<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"><base href="x-msg://4120/"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div lang="FR-BE" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; "><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-17dec13-en.htm" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; ">http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-17dec13-en.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><h1 style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">New gTLD Auction Rules<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="fieldset-legend"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Comment / Reply Periods (*)</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Comment Open Date: <span class="date-display-single">17 December 2013</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Comment Close Date: <span class="date-display-single">14 January 2014 - 23:59 UTC</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Reply Open Date: <span class="date-display-single">15 January 2014</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Reply Close Date: <span class="date-display-single">4 February 2014 - 23:59 UTC</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="fieldset-legend"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Important Information Links</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-17dec13-en.htm" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">Public Comment Announcement</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="mailto:comments-new-gtld-auction-rules-16dec13@icann.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">To Submit Your Comments (Forum)</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-new-gtld-auction-rules-16dec13/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">View Comments Submitted</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="fieldset-legend"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Brief Overview</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Originating Organization: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Global Domains Division<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Categories/Tags: <o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; "><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">New gTLD Auctions<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Purpose (Brief): <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">To gather community input regarding the detailed rules and processes for Auctions to resolve string contention sets in the New gTLD Program.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Current Status: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The Auction Rules (version 2013.12.12) have been updated since the publication of the Preliminary Auction Rules on 1 Nov 2013 based on community feedback, including feedback received in Webinars and sessions at the ICANN 48 meeting in Buenos Aires. Additionally the Bidder’s Agreement, Bidder forms, and a Draft Auction Schedule have been published for community input.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Next Steps: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Based on public comment feedback, a final set of Auction Rules and Bidder’s Agreement will be published and New gTLD Auctions to resolve string contention sets will be implemented and executed per the rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Staff Contact: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Russ Weinstein<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="mailto:russ.weinstein@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20New%20gTLD%20Auction%20Rules%20public%20comment%20period" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">Email Staff Contact</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="fieldset-legend"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Detailed Information</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">ICANN is pleased to announce the publication of an updated version (2013.12.12) of the Auction Rules, the Bidder Agreement, the Bidder Forms, and a Draft Auction Schedule for community review. The Auction Rules have been updated since the initial release of the Preliminary Auction Rules on 1 Nov 2013 based on feedback received including during the Auctions Webinar on 7 November 2013 and the ICANN 48 Meeting in Buenos Aires.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The documents being published for comment are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Auction Rules version 2013.12.12 – provides a detailed insight into all facets of the Auctions program, including eligibility, scheduling considerations, preparation procedures, deposits, bidding limits, bidding procedures, the conclusion of auctions, payments and refunds. This version of the Auction Rules only addresses Contention Sets with direct contention relationships; an update or addendum will be published at later time to address Contention Sets with both direct and indirect contention relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Bidder Forms – allows an applicant to designate itself or another entity to act as the bidder on its behalf. These forms will be used by ICANN and Power Auctions (the Auction Manager) to perform due diligence, set up a bank subaccount and a user account on the Auction Site. The bidder forms must be completed for each application participating in an Auction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Bidder Agreement – an agreement between the Applicant and/or Bidder and Power Auctions, detailing the roles and responsibilities of each of these parties in the Auction process. The Bidder Agreement must be executed at least one time for each Applicant, and if an applicant utilizes a Designated Bidder, the agreement must be executed for each unique configuration of Applicant and Designated Bidder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Draft Auction Schedule – Using the preliminary contention sets which do not include the effect any objection determinations may have, a Draft Auction Schedule has been created. This schedule utilizes the scheduling criteria defined in the Auction Rules but, due to the dynamic nature of application status, does not take into account the eligibility requirements for a contention set to be sent to Auction by ICANN as defined in the Applicant Guide Book and the Auction Rules. Should contention sets either resolve prior to their scheduled Auction or not yet be eligible for an Auction, ICANN will adjust the schedule in attempt to maintain approximately 20 contention sets per Auction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">ICANN intends to publish a Master Escrow agreement between ICANN, Power Auctions and the Escrow Provider for informational purposes prior to the conclusion of the public comment period. It is not envisioned that Bidders will execute an agreement with the Escrow Provider; rather the Bidder's Agreement will create a relationship where the Bidder will be a third party beneficiary to the Escrow Agreement. The Escrow provider will establish accounts by Bidder to securely hold deposits, issue refunds to Bidders based on the Auction Results, and collect winning fees on behalf of ICANN.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">All feedback will be taken into account, but community feedback on the following topics will be especially helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; "><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The pace and schedule of auctions to resolve all outstanding contention sets<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The duration of auction rounds and recesses between rounds<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The effects of the Name Collision issues on the eligibility for auction of a contention set<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">With the input from the community in this public comment period, ICANN will complete and publish the Auction Rules, Bidder's Agreement, Bidder Forms and move forward to administer Auctions to resolve string contention sets on the new gTLD program.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Section II: Background: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Section 4.3 of the Applicant Guidebook describes auctions as the last resort method to resolve string contention sets. This section provides for an Ascending Clock Auction methodology and provides an overview of the process and simplified illustrations of the execution of a contention set auction. On 1 November 2013, a preliminary version of the Auction rules was published. The Auction Rules were published as preliminary because there were several aspects related to scheduling that would benefit from community feedback prior to finalization and execution of the Auction program. The Auction Rules have since been updated to provide more details of the Auction processes and procedures as well as to incorporate community feedback received since the initial publication.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Section III: Document and Resource Links: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/string-contention-procedures-04jun12-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">Applicant Guide Book section 4.3</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 429 KB]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/rules-12dec13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">New gTLD Auction Rules 2013.12.12</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 323 KB]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/prelim-rules-31oct13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">New gTLD Auction Rules_1Nov13</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 235 KB] (Preliminary)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/rules-redline-12dec13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">Redline of Auction Rules 2013.12.12 to 2013.11.01</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 352 KB] (Comparison of current version to preliminary)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/draft-schedule-16dec13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">Draft Auction Schedule 2013.12.16</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 308 KB]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/bidder-agreement-12dec13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">New gTLD Auction Bidder Agreement</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 171 KB]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/bidder-designation-form-16dec13-en.pdf" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-US">New gTLD Auction Bidder Forms</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[PDF, 241 KB]<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Section IV: Additional Information: <o:p></o:p></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><hr size="3" width="100%" align="center"></span></div><p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Glen de Saint Géry<br>GNSO Secretariat<br><b><a href="mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span style="color: blue; ">gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org</span></a></b><br><b><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline; "><span style="color: blue; ">http://gnso.icann.org</span></a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div></div></div></body></html>