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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>News from the GNSO</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>A few major points from the PDP05 meeting in </span></font></i><span
style='font-style:normal'>Amsterdam</span><span style='font-style:normal'>.</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>On the first half day there was a long discussion over the
issue of grants for applicants who may be prohibited from applying for a gTLD
due to the cost barrier. Overall there was a view that ICANN should cover the
initial costs of applying for those parties with potential less ability to pay.
</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>It was noted that some applications that come from areas of
the Internet community with potential less ability to pay, may also be more
expensive to evaluate due to different legal environments.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Whilst I acknowledge the need to recognise this, to my mind
we are also building in some major problems; </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><i><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:normal'>-<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font></i><span style='font-style:normal'>who will decide
the validity of each application that applies for bid support?</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><i><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:normal'>-<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font></i><span style='font-style:normal'>even though
this is gTLD space, won’t governments feel they should be
involved/influence any decisions on this , particularly as ICANN is openly
talking about bringing developing countries on stream?</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><i><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:normal'>-<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font></i><span style='font-style:normal'>How do we stop
the big boys forming shell companies and playing the system etc</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><i><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:normal'>-<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font></i><span style='font-style:normal'>Who will decide
on the level of funding available and how it’s allocated?</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>In addition</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt'><i><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:normal'>-<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font></i><span style='font-style:normal'>what about the
cost of evaluation if the applications aren’t submitted in English (and I
assume a large number of these subsidised applications may be).</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>This requires a lot more thought before implementation</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>We also had discussions over applications that could be
considered to mimic other parts of the name space e.g. .labour and .jobs, or
.comm and .com. There was support for the view that a TLD string should not be
confusingly similar to an existing TLD string, but views on the interpretation
and control of this varied widely. There was a discussion over ICANN attempting
to establish a list of similar names for each awarded registry contract to
limit challenges, which seemed a dreadful and unworkable idea to me, particularly
as we move towards IDNs!</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Where there are string conflicts two approaches were
discussed the first was where you could use a lottery or auction, the second
was via some form of evaluation process. Random selection was also discussed,
the difference when compared with a lottery is that those unsuccessful
wouldn’t pay anything. It’s also unclear whether a lottery approach
has legal aspects that haven’t been exposed or clearly understood.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>The intention is to complete the string conflict issue early
on in the process. Chuck Gomes was offering support for an approach that gave
additional weighting for applicants where there was ‘community
support’, which of course lends itself towards the sponsored TLD approach
which is against the earlier Registry position. Although this would only apply
where there was a conflict. The idea was also raised that an arbitration/mediation
process could be introduced that allow those applicants in contention to
resolve the issue via a dialogue between them/ICANN. If one chose a different
string as part of that process, that application would still be part of that
round of bids. For sponsored TLDs their was clearly movement away from lottery’s
and auctions, but that still leaves other types of gTLDs which some
Constituencies are arguing for.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Public policy issues remain a major concern, but few ideas
on how to tackle this were forthcoming, so the issues will be thrown to the GAC
with the starting question, “how do you plan to tackle this?”</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>A short discussion took place on the possible introduction
of single letter domains at both the first and second levels. The need for a
technical evaluation at the first level was recognised, as well as any
potential impact on IDNs. Their was support to consider insertion at the top
level as a separate part of the process.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Comments welcome.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Lots more work to do.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Regards</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-style:normal'>Tony</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue;font-style:normal'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></i></p>
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