[CCWG-ACCT] pending legal questions

Mathieu Weill mathieu.weill at afnic.fr
Tue May 26 07:01:24 UTC 2015


Dear Kavouss, Dear Colleagues,

The item is indeed on today's CCWG call agenda. (item 3, see attachment).

Best
Mathieu

Le 26/05/2015 08:49, Kavouss Arasteh a écrit :
> Dear Leon
> Dear other Co-chairs
> Dear Colleagues
> From the e-mail discussions, I recognized that the matter of Member 
> Model with or without UA and various options to do so is still unclear 
> for many
> When therre are more than 150 e-m,ailé exchanged in which the issue 
> was addressed from various angle
> It means that there are issues to be addressed
> May I respectfully suggest that include the matter in today's agenda
> Kavouss
>
> 2015-05-26 8:37 GMT+02:00 Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com 
> <mailto:otieno.barrack at gmail.com>>:
>
>     I think it is always best to institutionalize membership that way by
>     laws have room to operate since we are dealing with an entity as
>     opposed to when the same is personalized which allows room for
>     feelings to operate.
>
>     On 5/26/15, Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com
>     <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>> wrote:
>     > On Tue, May 26, 2015 at 6:20 AM, Bruce Tonkin <
>     > Bruce.Tonkin at melbourneit.com.au
>     <mailto:Bruce.Tonkin at melbourneit.com.au>> wrote:
>     >
>     >>  ......   Or put another way – how is the member held
>     accountable to the
>     >> appointing organization?
>     >>
>     >
>     > Good question, another question from me is "whether the
>     membership can be
>     > tied to the position and not the person". i.e Is it possible to
>     recognise
>     > the Chair of SO/AC as the members? if yes, i think that would
>     make whatever
>     > accountability mechanism within the SO/AC applicable on their member
>     > representative; Like the various SO/AC would be able to replace
>     their Chair
>     > (as they would have normally done) if they find him/her no
>     longer operating
>     > by their guidelines
>     >
>     > Regards
>     >
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Regards,
>     >>
>     >> Bruce Tonkin
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> *From:* accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>     <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org> [mailto:
>     >> accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>     <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org>] *On
>     Behalf Of *Alan
>     >> Greenberg
>     >> *Sent:* Monday, 25 May 2015 11:16 AM
>     >> *To:* León Felipe Sánchez Ambía; Kavouss Arasteh
>     >> *Cc:* accountability-cross-community at icann.org
>     <mailto:accountability-cross-community at icann.org>
>     >> *Subject:* Re: [CCWG-ACCT] pending legal questions
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Leon, at least from my point of view, I think the question is a
>     bit more
>     >> specific. We of course know that individuals have a legal
>     persona and
>     >> therefore could be Members (or Designators).
>     >>
>     >> The question is whether it is practical to structure things so
>     that the
>     >> SO/AC Chairs (or other individuals named by their office within
>     the ICANN
>     >> community (perhaps a Chair of a SG in the case of the GNSO) can be
>     >> identified as Members and whoever the incumbent is in the
>     office plays
>     >> that
>     >> role. Or if that is not possible, is there an easy easy to
>     designate
>     >> them
>     >> (no pun intended) as Designators or Members when they assume
>     office. And
>     >> if
>     >> some peron is playing that role, can they appoint someone else
>     to act in
>     >> that capacity in place of them.
>     >>
>     >> Alan
>     >>
>     >> At 24/05/2015 08:56 PM, León Felipe Sánchez Ambía wrote:
>     >>
>     >>  Dear Kavouss,
>     >>
>     >> Thanks for your questions. At this stage, the advice from
>     lawyers is that
>     >> membership approach can be implementable in many ways. One
>     being the
>     >> establishment of UA but also any other kind of legal vehicle.
>     The example
>     >> mentioned has been a non-profit organization. I stress that
>     this has just
>     >> been used as an example and no one has suggested this approach
>     as it has
>     >> only been used to illustrate which other legal vehicles could
>     be used to
>     >> become a member.
>     >>
>     >> The bottom line is that to exercise certain powers as Board member
>     >> removal
>     >> and budget approval, there would be the need to have a legal
>     vehicle
>     >> (whatever legal vehicle) to implement the proposal.
>     >>
>     >> I hope you find this information useful. Please let me know if
>     you need
>     >> further clarification.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Best regards,
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> León
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>  El 24/05/2015, a las 2:29, Kavouss Arasteh <
>     kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com <mailto:kavouss.arasteh at gmail.com>>
>     >> escribió:
>     >>
>     >> Dear Leon
>     >> I have  asked few questions for which no reply are yet provided?!
>     >> Now , since last week , extensive discussions are on going on
>     whether a
>     >> membership approach is implementable without a need to UA?
>     >> May you raise this issue to the legal council pls
>     >> Regards
>     >> Kavouss
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Sent from my iPhone
>     >>
>     >> On 24 May 2015, at 02:21, León Felipe Sánchez Ambía <
>     >> leonfelipe at sanchez.mx <mailto:leonfelipe at sanchez.mx>> wrote:
