<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><span apple-content-name="body" style="display: block;" class="" apple-content-edited="true" applecontenteditable="true"><div class="" style="font-family: EuphemiaUCAS;"><img apple-inline="yes" id="058A3776-04D0-4139-B1B1-C82D947324E7" height="79" width="595" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:58E63677-93BB-4DB3-B739-D7337E7119D4/PastedGraphic-1.tiff"></div><div class="" style="font-family: EuphemiaUCAS;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: EuphemiaUCAS;">The message below is sent to you for your information. If you have any questions, please contact us.</div><div class="" style="font-family: EuphemiaUCAS;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: EuphemiaUCAS;"><p class=""><strong class="">31 July 2015</strong></p><p class=""><strong class="">John Jeffrey</strong><br class="">
<strong class=""><abbr class="" title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers">ICANN</abbr>'s General Counsel & Secretary</strong></p><p class="">Recently some questions have been raised regarding our posting of a
partially redacted final "Declaration" issued by the Panel in the <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dca-v-icann-2013-12-11-en" class="">DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA) v. <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr></a> independent review process (DCA .AFRICA IRP or IRP) proceedings.</p><p class="">Some misinformation and erroneous reporting have framed parts of the
discussion. In this blog, I would like to present facts and clarify a
number of points, including the reasons for posting a revised version of
the Declaration.</p>
<h3 class="">Why Publish a Redacted Declaration?</h3><p class="">As background, <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> has a commitment to the community to post any IRP declaration as soon as reasonably possible. <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> initially published a redacted version of the IRP Panel's <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/final-declaration-09jul15-en.pdf" class="">Declaration</a> in the DCA .AFRICA IRP on 9 July 2015, within 24 hours of receiving it.</p><p class="">Today we are publishing a second version with fewer redactions. So,
why are we publishing two versions with different levels of redaction?</p><p class="">Specifically, under <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>'s <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#IV" class="">bylaws</a>,
an IRP Panel may grant requests to keep certain information
confidential, such as personally identifiable information, trade
secrets, internal correspondence, and correspondence with third parties.
In the case of DCA v. <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>, the IRP Panel determined that:</p>
<ul class="">
<li class="">Documents exchanged as confidential by the parties could not be publicly disclosed.</li>
<li class="">Reference to information in these documents in parties' written
submissions must be redacted prior to public posting. This is a noted
common practice in similar commercial arbitrations and the practice has
been adopted in the IRP proceedings so that as much information as
possible can be placed in the record for the panel to make its decision.</li>
</ul><p class="">Upon receiving the Declaration from the IRP Panel, we were under an
affirmative obligation found in our confidentiality agreement and <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/procedural-order-4-25sep14-en.pdf" class="">IRP Panel Procedural Order #4</a> to redact all confidential information exchanged during the IRP proceedings.</p><p class="">Immediately upon receipt of the Declaration, our legal counsel began
to make obligatory redactions to protect material that the parties had
mutually agreed was confidential. This was done in order to meet our
obligation to post quickly (within the first business day following
receipt of the Declaration).</p><p class=""><strong class=""><em class="">In retrospect, we could have, and should have, noted on
the posted document and on website that it contained redactions and
explained the reasons for the redactions.</em></strong></p><p class="">For the sake of increased clarity, we have now altered our process
for posting IRP declarations. Going forward we will ensure that in
addition to marking as "Redacted" each part of the document that is
redacted, we will also make clear when posting a declaration whether
there are redactions in it, and will state the reasons for the
redactions, as we have done in today's posted version.</p><p class="">In the case of the <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dca-v-icann-2013-12-11-en" class="">DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA) v. <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr></a> declaration, immediately after the initial posting of the declaration, <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>'s external legal counsel began reviewing each redaction to determine whether it could be released. </p><p class="">If the information redacted came from <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>,
we tried to answer several questions -- Did it contain confidential
information? Did it contain privileged information? Could the privilege
be waived? And, did it contain third party or applicant information that
we did not have the right to publish without permission? </p><p class="">If the information under question had been requested to be
confidential by a party or entity that was providing the information to <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>,
we tried to answer a different set of questions -- Have we gained
their permission to publish it? If DCA's information -- has their
counsel or DCA lifted their request that it be considered confidential?
