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<p>To our NCSG Councilors,</p>
<p>This has been a very difficult summer. We fought for a fair and
balanced creation of exceptions for Singulars and Plurals, and yet
almost no one wanted to listen. The only exception everyone on the
team wanted to create was one for Brands, and the more Cara and
later Rebecca (as our Subject Matter alternates and experts)
thought about it, the more dangerous it became. <br>
</p>
<p>In a few minutes, I'll be able to share the final text of the
proposed SubPro Recommendation on Singulars/Plurals. It's still
being finalized by Staff based on last wording changes in our
final meeting that ended half an hour ago.</p>
<p><b>But before then, I want to share with you the memo that
Professor Rebecca Tushnet (a world expert on international
trademark laws and free speech and expression laws and
protections), about our utter frustration that few in the Small
Team cared about the real and genuine problems of the proposed
.BRAND Exceptions. Almost no one cared about the far higher
integrity and credibility of Noncommercial and Non-Profit
organizations in their applications for new gTLDs. </b><br>
</p>
<p>History: We (NCSG and NCUC before NCSG existed) fought this
battle at second level and now at the top level. Trademark owners
<i>do not have a better right to words than we do -- </i>in fact
under traditional trademark laws and balances, noncommercial uses
of organization and individuals are protection, for example, as
our names (Wendy & McDonald), for descriptions of our
activities like baseball, art, and poetry - and for our
criticisms, concerns, and arguments. Words like liberty and
freedom are also gas stations and blood glucose monitors! <br>
</p>
<p>In preparation for our meeting tomorrow, I share our final memo
to the Small Team after weeks of seeking support for an equal and
equivalent exception for noncommercial and non-profit
organizations. We have to share that we felt very beaten up in
this process - it was not fun. A lot of power was given in this
experimental Small Team and many people served as active and
unwavering advocates for their clients. </p>
<p>That said, Paul McGrady did a good and fair job as Chair. He
worked very hard to make sure all voices were heard, including
ours.<br>
</p>
<p>Best, Kathy</p>
<p>-------------------------------------</p>
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</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All [SubPro Small Team Plus],</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please put away the knives and sheath the
spears…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are coming in to support Kurt’s concerns and
proposals: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“I think it is
much better to take a
conservative approach for this round and seek to avoid user
confusion to the
extent possible and eliminate exceptions at this point. I also
believe we
should deliver to ICANN an implementable policy that will avoid
vagueness and
litigation, i.e., creating policy that facilitates the
implementation of a
smooth running process. This is incredibly important for the
reputation of the
multi-stakeholder model.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kurt,
4 Aug.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efficiency, clarity, fairness. It’s not a
perfect solution
to consumer confusion since we know that .MOBIL can coexist and
with .MOBILE
and .MOBI and .NEW and .NEWS, but it is clear and understandable
to everyone
coming into the process.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yes,
it favors
incumbents, but it serves the overall goals of the SubPro Working
Group: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Specifically, the
Working Group recommends
prohibiting plurals and singulars of the same word within the
same
language/script in order to reduce the risk of consumer
confusion.”</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the current exceptions language, now added
to our many
Strawmen, we have strayed from any anchor point to the SubPro
Small Team
recommendation language.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We
are no
longer evaluating new gTLDs against each other for meaning, or for
confusion.
