[Consultation] PIR Transaction and Proposed Public Interest Commitments Update

[kathy at DNRC.TECH]

Hi Joly,
Tx for sharing the ISOC materials. Let me share some more docs, all  
from last few weeks, largely by members of NCSG, with deep concerns  
about sale of PIR to private equity firm Ethos Capital and questioning  
whether proposed "private interest commitments" can adequately protect  
free speech and expression promises -- and other "2002 Commitments". 

The 18 March letter from Senators Warren, Blumenthal, Wyden and Markey  
makes a fascinating read!  Best, Kathy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Senators Warren, Blumenthal, Markey, Wyden and  
Congresswoman Eshoo to ICANN Board re: lack of transparency in  
transaction and “toothless” Stewardship Council,  
https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/warren-et-al-to-marby-et-al-18mar20-en.pdf 

The Sad Story of Private Public Interest Commitments, Kathy Kleiman,  
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20200311-the-sad-story-of-private-public-interest-commitments-pics/

NGO Community Urges ICANN to Exercise Independent Judgment as It  
Reviews the .ORG Sale, Mitch Stoltz, (with “Public Interest  
Commitments Won't Adequately Protect Users”),  
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20200311-ngo-community-urges-icann-to-exercise-independent-judgment-dot-org/

Letter to Board re: many deficiencies of Ethos’ “engagement process,”  
https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/dainow-et-al-to-botterman-icann-board-31mar20-en.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------
Quoting Joly MacFie <jolynyc at gmail.com>:

> ISOC issued a FAQ a week or so back https://bit.ly/isocpirfaq
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 9, 2020 at 7:31 PM Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> there is an update related to PIR and ,org sale with regard to
>> communication between PIR and ICANN, and the matter of PIC (Public Interest
>> Commitments). As ICANN has to make decision within the timeline regarding
>> the change on control of PIR , it is asking the community to provide
>> feedback regarding the proposed PICs. it won't be through usual public
>> comment but either by responding as comment to the blog (unusual) or
>> sending letter to the board.
>>
>> As this topic is of interest to NCSG and it is an opportunity to share
>> comments on the PIC, we should draft a letter quickly and send it as
>> correspondence to boars. For more information you can check the blog post
>> here
>> https://www.icann.org/news/blog/pir-transaction-and-proposed-public-interest-commitments-update
>> or
>> below.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Rafik
>>
>>
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