[CCWG-ACCT] FW: [Acct-Legal] Memo - Revised Powers Chart, Voluntary Model

Fri Jun 12 16:05:08 UTC 2015

Thanks Becky,
I think you highlight a key point.
Currently, NTIA and the California Attorney General are the only enforcement bodies ensuring ICANN remains committed to its bylaws.
The membership structure would give some of that authority to the ICANN community through its existing structures -- the SOs and ACs.
Isn't that the definition of transitioning the United States government (in its various forms) out of its unique role?
After NTIA disengages, don't we want the community to have shared authority for enforcement, rather than leaving it to the California Attorney General alone?
Regards,
Keith
From: accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org [mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org] On Behalf Of Burr, Becky
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 11:07 AM
To: Roelof Meijer; Accountability Cross Community
Subject: Re: [CCWG-ACCT] FW: [Acct-Legal] Memo - Revised Powers Chart, Voluntary Model

Roelof,
shi
As I understand it, Courts view the bylaws as a contract between a corporation and its members/shareholders.  If ICANN has no members, the bylaws are not a contract with anyone, so the only party with authority to enforce would be the Attorney General.  (As discussed elsewhere, this is extremely unlikely to happen outside of a fraud/corruption situation.)

The fact that members of SO's are legal entities doesn't change this.  Unless they are members of ICANN, they are not a party to the bylaws "contract."

B
J. Beckwith Burr
Neustar, Inc. / Deputy General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
1775 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Office: + 1.202.533.2932  Mobile:  +1.202.352.6367  / becky.burr at neustar.biz<mailto:becky.burr at neustar.biz> / www.neustar.biz<http://www.neustar.biz>

From: Roelof Meijer <Roelof.Meijer at sidn.nl<mailto:Roelof.Meijer at sidn.nl>>
Date: Friday, June 12, 2015 at 8:18 AM
To: Accountability Community <accountability-cross-community at icann.org<mailto:accountability-cross-community at icann.org>>
Subject: [CCWG-ACCT] FW: [Acct-Legal] Memo - Revised Powers Chart, Voluntary Model

Dear all, and especially dear legal colleagues,

The memo states:

"If there were a dispute between ICANN and an SO/AC, the parties could agree to an IRP and binding arbitration, but there would be no mechanism to restrain ICANN from acting contrary to these decisions, nor would there be a mechanism to challenge an arbitration decision that exceeded the scope of authority of the arbitration panel, outside an unlikely, independent intervention by the California Attorney General. "

I understand that the SO/AC's, not being legal entities, cannot take legal action to enforce. However, does that really equal "no mechanism to restrain ICANN from acting contrary to these decisions"?

Most members of SO's are legal entities, many members of AC's are too, couldn't those members, being affected parties, individually or collectively take legal action?

Alternatively, I would assume that before the ultimate step of talking legal action against ICANN, the community will have escalated through its powers and thus has completed the procedure to recall the entire board. The power to recall the entire board will have to be combined with the power to in one way or another appoint an interim board. So, the community, through due process, recalls the board. The board, in contradiction with the bylaws, refuses "to go". The community has recalled the board and thus, through the defined process (also in the bylaws), appoints an interim board. According to the bylaws, this interim board is now the legal representative of ICANN. And can take the required legal action (if necessary) to force the "old" board to go away and get lost.

Would one of these two work?

Best,

Roelof Meijer

From: <Hofheimer>, "Joshua T." <jhofheimer at sidley.com<mailto:jhofheimer at sidley.com>>
Date: donderdag 11 juni 2015 06:09
To: "ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org<mailto:ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org>" <ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org<mailto:ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org>>
Cc: Sidley ICANN CCWG <sidleyicannccwg at sidley.com<mailto:sidleyicannccwg at sidley.com>>, ICANN-Adler <ICANN at adlercolvin.com<mailto:ICANN at adlercolvin.com>>
Subject: [Acct-Legal] Memo - Revised Powers Chart, Voluntary Model

Dear Legal Sub-Team,

Further to the CCWG request on the call last Friday, attached is a memo revising the summary chart describing the viability of the enumerated powers under the three models - Member model, Designator Model and Voluntary Model.  We also explore the impact of not having the SO/ACs organized legal persons to represent their interests.

Cheers,
Josh
JOSHUA HOFHEIMER
Sidley Austin LLP
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+1.323.708.2405 (cell)
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From:ccwg-accountability5-bounces at icann.org<mailto:ccwg-accountability5-bounces at icann.org> [mailto:ccwg-accountability5-bounces at icann.org] On Behalf Of Hilton, Tyler
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 8:29 PM
To: ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org<mailto:ccwg-accountability5 at icann.org>
Subject: [Acct-Legal] Memo - Responses to CCWG GAC Questions

Dear Legal Sub-team,

Attached please find a memo responding to the list of questions from the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) provided to us on June 5, 2015.

Best,

TYLER HILTON
Associate
Sidley Austin LLP
555 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
+1.213.896.6130
thilton at sidley.com<mailto:thilton at sidley.com>
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