We seem to have left these ideas completely behind. [1]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">We cannot
support
rules that allow a trademark, from anywhere in the world,
registered in the
Trademark Clearinghouse and used for a .BRAND application, to
get a complete
“pass” from all evaluation and examination of meaning – that is
a clear formula
for consumer confusion.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Further, the current language and many prior
Strawmen are
premised on assumptions that are not fair or valid, including that
the rest of
the world will use “generic words” for their new gTLDs. But that
is not the
case. Organizations, companies and individuals around the world
will apply for
the gTLD strings that are the most meaningful to them – some will
be fanciful,
some will be arbitrary as applied to their activities, some will
be
descriptive, and some will be generic. There is no reason that
trademarks
should take priority over everyone else’s applications for new
gTLD strings. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If we
don’t evaluate the
meaning of all gTLD strings identified in as Singulars or
Plurals of other
applications or existing gTLDs in a clear and transparent way,
and if we don’t
have fair and balanced exceptions that equally support
legitimate noncommercial
and commercial use,</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>then we must revert to Kurt’s
language.</i> As
long as the gTLDs are the same word, in the same language, in some
legitimate
dictionary, we should put them into a contention set. This is a
clear and efficient
way to avoid the risk of consumer confusion over the gTLDs. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are happy to explain further.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>There is nothing magical about trademarks.</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We oppose the exceptions language for five
reasons and can
certainly provide more:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It
assumes a high
standard of review for trademarks, and that is not true
internationally. Trademarks
in many countries are granted without “use” requirements. The
Trademark
Clearinghouse (TMCH) must accept marks from every country, and
although it
requires a showing of use, the showing is de minimis. As long as
the product or
service appears somewhere on the website, even in a footer, the
.BRAND
requirements are satisfied. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Rights Protection Mechanisms PDP Working
Group found a
pattern of registration in the Trademark Clearinghouse that shows
trademark
owners in Switzerland actively using their TMCH registrations to
“game the
system” to gain early access to valuable domain names in Sunrise.
The stakes
for gaming in the TMCH will be much higher when someone can get an
automatic
pass out of a contention set for a Singular/Plural gTLD.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It
assumes that
the trademark owners have better rights to new gTLDs than other
applicants, and
that is certainly not the case. <b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Every
Applicant for a New gTLD, and especially those coming from the
Global South,
tribes and indigenous peoples, non-profits and civil society –
groups that
ICANN will go to great lengths to recruit to the New gTLD
program and to help
through the application process – should have the same right and
opportunity to
a new gTLD string.</b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just
because
there is a trademark for the word “rotary” does not mean that the
.BRAND owner
should prevail in a grouping of applications for .rotary and
.rotaries by
Rotary International and a group posting on the research of
traffic circles (.rotaries)
around the world. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">New
gTLDs are important
and central to each and every applicant.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It
does not
protect Sensitive Strings, and we need to. The GAC has told us
that certain
gTLDs are important to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Consumer
Protection and Regulated Markets, </b>as <i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“These
strings are likely to invoke a level of implied trust from
consumers, and carry
higher levels of risk associated with consumer harm.”</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">We
respect this GAC
Consensus Advice and urge a wall be built around the Sensitive
String they
identified for us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No
Singular/Plurals
of these words should be allowed: </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Children:
.kid, .kids,
.kinder, .game, .games, .juegos, .play, .school, .schule, .toys;
Environmental:
.earth, .eco, .green, .bio, .organic; Health and Fitness: .care,
.diet, .fit,
.fitness, .health, .healthcare, .heart, .hiv, .hospital,, .med,
.medical,
.organic, .pharmacy, .rehab, .surgery, .clinic, .healthy (IDN
Chinese
equivalent), .dental, .dentist .doctor, .dds, .physio;
Financial:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>capital, .
cash, .cashbackbonus, .broker,
.brokers, .claims, .exchange, .finance, .financial,
.fianancialaid, .forex,
.fund, .investments, .lease, .loan, .loans, .market, . markets,
.money, .pay,
.payu, .retirement, .save, .trading, .autoinsurance, .bank,
.banque,
.carinsurance, .credit, .creditcard, .creditunion,.insurance,
.insure, ira,
.lifeinsurance, .mortgage, .mutualfunds, .mutuelle, .netbank,
.reit, .tax,
.travelersinsurance, .vermogensberater, .vermogensberatung and
.vesicherung.
