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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In connection with a discussion that took place on yesterday’s CPWG call, I decided to send the following communication to ICANN’s General Counsel in an individual capacity.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> Michael Palage
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 23, 2023 4:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> John Jeffrey <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Subject:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> Anti-Trust/Competition Concern wrt Transfer Policy Review PDP WG (22-Aug-2023 Call)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello John,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would like to bring to your attention some concerns about the substance of yesterday’s Transfer Policy Review PDP WG. Although I raised this concern during today’s At-Large Consolidated Policy Working Group (CPWG), this comment is being
submitted in an individual capacity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During yesterday’s call registrars and registries were engaged in discussions regarding registry pricing (both floors and ceilings) in connection with ICANN Approved Transfers. A copy of the recording is available here –
<a href="https://community.icann.org/display/TPRPDP/2023-08-22+Transfer+Policy+Review+PDP+WG+Call">
https://community.icann.org/display/TPRPDP/2023-08-22+Transfer+Policy+Review+PDP+WG+Call</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Based on the portions of the call that I listened to live, I think ICANN staff did an appropriate job walking a very fine line when they referenced fees, including I recall a suggestion to remove the fee reference from the existing policy.
However, I believe there were multiple references to fee minimums and caps imposed by Registries that were concerning, especially when enforced via an ICANN policy document.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recently, I have been active in other standards bodies and trade associations. I have noticed a growing best practice of these organizations to include a standard reference to the organization’s anti-trust policy at the beginning of most
calls/events. Therefore, I would like to propose the following action items:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">I do not believe that ICANN has a public Anti-Trust/Competition policy. My apologies if I have somehow missed this. If one does exist I would greatly appreciate a pointer to this document.
If one does not exist, then ICANN should strongly consider developing a public Anti-Trust / Competition policy.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">I believe the standard ICANN preamble text that is read before each session/call (e.g. “Those who take part in the ICANN multistakeholder process are to comply with the expected standards
of behavior” be amended to include a specific reference to the Anti-Trust / Competition policy when one is adopted.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">It would seem advisable for someone from ICANN legal to monitor these calls when the agenda specifically envisions a discussion of fees as it did today.
<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="524" height="308" style="width:5.4583in;height:3.2083in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D9D5DD.0EA5B5D0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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