPONS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>CRUISE<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>CRUISES<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>DEAL<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>DEALS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>FAN<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>FANS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>GAME<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>GAMES<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>GIFT<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>GIFTS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>HOME<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>HOMES<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>HOTEL<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>HOTELS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>HOTEL<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>HOTELES<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>KID<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>KIDS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>LOAN<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>LOANS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>MARKET<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>MARKETS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>NEW<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>NEWS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>PET<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>PETS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>PHOTO<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>PHOTOS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>REVIEW<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>REVIEWS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>SPORT<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>SPORTS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>TOUR<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">TOURS</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>WEB<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>WEBS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>WORK<span
class=apple-tab-span> </span>WORKS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>What are the
implications for applicants? Well, let's take an example. The 2
Applicants for .GIFT just got a huge gift from ICANN when they were not placed
in the same contention set as the 2 applicants for .GIFTS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>One of the 2 .GIFT
guys must prevail in their "singular" contention set.
They can then proceed to delegation, as they planned. Or they can
negotiate to be bought-out by the winning applicant from the plural contention
set ( .GIFTS ).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>In other words, many
applicants dodged a bullet by escaping from contention with their
singular/plural form competitors. My guess is they want to explore
ways to monetize their good fortune. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'> --<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>Steve DelBianco<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>NetChoice<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><a
href="http://www.NetChoice.org">http://www.NetChoice.org</a> and <a
href="http://blog.netchoice.org">http://blog.netchoice.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'>+1.202.420.7482 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#a0a0a0" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black'>No virus found in this message.<br>
Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>
Version: 2013.0.2899 / Virus Database: 2641/6130 - Release Date: 02/25/13<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#a0a0a0" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>No virus found in
this message.<br>
Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>
Version: 2013.0.2899 / Virus Database: 2641/6130 - Release Date: 02/25/13<br>
Internal Virus Database is out of date.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#a0a0a0" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>No virus found in
this message.<br>
Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>
Version: 2013.0.2899 / Virus Database: 2641/6130 - Release Date: 02/25/13<br>
Internal Virus Database is out of date.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
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</html>