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Well said.<br>
Thanks<br>
<br>
avri<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 29-Dec-14 17:25, Timothe Litt wrote:<br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix"> This whole topic is absurd, yet it
keeps coming up.<br>
<br>
Consider my local area: we have a river named Charles. (Named
after a former king named Charles.) I have one or two friends
named Charles. Somehow, I don't think they'll change their
names just because some government (the current one, or the
successor to the king formerly claiming the territory) says
'mine!'. Another has a corporation whose name is 'Charles River
(...)'. Then there are my colleagues named 'Jesus'... which a
certain set of religions might object to. And others named,
dare I say, 'Mohamed' - which is at once the most common first
name for males in the world (1), and very sensitive to another
set of religions.<br>
<br>
I kinda sorta support the statement. Not that there's anything
wrong with it per-se. But as usual, this is all trademark - and
so, corporate - oriented.<br>
<br>
We individual (non-corporate, e.g. natural person and/or family
group not engaged in commerce) domain name holders have no
rights in our names, and no-one, not even NCSG, ever bothers to
advocate for us. E.g. Any name we pick can be trademarked; then
we can be bullied out of it. And few of us can afford the legal
fees to fight.<br>
<br>
So sure, let's object to censoring geographic (and 'cultural')
names. It's helpful, and you can list me as an objector.<br>
<br>
But one of these days it would be nice to change the
conversation to include how to create and protect the rights of
non-corporate domain name holders. <br>
<br>
Yes, I've said all this before. That doesn't make it any less
true.<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">(1) Many sources. Here's one: <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/10/30/332087/mohammed-worlds-most-popular-name/">http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/10/30/332087/mohammed-worlds-most-popular-name/</a>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Spanish daily<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>ABC</i><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>recently reported that some 150 million people across the world are named “Mohammad.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>
<span>The report said that in addition to the populated Muslim countries, the name Mohammed enjoys a high frequency in numerous non-Muslim countries as it is said to be the most popular name for babies in some regions in France.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>
<span>The name also ranks sixth among the most popular names in Spain and the UK, the report noted.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>
<span>Meanwhile, a recent study, conducted by Milan’s Chamber of Commerce and published on September 4, indicated that “Mohammed” has become the most popular name for small business owners in the Italian city of Milan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></blockquote>
Timothe Litt
ACM Distinguished Engineer
--------------------------
This communication may not represent the ACM or my employer's views,
if any, on the matters discussed.
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On 29-Dec-14 01:25, Robin Gross wrote:<br>
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Hello All,<br>
<br>
If any of NCSG's member organizations (or NCSG as a whole) would
like to sign-on to this civil society statement regarding a GAC
sub-group's proposal to give governments veto power on new top
level domain names that use "geographic names" please let me
know asap.<br>
<br>
The GAC sub-group's proposal on "geographic names" and other
comments submitted on this proposal are available here:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/Governmental+Advisory+Committee">https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/Governmental+Advisory+Committee</a><br>
<br>
The GAC's deadline for comments is 31 December, so please let me
know by 30 December if your civil society organization would
like to sign-on to this joint civil society statement; it is
currently open for sign-on by other civil society organizations
until 30 December. Or send in your own comment on the proposal
if you are so inclined (at the link above) by 31 December.
Holiday deadlines are tough, I know! <br>
<br>
I think this is a very important policy issue for protecting
freedom of expression and the positive development of the
multi-stakeholder model for Internet governance.<br>
<br>
Thanks very much!<br>
<br>
All best,<br>
Robin<br>
<br>
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