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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I agree this is an issue the BC should address, as it is another bad precedent of “GAC Rule”. <o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Phil, you state the US legal position re TLD strings as trademarks, but outside the US, at OHIM, in Denmark and quite a few other countries, trademark authorities have granted trademark registration to TLD strings, covering domain registry services and a wide variety of ancillary or additional services.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mike Rodenbaugh<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>RODENBAUGH LAW<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Tel/Fax: +1.415.738.8087<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rodenbaugh.com"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>http://rodenbaugh.com</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> owner-bc-gnso@icann.org [mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Phil Corwin<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 1, 2013 10:10 AM<br><b>To:</b> J. Scott Evans; bc-gnso@icann.org<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [bc-gnso] Report on Geograhic Indicator Debate at Durban<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>J. Scott:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Without taking any position at this time as to whether the BC should weigh in on this issue or what our position should be, I want to raise a point of information –<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>As I understand it, your concern is that the GAC has created a regional right in two geographic indicators which does not exist at law and that this is trumping a trademark right registered in multiple nations, including those raising objections . Putting aside the fact that the GAC can object for any reason without citing a legal basis (although the basis or lack thereof can be taken into account by the ICANN Board when considering whether to adopt the GAC advice), what is the strength of the purported trademark rights at the top level of the DNS when, up to now, trademark authorities and courts have held the position that no trademark rights can exist in a TLD because it cannot (examples: .com, .uk) serve as a source identifier? I concede that this view could change for at least some TLDs (e.g., .brands) as the new ones roll out, but that is the state of the law at this time as I understand it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks for any light you can shed on this question.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Philip<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>Virtualaw LLC</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>1155 F Street, NW</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>Suite 1050</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>Washington, DC 20004</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>202-559-8597/Direct</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>202-559-8750/Fax</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>202-255-6172/cell</span><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>Twitter: @VlawDC</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:navy'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> J. Scott Evans [<a href="mailto:jscottevans@yahoo.com">mailto:jscottevans@yahoo.com</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 01, 2013 12:10 PM<br><b>To:</b> Phil Corwin; <a href="mailto:bc-gnso@icann.org">bc-gnso@icann.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [bc-gnso] Report on Geograhic Indicator Debate at Durban<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>I am telling you all this is a dangerous precedent. I hereby request that the BC take up this issue and develop a formal opinion in this specific issue and the broader issue of the GAC's role. <br><br>I am happy to lead this effort.<br><br>J. Scott<br><br>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><div id="_origMsg_"><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><hr size=1 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From: </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Phil Corwin <<a href="mailto:psc@vlaw-dc.com">psc@vlaw-dc.com</a>>; <br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:bc-gnso@icann.org">bc-gnso@icann.org</a> <<a href="mailto:bc-gnso@icann.org">bc-gnso@icann.org</a>>; <br><b>Subject: </b>[bc-gnso] Report on Geograhic Indicator Debate at Durban <br><b>Sent: </b>Thu, Aug 1, 2013 3:58:37 PM <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/08/01/governments-disagree-on-geographical-indication-protection-at-tld-level/?utm_source=post&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alerts" target="_blank">http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/08/01/governments-disagree-on-geographical-indication-protection-at-tld-level/?utm_source=post&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alerts</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Virtualaw LLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>1155 F Street, NW</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Suite 1050</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Washington, DC 20004</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>202-559-8597/Direct</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>202-559-8750/Fax</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>202-255-6172/cell</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Twitter: @VlawDC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:#A0A0A0' align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 2013.0.3349 / Virus Database: 3209/6518 - Release Date: 07/24/13<br>Internal Virus Database is out of date.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>