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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>Dear Work Track 5 Members,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>During the Work Track 5 sessions at ICANN63, some participants expressed the belief that the Geographic Names Panel must have utilized a definition to identify applied-for gTLDs that were non-capital city names. Determining if there was a definition, and tracking it down, was an action item from this session.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>As a first step, staff reviewed the Evaluation Panel Process Documentation for the Geographic Names Panel (here:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/evaluation-panels/geo-names-process-07jun13-en.pdf"><span style='color:#954F72'>https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/evaluation-panels/geo-names-process-07jun13-en.pdf</span></a>). Here, we understand that all applications are checked against country or territory names (or other lists that would cause the applied-for TLD to be ineligible for delegation), regardless of whether the applicant believes the string is Geographic Name.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>Assuming the applied-for string passes this initial lookup, the panel will then review the application and the applied-for gTLD to determine whether or not the string is a Geographic Name (again, regardless of whether the applicant believes the string is Geographic Name).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>In some circumstances, where there is a precise list for the Geographic Names Panel to use as a reference (e.g., capital city names, sub-national place name, UNESCO region or appearing on the “Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings” list), this process is relatively straight-forward.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>However, for city names (or non-capital city names as they are being referred to in Work Track 5), there is no<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><u>objective reference</u><span class=apple-converted-space> </span>to utilize</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>. In this circumstance,<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>per the Applicant Guidebook,<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><span style='color:black'>the string AND the applicant’s statements in their application were considered collectively to determine whether the applied-for string should be subject to the geographic names requirements. As such, there does not appear to be a definition that can be leveraged by Work Track 5. For your convenience, the city name Geographic Names criteria is reproduced below.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>Please let us know if you have any questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>Best,<br>Steve<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>2. An application for a city name, where the applicant declares that it intends to use the gTLD for purposes associated with the city name.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> </span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>City names present challenges because city names may also be generic terms or brand names, and in many cases city names are not unique. Unlike other types of geographic names, there are no established lists that can be used as objective references in the evaluation process. Thus, city names are not universally protected. However, the process does provide a means for cities and applicants to work together where desired.</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> </span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>An application for a city name will be subject to the geographic names requirements (i.e., will require documentation of support or non-objection from the relevant governments or public authorities) if:</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> </span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>(a) It is clear from applicant statements within the application that the applicant will use the TLD primarily for purposes associated with the city name; and</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>(b) The applied-for string is a city name as listed on official city documents. [**see footnote below]</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> </span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'> </span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'>**<span class=apple-converted-space> </span>City governments with concerns about strings that are duplicates, nicknames or close renderings of a city name should not rely on the evaluation process as the primary means of protecting their interests in a string. Rather, a government may elect to file a formal objection to an application that is opposed by the relevant community, or may submit its own application for the string.</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Steven Chan</span></b><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Mincho"'>
</span></b><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Policy Director, GNSO Support<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>ICANN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>12025 Waterfront Drive, Suite 300<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Los Angeles, CA 90094-2536</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Mincho"'>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Mobile: +1.310.339.4410<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Office Telephone: +1.310.301.5800<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Office Fax: +1.310.823.8649<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Find out more about the GNSO by taking our <a href="https://learn.icann.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>interactive courses</span></a> and visiting the <a href="http://gnso.icann.org/sites/gnso.icann.org/files/gnso/presentations/policy-efforts.htm#newcomers"><span style='color:#0563C1'>GNSO Newcomer pages</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Follow @GNSO on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ICANN_GNSO"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://twitter.com/ICANN_GNSO</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Follow the GNSO on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/icanngnso/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.facebook.com/icanngnso/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://gnso.icann.org/en/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>