Gambling: .bet, .bingo, .lotto, .poker, and .spreadbetting,
.casino; Charity:
.care, .gives, .giving, .charity; Education: degree, .mba,
.university;
Intellectual Property<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>.audio,
.book (and
IDN equivalent), .broadway, .film, .game, .games, .juegos,
.movie, .music,
.software, .song, .tunes, .fashion (and IDN equivalent), .video,
.app, .art,
.author, .band, .beats, .cloud (and IDN equivalent), .data,
.design, .digital,
.download, .entertainment, .fan, .fans, .free, .gratis,
.discount, .sale,
.hiphop, .media, .news, .online, .pictures, .radio, .rip, .show,
.theater,
.theatre, .tour, .tours, .tvs, .video, .zip;<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Professional Services: .abogado, .accountant,
.accountants, .architect,
.associates, .attorney, .broker, .brokers, .cpa, .doctor,
.dentist, .dds,
.engineer, .lawyer, .legal, .realtor, .realty, .vet; Corporate
Identifiers:
.corp, .gmbh, .inc, .limited, .llc, .llp, .ltda, .ltd, .sarl,
.srl, .sal;
Generic Geographic Terms: .town, .city, .capital; .reise,
.reisen; .weather;
.engineering; .law; Inherently Governmental Functions .army,
.navy, .airforce.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Beijing
Communique, ICANN46</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Currently
there is no
protection for these strings and plural/singular gTLDs will be
allowed,
including .BRAND exceptions – and lead to consumer confusion. </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4) It assumes that all .BRAND Registries will
monitor their
licensees closely, and that is not the case. There is no assurance
that all
.BRAND Registry Operators will closely oversee their affiliates
and trademark
licensees once they register domain names. The only requirement is
that a user
licensed by the .BRAND must also possess a trademark license,
which can be
incorporated into the .BRAND agreement. But, while trademark
licenses in the US
and some other countries require quality control, this type of
oversight is not
required in many parts of the world and not needed to maintain a
trademark:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span
style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">The majority of countries
(roughly
2/3) don’t require quality control in licenses. (Mary M. Squyres
and Nanette
Norton, Trademark Practice Throughout the World | September 2023
Update
Appendix 23(G)). </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span
style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">“European trademark law does
not
require the licensor to exercise control over the use of the
trademark in order
to ensure the quality of the goods or services in
question.” (Anne
Lauber-Rönsberg, in The Commercial Exploitation Of Personality
Features In
Germany From The Personality Rights And Trademark Perspectives,
107 Trademark
Rep. 803, 843 (2017)).</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span
style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">In Germany and France, “there
is no
concern for preserving the source function of trademarks by
means of the
provision and exercise of quality control.” (Neil Wilkof, in
Trademark
licensing: the once and future narrative, in Research Handbook
on Intellectual
Property Licensing 216 (2013)).</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span
style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">The European Court of Justice
held in
2017 that failure to monitor licensees doesn’t invalidate a
registration,
though the mark can be cancelled if its use was deceptive. (W.F.
Gözze
Frottierweberei Gmbh, Wolfgang Gözze GmbH v Verein Bremer
Baumwollbörse, case
C-689/15, </span><u><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:blue"><a href="https://perma.cc/554Z-8TYD"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://perma.cc/554Z-8TYD</a></span></u><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">).</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"> </span>If many countries do
not require oversight of trademark
licensees and such oversight can be lax or non-existent, then
without more, we
have no assurance of close oversight domain names by their
affiliates and licensees
around the world. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal">5) <span
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The
remedies that
our Small Team have discussed for termination of a .BRAND that
receives a Singular/Plural
exemption are not consistent with Specification 13.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Jeff and
Susan reasonably
proposed the remedy of termination for a .BRAND receiving a
Singular/Plurals
exemption, and then ceasing to operate as a .BRAND: <i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">“<span style="color:black">If at any time ICANN reasonably
determines
that the TLD no longer qualifies as a .Brand TLD, Registry
Operator shall be
considered in material breach of the Registry Agreement. If
the .Brand
TLD is unable or unwilling to cure such breach, ICANN shall
have the right to
terminate the Registry Agreement.”</span></i><span
style="color:black"> We do
not disagree. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><span
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">But Specification 13 dictates a