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>  Dear Jorge,
>     >>
>     >> Apologies for the delayed reply. On April 1st, Sidley answered
>     these
>     >> questions on the Lega Sub-team list. I apologize for having
>     missed them
>     >> and
>     >> not forwarding them to you.
>     >>
>     >> I hope you find this information useful.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> *A.  Jurisdiction:   What provisions, if any, can be included
>     in the
>     >> Bylaws or articles of incorporation related to jurisdiction issues? Is
>     >> that
>     >> possible under current ICANN’s structure? What extra
>     accountability
>     >> would
>     >> changing jurisdiction bring to the community? *
>     >> *1.*  *Addressing jurisdiction in articles and bylaws and whether
>     >> possible under ICANN’s structure:*  Under concepts of state
>     corporate
>     >> law in the US, the entity’s articles of incorporation set
>     forth the
>     >> jurisdiction under which a corporation is formed .  The laws of the
>     >> jurisdiction of formation (currently for ICANN, California)
>     govern the
>     >> internal affairs of the corporation (the “ internal affairs
>     doctrine“)
>     >> .
>     >> These internal affairs include issues that one would expect to see
>     >> expressed in bylaws such as  how the entity is organized
>     internally and
>     >> the
>     >> various roles and decision rights and responsibilities of key
>     >> participants:  members or designators (if any), directors and
>     officers,
>     >> and
>     >> other key constituents.  Generally the corporation has to have s a
>     >> "registered office"  in the state of incorporation but it may
>     have its
>     >> primary office in another jurisdiction.   There is also
>     flexibility to
>     >> provide for alternate dispute resolutions and to designate specific
>     >> choice
>     >> of law provisions for such dispute resolution. For example, 
>      the bylaws
>     >> can set up alternative dispute resolution processes subject to
>     binding
>     >> international arbitration that follows bespoke rules formulated and
>     >> agreed
>     >> to by the community in the bylaws and other core documents. 
>     Although
>     >> this
>     >> does not fully allow the community to establish a comprehensive and
>     >> binding
>     >> private international law, and some court challenges will
>     remain possible
>     >> for entities organized under the laws of any jurisdiction, this
>     would
>     >> allow
>     >> for the resolution of most disputes in a manner consistent with
>     the legal
>     >> norms of the multi-stakeholder community, as has long been the
>     case with
>     >> respect to domain name disputes.  Outside of bylaw provisions,
>     >> contracting
>     >> parties typically specify what law shall govern specific
>     contractual
>     >> arrangements and provide forspecific mechanisms to apply for
>     dispute
>     >> resolution.  For example CA law need not be the law chosen to
>     rule a
>     >> particular contractual relation.  And contracts with third
>     parties can
>     >> define alternate jurisdictions and mechanisms to resolve legal
>     >> disagreements.
>     >>
>     >>   To the extent that this question is intended to relate to
>     establishing
>     >> a commitment to review where ICANN should be incorporated in
>     the future,
>     >> we
>     >> need more information about what is sought to be accomplished
>     and the
>     >> opportunity to undertake specific research.
>     >>
>     >>   To the extent that this question is about locking in a
>     jurisdiction for
>     >> formation or for dispute resolution or other purposes such that
>     it is
>     >> very
>     >> difficult to change in the future, we would need to undertake
>     research
>     >> and also explore the pros and cons of such an approach and how
>     it might
>     >> be
>     >> effectuated for example through a very high threshold for
>     amendment or
>     >> golden bylaw.
>     >>
>     >> *2.  Extra accountability mechanisms in other jurisdictions:* 
>     As to
>     >> whether extra accountability mechanisms are available in other
>     >> jurisdictions, we would have to engage in research and it would be
>     >> helpful to have direction as to several jurisdictions of
>     interest rather
>     >> than canvas the entire set of possibilities.  We are not aware
>     without
>     >> further research of a jurisdiction that offers extra accountability
>     >> mechanisms that could not be created in the flexible framework
>     provided
>     >> by
>     >> state corporate law in the US Before we undertake research on this
>     >> question
>     >> it would be helpful to better understand the underlying concern
>     that is
>     >> driving this question.
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> *B.  Liability: Which would be the liability of those persons
>     conforming
>     >> the proposed bodies? (IRP, Supervisory Board) Has the figure of a
>     >> supervisory board has been put in practice in California?   1. 
>     Liability
>     >> of persons participating on proposed bodies:*   While directors and
>     >> officers of a corporation take on certain responsibilities and
>     >> liabilities
>     >> as fiduciaries, it is relatively rare for a director or officer
>     of a
>     >> non-profit corporation to be found liable for breach of duty absent
>     >> malfeasance – for exxample engaging in self-dealing.  In
>     addition, the
>     >> corporation generally can exculpate (hold harmless) and indemnify
>     >> (promise
>     >> to pay for a financial liability outcome) so long as the act
>     was not
