Civil Society Statement on GAC Sub-Group's Proposal on "Geographic Names" in Top Level Domain Names

[Avri Doria]

Well said.
Thanks

avri

On 29-Dec-14 17:25, Timothe Litt wrote:
> This whole topic is absurd, yet it keeps coming up.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> So sure, let's object to censoring geographic (and 'cultural') names. 
> It's helpful, and you can list me as an objector.
>
> 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. 
>
> Yes, I've said all this before.  That doesn't make it any less true.
>
> (1) Many sources.  Here's one: http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/10/30/332087/mohammed-worlds-most-popular-name/
>> Spanish daily /ABC/ recently reported that some 150 million people
>> across the world are named “Mohammad.”  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.  The name
>> also ranks sixth among the most popular names in Spain and the UK,
>> the report noted.  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. 
>
>  Timothe Litt
> ACM Distinguished Engineer
> --------------------------
> This communication may not represent the ACM or my employer's views,
> if any, on the matters discussed. 
>
> On 29-Dec-14 01:25, Robin Gross wrote:
>> <pre wrap>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> The GAC sub-group's proposal on "geographic names" and other comments
>> submitted on this proposal are available here:
>>   https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/Governmental+Advisory+Committee
>>
>> 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!  
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> Thanks very much!
>>
>> All best,
>> Robin
>>
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>

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