different outcome. If a .BRAND cease to operate as a .BRAND
then it becomes an
open gTLD. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i></span></b><i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal"><span
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Spec 13: “</span></i><i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">If at any time ICANN determines, in its
reasonable discretion, that the TLD no longer qualifies as a
.Brand TLD, … then
(i) the TLD shall immediately cease to be a .Brand TLD, (ii)
Registry Operator
shall immediately comply with the provisions of the Agreement
as no longer
modified by this Specification 13 (other than Section 2
hereof) and (iii) the
provisions of this Specification 13 (other than Section 2
hereof) shall
thereafter no<br>
longer have any effect.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span
style="mso-bidi-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Truly such a change would
immeasurably
complicate consumer confusion issues, and be fundamentally
unfair to all who
did not receive their new gTLDs in the exemption process. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>If we really wanted a fair and balanced
exception, we
would have had one by now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this incredibly talented group of Small Team
members, if
we had wanted a fair and balanced exception, we would have found
it weeks ago. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Early on, we
talked about the high standard
we wanted for those receiving exceptions and that, consistent
with the policies
of ICANN, exceptions should be fair and balanced.</i> But that
is not what has
happened. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Non-profits
and Civil
Society organizations are at least as driven to monitor who
receives their
domain names as any .BRAND applicant.</b> The motivation for
Non-profits and
Civil Society diligence comes from their special status with their
governments,
their communities, their donors, and the people at the local,
national and
international level who benefit from their services. <b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal">Their reputations, and therefore their existences, are
intricately
bound to serving their missions.</b> <b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">As
a trademark owner can bind their affiliates and licensees who
receive domain
names, Non-profits and Civil Society clearly delineate their
eligible
registrants, based on specific, objective eligibility criteria
and enforceable
mechanisms in Registry Voluntary Commitments that are strong and
binding. </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black">-----------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">A parallel exception would have been very fair and easy for us
to
accept:</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Exception: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">in the
event that an entity applies for a string that is either the
plural or singular of an existing string in any language, that
entity’s application shall be allowed to proceed through the
application process and be delegated provided that it meets
the criteria for a Non-Profit and Civil Society Organization
pursuant to the presented and signed Registry Voluntary
Commitment.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">If at
any time ICANN reasonably determines that the TLD no longer
operates pursuant to its commitments in the RVC, then Registry
Operator shall be considered in material breach of the
Registry Agreement. If the Non-Profit or Civil Society TLD is
unable or unwilling to cure such breach, ICANN shall have the
right to terminate the Registry Agreement.</span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black">_____________________</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><u><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Defining Non-profit and Civil Society gTLDs</span></u><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Non-profit and Civil Society gTLDs: </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">A
non-profit or civil society gTLD meets the general definition of
a civil
society organization under the UN, namely: Non-State,
not-for-profit, voluntary
entities formed by people in the social sphere that are separate
from the State
and the market. Civil society groups are community-based
organizations as
well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs).”)</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">Methods
of verification, to be provided to ICANN, include:</span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo3;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">Certification
as a non-profit or civil society organization under the laws
of the country in which the organization is registered; or</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo3;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">Confirmation
of equivalence determination by a reputable group, e.g.
TechSoup (making a good-faith determination that a non-U.S.
organization is equivalent to a U.S. public charity); or </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo3;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri">Recognition
by an international organization such as the United Nations.
