<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><div>Dear WG members,</div><div><br></div><div>The proposed agenda for our next meeting on Wednesday 1 April 2015 is as follows:</div><ol><li>Roll call/updates to SOI</li><li>Update on engagement with the GAC and IGOs (Mason Cole; WG co-chairs)</li><li>Update on proposed amendment to WG Charter by GNSO Council (Phil Corwin to lead; see attached draft motion to the Council)</li><li>Discuss considerations/issues relating to a possible de novo appeal mechanism for IGOs (Petter Rindforth to lead; see attached Briefing Note)</li><li>Next steps/next meeting</li></ol><div>For agenda item #4, the attached Briefing Note summarizes a framework that was developed by the WIPO Secretariat in 2003, at the request of WIPO’s Standing Committee for Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) to deal with similar sovereign immunity issues in relation to protection of country names. As part of our WG's continuing efforts to develop a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding sovereign immunity, the WG co-chairs thought it would be timely and useful to have an open discussion of some of the potential elements, limitations and scope of, and other questions concerning, a non-judicially-based appeals mechanism for disputes in the IGO context. Please note that this document and discussion is <u>not</u> intended to narrow the WG’s deliberations and options in relation to sovereign immunity or any other issue, it is intended merely to be a starting point for the WG to discuss the possible merits (if any) of alternative appeal mechanisms.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, attached also is the full SCT paper on which our Briefing Note was based. This will also be uploaded to the WG’s wiki space as part of our Background Documents for your reference.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks and cheers</div><div>Mary</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Mary Wong</font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Senior Policy Director</font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN)</font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Telephone: +1 603 574 4892</font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">Email: mary.wong@icann.org</font></font></div><div><br></div></div></div><div><div><br></div><br></div></body></html>