[council] Compromise wording on WHOIS

[Ross Rader]

Philip Sheppard wrote:
> Ross, Council members
>  
> The question
> ----------------
> I make no apology for changing the question.

Philip - this is unhelpful and disruptive.

You have floated an unworkable proposition which makes absolutely no 
sense. It is not rooted in any sort of task force process, nor is it a 
compromise of any sort. We cannot, as you propose, deal with the 
question of "purpose of Whois" by dealing with the question that you 
seek to divert our attention to.

I'm not going to wade into the rhetorical mire that you've laid out as 
justification of this counter-productive exercise. Some facts might be 
helpful though:

1. Formulation #1 is not* an* affirmation of historic truths. We wrote 
this with a clean-sheet approach, and did so cognizant that the policy 
recommendations of the GNSO Council must be consistent with ICANN's 
scope and mission. Formulation #1 proposes a well-considered balance 
between the privacy requirements of individual and corporate users and 
the legitimate needs of other users, such as the law enforcement, 
intellectual property and big business interests like those you 
represent. Maintaining this balance will be critical as we scale our 
policy development efforts into areas like IDN and those challenges 
created by the digital divide. Tipping the scales in the favor of your 
constituents as you propose is dangerous and short-sighted.

2. In a recent council meeting, only one member of council made an 
unqualified endorsement of Formulation #2. The rest of those 
representatives making an unqualified endorsement did so in favor of 
Formulation #1. Those doing so represented a majority of the Council 
votes. This mirrors the level of support at a task force level where a 
majority of the participants also supported Formulation #1.

My view is that you haven't presented us with a compromise, you've 
presented us with a distraction. My hope is that this is not yet another 
attempt to prolong a debate on what is otherwise and extremely 
straightforward consideration and a pair of well-crafted propositions. I 
urge my fellow councilors to remain focused on evaluating the merits of 
Formulation #1 v. Formulation #2 lest we throw our task force into disarray.

-- 

                        -rr








                 "Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions.
                                            All life is an experiment.
                             The more experiments you make the better."
                         - Ralph Waldo Emerson


Contact Info:
Ross Rader
Director, Research & Innovation
Tucows Inc.
c. 416.828.8783

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