</span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-1.25in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span
style="mso-list:Ignore"><span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>iii.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">The Applicant must document
that it
has been in continuous existence for over a year prior to the
filing of its TLD
registry application with ICANN.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-1.25in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span
style="mso-list:Ignore"><span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>iv.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">The TLD string should be <span
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">a key term or identifier
that the
organization associates with itself and its mission. </span><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;
color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-1.25in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span
style="mso-list:Ignore"><span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>v.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">It should be owned and used
continuously by the Registry Operator or its Affiliates in
connection with the
Registry Operator’s or its Affiliates’ offering of their
non-profit/civil
society services. Such services shall not include services
related to the
provision of TLD Registry Services.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-1.25in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span
style="mso-list:Ignore"><span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>vi.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">only Registry Operator, its
Affiliates or members in good standing are registrants of domain
names in the
TLD and control the DNS records associated with domain names at
any level in
the TLD; </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:1.25in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-1.25in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in"><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black"><span
style="mso-list:Ignore"><span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>vii.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span
style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;color:black">the TLD is not a Generic
String TLD
(as defined in Specification 11).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But our Small Team could not do that.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>In closing, we note there is another new
idea floating
around the Small Team that ICANN cannot look at the meaning of
the words in
gTLDs, and that cannot be right or accurate.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NCSG was very involved in the call for ICANN to
not allow
content to be placed in Registry Voluntary Commitments, including
the type of
content that would require ICANN to monitor the text, videos and
pictures placed
on websites. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">But that
does not
mean that ICANN can never again look at the meaning of the word
or the purpose
of a word in a gTLD. That would invalidate much of ICANN’s
mission and purpose.
</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ICANN’s mission is and remains: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Section
1.1. MISSION</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">(a) The
mission of the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") is
to
ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique
identifier
systems as described in this Section 1.1(a) (the "Mission").
Specifically,
ICANN:</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(i) Coordinates the
allocation and
assignment of names in the root zone of the Domain Name System
("DNS") and coordinates the development and implementation of
policies concerning the registration of second-level domain
names in generic top-level
domains ("gTLDs"). In this role, ICANN's scope is to coordinate
the
development and implementation of policies:</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For which uniform or
coordinated
resolution is reasonably necessary to facilitate the openness,
interoperability, resilience, security and/or stability of the
DNS including,
with respect to gTLD registrars and registries, policies in the
areas described
in Annex G-1 and Annex G-2; and</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That are developed
through a bottom-up
consensus-based multistakeholder process and designed to ensure
the stable and
secure operation of the Internet's unique names systems.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">----------</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The
limits of Bylaws
1.1 sections (b) and (c), include not imposing rules on the
content that domain
names carry and provide, but does not stop ICANN from looking
closely at top
level and second level domain names. </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Saying
otherwise
would eliminate the URS and UDRP. </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The basis of the UDRP and URS <i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">is looking at the meaning of the second level domain name, who
has
registered it and how they are using it. </i><span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although ICANN has delegated
the authority for
the review and decision, the URDP and URS decisions are enforced
by ICANN under
its Registry Agreements and Registrar Accreditation Agreements.
This is ICANN’s
responsibility.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Similarly
at the top
level, ICANN must examine the nature of the applicant, who they
are, and how
they intend to use the applied-for gTLD. ICANN will review
comments from the
Community on these same issues. This is part and parcel of the
application
process. </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three objection processes are based on these
same
substantive factors: <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>String
Confusion,
Community and Legal Rights objections. All decided via delegated
authority from
ICANN and all enforced by ICANN. Even reviewing a .BRAND
application to see,
among other things, if it is a generic word involves ICANN looking
closely at the
Applicant, the New gTLD, and its meaning. It’s all consistent with
a much wider
range of exemptions, for Non-profits and Civil Society as well as
.BRANDs, that
we could have created had we chosen to do so. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">----------------------------------- </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As shared above, we have come to support Kurt’s
concerns and
proposals: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“I think
it is much
better to take a conservative approach for this round and seek
to avoid user
confusion to the extent possible and eliminate exceptions at
this point. I also
believe we should deliver to ICANN an implementable policy that
will avoid
vagueness and litigation, i.e., creating policy that facilitates
the
implementation of a smooth running process. This is incredibly
important for
the reputation of the multi-stakeholder model.”<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Kurt, 4 Aug.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s not a perfect solution, but it is
efficient, clear and
fair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy and Rebecca</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">[1] <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a
href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/13VIPAxR5OYAzgTvSiaWCBTzYT0siLC2mpt-1Tm3JxTA/edit#heading=h.oc222usgafq2"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://docs.google.com/document/d/13VIPAxR5OYAzgTvSiaWCBTzYT0siLC2mpt-1Tm3JxTA/edit#heading=h.oc222usgafq2</a></span>
</p>
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