<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">George,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">First, while domain names are almost certainly "intangible property," I don't see them considered as intellectual property, except to the extent they are an expression of a trademark or trade name, one letter from 1999 notwithstanding. But that's neither here nor there, and beyond the scope of the conversation. After all, trademark owners are also domain name owners (and, after domain investors, probably the most prolific domain name owners).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Second, I don't think anything I've said has marginalized or delegitimized anyone, and I've gone to pains to say otherwise, if you look at my emails.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Greg</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 12:00 PM, George Kirikos via gnso-rpm-wg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org" target="_blank">gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Hello,<br><div><span class=""><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 11:04 AM, Greg Shatan via gnso-rpm-wg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org" target="_blank">gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"> On an informal or "de facto" level, J Scott tends to represent (or at least stand for) the interests of businesses for whom IP is a significant asset, while Phil represents (and actually does represent) the interests of domain investors (a very specific sector of the business community for whom IP is, at best, not a significant asset). As such, Phil's perspectives are far more aligned with those represented by Kathy, and that is the imbalance to which I refer.<br></div></blockquote></div><br></div></span><div class="gmail_extra">Domain names have been recognized, in law, as a new form of intellectual property since the 1990's, e.g. see:<br><br>Umbro International, Inc., Judgment Creditor v. 3263851 Canada, Inc Judgment Debtor, and Network Solutions, Inc, Garnishee, At Law No. 174388.<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/19991009052951/http://www.alston.com/docs/Articles/199709/umbrodns.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/19991009052951/http://www.alston.com/docs/Articles/199709/umbrodns.htm</a><br><br>"Until Umbro's effort, domain names apparently have not been subjected to garnishment, but that is no reason to conclude that this ****new form of intellectual property**** is therefore immune." (emphasis added)<br><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">I think instead of "IP" you meant "trademarks", a different form of intellectual property (which sometimes might overlap with, interact with, and/or conflict with domain names).<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Certainly for my own company's domain names, and for many other owners of domain names, it would not be correct to say that these are "not a significant asset." Many domain names are worth thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, and are significant assets to their owners.<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">I think participants in the working group should be more cautious before trying to marginalize or delegitimize others who are volunteering their valuable time and expertise to improve ICANN policymaking.<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Sincerely,<br><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">George Kirikos<br><a href="tel:416-588-0269" value="+14165880269" target="_blank">416-588-0269</a><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><a href="http://www.leap.com/" target="_blank">http://www.leap.com/</a><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><br></div></div></div>
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