>     >> criminal or a breach of the duty of loyalty (self-dealing) or
>     otherwise
>     >> in
>     >> bad faith.  As to other persons – for examples members of a
>     review panel,
>     >> these same prootections of exculpation and indemnification are
>     available.
>     >> Generally there are a variety of protections available to help
>     protect
>     >> persons involved in ICANN governance from personal liability.
>     >>
>     >> *  2.  Supervisory boards:*   A two tier board structure – with
>     of a
>     >> supervisoory board and a management board is generally not a
>     specific
>     >> legal
>     >> construct under state corporate law in the US. State corporate law
>     >> generally contemplates that the board of directors has authority to
>     >> manage
>     >> and direct the affairs of the corporation and that the board
>     typically
>     >> delegates management functions to a group of officers.  Those
>     officers
>     >> are
>     >> not typically organized into a “managing board†(but this
>     may be a
>     >> difference without much specific legal import).   Additionally,
>     a board
>     >> can
>     >> delegate to a  board committee in ways that can mimic some
>     aspects of the
>     >> distinction between a supervisory board and a management board
>     , although
>     >> if that board committee takes on management tasks there is some
>     risk that
>     >> its members could be viewed to take on the heightened legal
>     >> responsibilities and liabilities associated with corporate
>     officers.
>     >> Best regards,
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> León
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>  El 23/05/2015, a las 1:22, Jorge.Cancio at bakom.admin.ch
>     <mailto:Jorge.Cancio at bakom.admin.ch> escribió:
>     >>
>     >> Dear Co-Chairs, dear all
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> I would like to kindly request information on the status of
>     processing
>     >> the
>     >> following legal questions, as I was informed more than a month
>     ago that
>     >> an
>     >> answer was being prepared, but still I have not seen any
>     specific reply.
>     >>
>     >> All questions were refered to and posed during the CCWG call of
>     March
>     >> 31st:
>     >>
>     >> ==
>     >>
>     >> - On jurisdiction I'd like to remind that there is a question
>     which as I
>     >> understand will be posed to our legal advisors on common practice
>     >> regarding
>     >> provisions included usually, if any, on jurisdiction issues in
>     Bylaws and
>     >> Articles of Incorporation (and the current situation in the case of
>     >> ICANN)?
>     >>
>     >> -  question of possible liabilities of future "community
>     council" members
>     >> -for exercising its powers- has been or will be considered. A
>     question
>     >> which arises from the paper is that the more power you give to
>     actors
>     >> different to the board, the more it is likely that they become
>     liable in
>     >> some fashion - this should be further investigated.
>     >>
>     >> - it seems in both papers (Sidley and Adler) that there would
>     be some
>     >> difficulties in finding solutions for independent and binding
>     appeals
>     >> panels - I guess this will need to be explored in depth
>     >>
>     >> ==
>     >>
>     >> The references to legal memos in those questions should be
>     understood as
>     >> refering to the papers current on March 31st.
>     >>
>     >> Thank you very much for your assistance and best regards
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> Jorge Cancio
>     >> Switzerland
>     >>
>     >> Von meinem iPhone gesendet
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>     >>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>     >>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>     >> Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>     >>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>     >>
>     >>
>     >
>     >
>     > --
>     >
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     > *Seun Ojedeji,Federal University Oye-Ekitiweb:
>     http://www.fuoye.edu.ng
>     > <http://www.fuoye.edu.ng> Mobile: +2348035233535
>     <tel:%2B2348035233535>**alt email:
>     > <http://goog_1872880453>seun.ojedeji at fuoye.edu.ng
>     <mailto:seun.ojedeji at fuoye.edu.ng>
>     > <seun.ojedeji at fuoye.edu.ng <mailto:seun.ojedeji at fuoye.edu.ng>>*
>     >
>     > The key to understanding is humility - my view !
>     >
>
>
>     --
>     Barrack O. Otieno
>     +254721325277 <tel:%2B254721325277>
>     +254-20-2498789 <tel:%2B254-20-2498789>
>     Skype: barrack.otieno
>     http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>     _______________________________________________
>     Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>     Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
>     <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>
>

-- 
*****************************
Mathieu WEILL
AFNIC - directeur général
Tél: +33 1 39 30 83 06
mathieu.weill at afnic.fr
Twitter : @mathieuweill
*****************************

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/accountability-cross-community/attachments/20150526/0f618d11/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
An embedded message was scrubbed...
From: Adam Peake <adam.peake at icann.org>
Subject: [CCWG-ACCT] Agenda CWG-Accountability mtg, Tuesday 26 May 2015
Date: Mon, 25 May 2015 20:14:13 +0000
Size: 15508
URL: <http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/accountability-cross-community/attachments/20150526/0f618d11/Messagejoint.mht>


More information about the Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list