Will they do so if we ask them to lift confidentiality?</p><p class="">If the information in question was from <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>,
we were able to review it very quickly. But for the information
supplied by others, we were required to reach out to each of the
parties.</p><p class="">In the case of DCA, we initially reached out to DCA's lawyers, then
when we learned that DCA was no longer represented by legal counsel and
we had to reach out to DCA directly.</p><p class="">We also sought the release of information that other impacted parties
had requested be kept confidential by reaching out directly to each of
those involved. </p><p class="">The most recent version of the Declaration that we are publishing is a
result of our efforts to remove those redactions. There are still some
redactions and we have indicated the reasons why they still exist in the
revised version.</p>
<h3 class=""><abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> Staff Assistance on New <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr> Applications</h3><p class="">Some have viewed the redactions as support for an allegation DCA made during the IRP proceedings that <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>
staff had not treated DCA fairly. Specifically, it has been suggested
that staff improperly assisted the African Union Commission (AUC) by
helping to ensure that its letter of support for another applicant
satisfied the necessary criteria. The DCA IRP Declaration does not
address this allegation, but since the allegation is being discussed, it
warrants some clarification.</p><p class="">If an applicant has applied for a <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr>
string that is a geographic name, such as .AFRICA, the applicant must
submit documentation of support for, or nonobjection to, its application
from the relevant governments or public authorities. The existence of
support or nonobjection is the primary objective, and the manner in
which it is documented is secondary.</p><p class=""><abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>
staff has helped many applicants and their supporters understand how to
properly document support. Not only did we make a template support
letter publicly available to all as part of the New <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr> Program Applicant Guidebook (see <a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/guidebook-full-04jun12-en.pdf" class="">Appendix to Module 2</a>),
we have answered questions, received through our customer service
channel, as to how interested parties can document support for a given <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr> application. In the case of ZA Central Registry, <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> appropriately assisted the applicant in documenting support from the AUC.</p><p class="">Our actions surrounding the .AFRICA applications were not unique,
since we assist any applicant who requests assistance, or who needs
clarification in learning how best to document support or other matters.
We have provided assistance to all applicants regarding their
applications to the maximum extent possible.</p>
<h3 class="">Impact on .AFRICA Delegation </h3><p class="">Questions have also been raised regarding statements made by DCA
about the impact of this decision on the other .AFRICA application. In a
statement in recent days, DCA was quoted as saying that:</p><p class="">Going forward, we now expect <abbr class="" title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers">ICANN</abbr> to accept the binding IRP outcome, refrain from any further plans to delegate .Africa to the <strong class="">ZA Central Registry who should now be removed immediately from the new <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr> program</strong>;
and cooperate fully with DCA Trust to ensure that the IRP Panel ruling
is implemented so that .Africa can be delegated to DotConnectAfrica
Trust under a cooperative framework that will satisfy the stipulations
of DCA's charitable objectives." [bold emphasis added]</p><p class="">The <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2015-07-16-en" class=""><abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> Board adopted the panel's recommendation</a> at its Board meeting on 16 July 2015.</p><p class="">This decision does not remove the ZA Central Registry from the New <abbr title="generic Top Level Domain" class="">gTLD</abbr> Program, nor is there any part of the Declaration that calls for that result. The impact on ZA Central Registry is that <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr> "will refrain from delegating .AFRICA" pending the outcome of the evaluation process on DCA's application.</p><p class="">As called for in the Board resolution, <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>
has "resume[d] the evaluation of DCA's application for .AFRICA. The
evaluations will be performed in accordance with processes laid out in
the Applicant Guidebook.</p><p class="">To summarize, <abbr title="Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" class="">ICANN</abbr>'s
actions in redacting parts of the IRP Declaration at the outset were
motivated by our obligation to the community to post the document
quickly and the competing, yet mandatory obligation, to respect
confidential information while being as transparent as possible.</p><div class="">Article is available at :</div></div><div class=""><a href="https://www.icann.org/news/blog/africa-irp-declaration-clearing-up-some-facts" class="">https://www.icann.org/news/blog/africa-irp-declaration-clearing-up-some-facts</a></div></span><br class=""><br class=""><div apple-content-edited="true" class="">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 13px;" class="">Rudi Vansnick</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 13px;" class="">Chair Non-for-Profit Operational Concerns Constituency (NPOC)</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><a href="http://www.npoc.org" class="">www.npoc.org</a></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 13px;" class=""><a href="mailto:rudi.vansnick@npoc.org" class="">rudi.vansnick@npoc.org</a></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 13px;" class="">Tel : +32 (0)9 329 39 16</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 13px;" class="">Mobile : +32 (0)475 28 16 32</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Euphemia UCAS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></span></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</div>
<br class=""></body></html>