[Ws2-jurisdiction] ISSUE: In rem Jurisdiction over ccTLDs

Nigel Roberts nigel at channelisles.net
Tue Aug 22 12:39:24 UTC 2017


Kavouss, Thiago, all

As is clear from the ratio in the Weinstein case, it has not been ruled 
that the US courts will exercise /in rem/ jurisdiction over ccTLDs. (the 
question is open -- in rem certainly applies to second level gtld 
domains, and ccTLD domains registered with a US registrar).


What IS clear, from history, is that ICANN has, in the past, acted in a 
way that in my country would be defined as 'blackmail'.

Viz: refusing to make IANA changes unless and until a particular country 
agreed to sign a contract on ICANN's terms over its ccTLD.

Others related to that specific ccTLD can confirm their recollection and 
may do so.

Whilst you appear to be agreeing with me on the point of subsidiarity, 
it is clear to me that providing ICANN-PTI with blankey immunity from 
all actions it could take, would allow it to return to that behaviour, 
with impunity.

So in fact, ccTLDs would LOSE the subsidiarity they currently enjoy.

I fully understand the concerns regarding OFAC etc.  But that's a reason 
for ICANN to work with the General Licencing regime to mollify those 
concerned.  It's not a reason to give IANA the freedom to do whatever it 
likes without the Rule of Law applying.

There is no intrinsic problem that needs solving with the ccTLD system.

That system has has been carefully and cooperatively reviewed by ICANN 
staff, cctLD managers and GAC members over a 7 years period resulting 
the policy framework we have know.


One concern IS certainly the potential effects of OFAC.

This does need to be explored further and the consideration of the 
meaning "prohibited transaction" (I don't think ICANN carries out any) 
and if it does, the obtaining of a general licence.

But this is no reason to tear up the policy work we've done in the ccTLD 
community over, literally decades, to arrive at the workable system we 
have today, over the disaster that was ICANN in 2001-2.

And isn't this WG about jurisdiction, anyway?



On 22/08/17 11:50, CISAS wrote:
 > Dear Mr Roberts,
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As you must know (from the Weinstein case)


On 22/08/17 12:21, Kavouss Arasteh wrote:
> Dear All
> I have noted some immediate rush and reaction to the proposal made by Thiago
> He raised an important issue which I have also taken with reference to a
> Resolution adopted by Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU Busan to which
> the United States of America which hosting ICANN venue and ICANN
> applicable law regarding non interference of any State in the ccTLD of
> other States.
> This has nothing to do with the development of PDP in process as it may
> takes years to finalize during which the ccTLD of other states would be
> detrimentally impacted.
> We have established WS2 and its sub grouop dealing with jurisdiction
> which is quite eligible to address the issue .We need to understand each
> other ^s problems and not make back and fort the issues which is of
> fundamental and crucial importance.
> Please also see my issue 2
> Regards
> Kavouss
>
>
> having read our immediate reaction but
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 12:23 PM, Nigel Roberts <nigel at channelisles.net
> <mailto:nigel at channelisles.net>> wrote:s
>
>     I fully support Jordan's intervention here.
>
>     Neither this group nor the ICANN Board can legislate for ccTLDs -
>     the strong respecting of the principle of subsidiarity by ICANN is
>     fundamental to the relationship tween the ccTLD community and ICANN,
>     enabling the 2003 Montreal Agreement which rescued the
>     multistakeholder model, reversing the previous year's formal
>     rejection and abandonment of the ICANN system by ccTLDs.
>
>
>
>     On 22/08/17 10:58, Jordan Carter wrote:
>
>         Dear Thiago, dear all,
>
>         Dispute resolution regarding ccTLD matters is currently the
>         subject of a
>         PDP in the ccNSO.
>
>         This isn't the perfect link but does give some info:
>
>         https://www.icann.org/public-comments/ccnso-pdp-retirement-review-2017-05-24-en
>         <https://www.icann.org/public-comments/ccnso-pdp-retirement-review-2017-05-24-en>
>
>         While the existence of the PDP does not prevent this sub-group
>         of the
>         CCWG discussing this matter, my understanding of ICANN's bylaws
>         is that
>         the Board would not be able to accept any WS2 recommendation on this
>         subject.  That is a hard won protection of our ccTLD
>         independence that
>         has been a feature of the ICANN system since the ccNSO was formed.
>
>         As such, the Jurisdiction group may prefer to focus its effort and
>         energy on matters where implementable recommendations can be
>         made by the
>         CCWG.
>
>         Hope this helps,
>
>         Jordan
>
>
>         On Tue, 22 Aug 2017 at 1:32 PM, Thiago Braz Jardim Oliveira
>         <thiago.jardim at itamaraty.gov.br
>         <mailto:thiago.jardim at itamaraty.gov.br>
>         <mailto:thiago.jardim at itamaraty.gov.br
>         <mailto:thiago.jardim at itamaraty.gov.br>>>
>
>         wrote:
>
>             Dear All,
>
>             For your consideration:
>
>             Issue 3: In rem Jurisdiction over ccTLDs
>
>             Description: US courts have in rem jurisdiction over domain
>         names as
>             a result of ICANN's place of incorporation, and US courts and US
>             enforcement agencies could possibly exercise its exclusive
>             enforcement jurisdiction over ICANN to compel it to re-delegate
>             ccTLDs. This is contrary, in particular, to paragraph 63 of the
>             Tunis Agenda: "Countries should not be involved in decisions
>             regarding another country's country-code Top-Level Domain
>         (ccTLD).
>             Their legitimate interests, as expressed and defined by each
>             country, in diverse ways, regarding decisions affecting their
>             ccTLDs, need to be respected, upheld and addressed via a
>         flexible
>             and improved framework and mechanisms." It is to be noted
>         that while
>             paragraph 63 may not state that States have sovereignty over
>         ccTLDs,
>             it does establish that States should not interfere with ccTLDs.
>             Further, an obligation on States not to interfere with certain
>             matters, as ccTLDs, need not be based on the principle of
>             sovereignty to exist, nor does it suppose that the matter is one
>             subject to the sovereignty of States. For States can simply
>         agree to
>             limit their ability to interfere with ccTLDs delegated to other
>             countries, and this is the principle embodied in Paragraph
>         63 of the
>             Tunis Agenda.
>
>             Proposed solution: ICANN should seek jurisdictional
>         immunities in
>             respect of ICANN's activities relating to the management of
>         ccTLDs.
>             In addition, it should be included in ICANN Bylaws an exclusive
>             choice of forum provision, whereby disputes relating to the
>             management of any given ccTLD by ICANN shall be settled
>         exclusively
>             in the courts of the country to which the ccTLD in question
>         refer. A
>             similar exclusive choice of forum clause shall be included
>         in those
>             contracts ICANN may have with ccTLD managers, where such a
>         contract
>             exists.
>
>             Best regards,
>
>             Thiago
>             _______________________________________________
>             Ws2-jurisdiction mailing list
>             Ws2-jurisdiction at icann.org
>         <mailto:Ws2-jurisdiction at icann.org>
>         <mailto:Ws2-jurisdiction at icann.org
>         <mailto:Ws2-jurisdiction at icann.org>>
>             https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/ws2-jurisdiction
>         <https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/ws2-jurisdiction>
>
>         --
>         Jordan Carter | Chief Executive, InternetNZ
>
>         +64-21-442-649 <tel:%2B64-21-442-649> | jordan at internetnz.net.nz
>         <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>
>         <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz <mailto:jordan at internetnz.net.nz>>
>
>         Sent on the run, apologies for brevity
>
>
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