<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">Hi NCSG members,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">The Statement of Interest Task Force (SOI-TF) commissioned by the GNSO Council Committee for Overseeing and Implementing Continuous Improvement (CCOICI) was assigned to review the current SOI used inside of GNSO and recommend improvements if needed.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">The Task Force published its recommendation report last year for public comments. You can find the report here: <a href="https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/generic-names-supporting-organization-council-gnso-council/gnso-statement-interest-task-force-review-soi-requirements-09-09-2022-en.pdf" target="_blank">https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/generic-names-supporting-organization-council-gnso-council/gnso-statement-interest-task-force-review-soi-requirements-09-09-2022-en.pdf</a><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">In the report, the TF recommends dividing the current SOI into 2 parts, namely:</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><ol><li>General Statement of Interest which contains general information about a participant to understand their background and motivation for participating in GNSO activities.</li><li>Activity Specific Statement of Interest which is information that is provided specific to the activity a participant has requested to participate in. For example, what is their motivation for participation in that activity as well as possible impact on the individual and/or their employer of the outcomes of the process.</li></ol></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">The Task Force has reached a stalemate recently regarding the Activity Specific SOI. It is about the exemption language for when WG members are prevented from revealing specific information of who exactly they represent/are paid to participate by professional ethical obligations such as attorney-client agreement. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">The staff has helped draft the exemption language: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aFuwubJUiIbXjui9mT6M9n1iSd-N_puL/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100305727513678344340&rtpof=true&sd=true">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aFuwubJUiIbXjui9mT6M9n1iSd-N_puL/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100305727513678344340&rtpof=true&sd=true</a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">IPC is in favor of the exemption, while RySG and RrSG are strongly against, arguing that exemption will render the SOI meaningless. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">Other SG/Cs on the Task Force have not voiced their position regarding this issue. Now they're asked to due to the stalemate. While I'm not the NCSG representative on this Task Force (I'm the CCOICI liaison), I thought I'd bring this to your attention so we can have a position for our representative to bring back to the Task Force. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">I'm also attaching the most recent email from staff for the SOI-TF for your reference.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">Best,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">Manju</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Marika Konings</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:marika.konings@icann.org" target="_blank">marika.konings@icann.org</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2023 at 4:31 PM<br>Subject: [GNSO-SOI-TF] Please respond - TF follow up questions<br>To: <a href="mailto:gnso-soi-tf@icann.org" target="_blank">gnso-soi-tf@icann.org</a> <<a href="mailto:gnso-soi-tf@icann.org" target="_blank">gnso-soi-tf@icann.org</a>><br></div><br><br><div>
<div lang="en-BE" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hi All,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Following up on yesterday’s conversation, here are some further details on the different suggestions with specific questions for the TF to provide your feedback on:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0cm" start="1" type="1">
<li>
<b><span lang="EN-US">Position on exemption language</span></b><span lang="EN-US">:<u></u><u></u></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We’ve heard the views of the IPC, RySG and RrSG representatives in relation to the exemption language (see
</span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aFuwubJUiIbXjui9mT6M9n1iSd-N_puL/edit?pli=1" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aFuwubJUiIbXjui9mT6M9n1iSd-N_puL/edit?pli=1</span></a><span lang="EN-US">).
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Question for the ISPCP, BC, NCSG/NCUC reps</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US">: Please share your groups view with the mailing list. Would you be in favor of keeping the exemption language as proposed in the google
doc, or removing it (the part that starts with ‘</span><span style="color:black">If professional ethical obligations prevent you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">….’)?</span><span lang="EN-US"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0cm" start="2" type="1">
<li>
<b><span lang="EN-US">Possible SOI pilot:<u></u><u></u></span></b></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">During today’s SOI Task Force meeting, the staff support team suggested that before finalizing the report and recommendations, the Task Force could consider conducting a pilot in which it would ask the participants of
one or two of the current PDPs (IDNs and Transfers) to complete the SOI as proposed by the SOI Task Force, including the latest exemption language. This may provide the Task Force with further insights into how the SOI would be filled out in practice and whether
the exemption would be invoked by many of the participants. Although it may not address all the concerns expressed, the practical experience may provide further insights that could help move the deliberations of the TF forward. If there is support for this
approach, we would like to suggest the following steps:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0cm" start="1" type="1">
<li style="margin-left:0cm">
<span lang="EN-US">Request Manju in her capacity as CCOICI chair and liaison to the TF to communicate to the Council the remaining issue that the TF is aiming to resolve and the proposal to pilot the new SOI with the two ongoing PDPs to gather further information
and insights that may help inform the TF’s deliberations. <u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0cm">
<span lang="EN-US">If there is no objection from the Council for following this approach, staff support team to work with the Council liaisons to these PDPs to explain the pilot and request participation. As part of the pilot, respondents would also be asked
to share their feedback on the new SOI as proposed. <u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0cm">
<span lang="EN-US">TF to review the SOI entries and consider if/how the responses and feedback provided impact the TF’s view.
<u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0cm">
<span lang="EN-US">TF to finalize report for submission to CCOICI/GNSO Council. <u></u>
<u></u></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Question for the TF</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US">: Do you agree that conducting a pilot may be helpful in gathering further information that could help resolve the current stalemate on the exemption language?
If not, do you have other suggestions for how to break the stalemate, or should the TF finalize its report and outline the different positions on this particular issue so that the CCOICI/Council can consider if/how to resolve it?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0cm" start="3" type="1">
<li style="page-break-after:avoid">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Possible question to ICANN Legal <u></u><u></u></span></b></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span lang="EN-US">It was suggested during the meeting that input from ICANN legal may help further inform the discussion. The following question was put forward as a suggestion: “</span>"Is there a case where
under international or local law where a lawyer or consultant is prohibited from obtaining an informed consent of their client to disclose their representation in a given GNSO effort?"<span lang="EN-US"> However, it was pointed out that this question may be
overly broad if it would be expected to cover local laws in all countries across the world. Similarly, the IPC reps have expressed previously that one concern with this approach (informed consent) is that if consent is not be provided, it would effectively
exclude someone from participating.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Question to the TF</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US">: What input could ICANN legal provide that you expect would help inform the TF’s discussion on the exemption language?
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-US">Please provide your feedback on these questions as soon as possible, but no later than Friday 24 February</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> so we can plan accordingly for the next meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday
1 March at 14.00 UTC. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Thanks, <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Julie and Marika<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
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