[council] ICANN’s GNSO Solicits Public Comments on Draft Resolution to Curb Domain Tasting

[GNSO.SECRETARIAT@GNSO.ICANN.ORG]

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http://www.icann.org/public_comment/#domain-tasting

ICANN’s GNSO Solicits Public Comments on Draft Resolution to Curb Domain 
Tasting
Comment period 7 March 2008 to 28 March 2008

Please submit comments to:
<domain-tasting-motion at icann.org>
Comments may be viewed at:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/domain-tasting-motion/

Explanation:  The GNSO Council is considering the issue of "domain 
tasting", a term used to describe the case when someone registers a 
domain name and then tests to see if the name has sufficient traffic to 
provide more income than the annual registration fee (usually through 
pay-per-click advertising). If the name is deemed sufficiently 
profitable, it is kept.

If not, the current "add grace period" (AGP) - where domains can be 
returned within five days without cost - is used to return the domain at 
no net cost to the registrant. Recently there has been a significant 
increase in the number of domains registered and returned within the 
AGP. ICANN staff prepared an Issues Report in June 2007
http://www.gnso.icann.org/issues/domain-tasting/gnso-domain-tasting-report-14jun07.pdf
and subsequently a GNSO working group published an Outcomes Report in 
October 2007.
http://www.gnso.icann.org/drafts/gnso-domain-tasting-adhoc-outcomes-report-final.pdf
The GNSO Council decided on 31 October 2007 to launch a policy 
development process (PDP) on domain tasting. An Initial Report
http://www.gnso.icann.org/issues/domain-tasting/gnso-initial-report-domain-tasting-07jan08.pdf 
was produced for public comment, outlining the policy development 
process, possible actions that might be taken, and the arguments put 
forward for and against such actions. Public comments were incorporated 
into a draft Final Report (posted 8 February)
http://www.gnso.icann.org/drafts/draft-final-report-domain-tasting-08feb08.pdf
for GNSO Council review and action.

Members of the Council subsequently drafted this motion
http://gnso.icann.org/issues/domain-tasting/dnt-motion-6mar08.shtml
to curb domain tasting. It would prohibit any gTLD operator that has 
implemented an add grace period from offering a refund for any domain 
name deleted during the AGP that exceeds 10% of its net new 
registrations in that month, or fifty domain names, whichever is 
greater. An exemption may be sought for a particular month, upon the 
documented showing of extraordinary circumstances, as detailed in the 
motion.

The GNSO Council will consider public comments and constituency impact 
statements regarding the draft motion and incorporate them into a 
further draft for Council consideration at its scheduled 17 April meeting.

Please submit comments to:
<domain-tasting-motion at icann.org>
Comments may be viewed at:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/domain-tasting-motion/
-- 
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat - ICANN
gnso.secretariat[at]gnso.icann.org
http://gnso.icann.org