[ALAC-Announce] Preliminary Issue Report on gTLD Registration Data Services

[At-Large Staff]

https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/gtld-registration-data-15mar13-
en.htm 
<https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/gtld-registration-data-15mar13
-en.htm> 
Preliminary Issue Report on gTLD Registration Data Services
Comment / Reply Periods (*)
Comment Open Date: 
15 March 2013
Comment Close Date:
19 April 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Reply Open Date: 
20 April 2013
Reply Close Date: 
13 May 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Important Information Links
Public Comment Announcement
<https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-15mar13-en.htm>
To Submit Your Comments (Forum)
<mailto:comments-gtld-registration-data-15mar13 at icann.org>
View Comments Submitted
<http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-gtld-registration-data-15mar13>
Brief Overview
Originating Organization:
GNSO
Categories/Tags: 
* Policy Processes
Purpose (Brief): 
This Public Forum invites comments on the Preliminary Issue Report on the
gTLD registration data services
<http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/gtlds/registration-data-prelim-15mar13-en.p
df>  [PDF, 946 KB]. The Report forms part of a ICANN Board-initiated GNSO
policy development process (PDP) that aims to review the purpose and
accuracy of domain name registration data and directory services, as well as
its underlying technical protocol ­ currently also known as 'Whois'.
Current Status: 
The Preliminary Issue Report explores the issue of gTLD registration data
services, which includes the purpose of collecting and maintaining gTLD
registration data, and solutions to improve accuracy and access to gTLD
registration data. This Public Comment solicitation represents an
opportunity to share perspectives on this topic as well as the contents of
the Preliminary Issue Report. In parallel to this Preliminary Issue Report,
the ICANN Board has convened an Expert Working Group (EWG) whose findings
will feed into the Final Issue Report.
Next Steps: 
Following review of the public comment forum and once the Expert Working
Group has concluded its work, a Final Issue Report will be published and the
PDP will be initiated.
Staff Contact: 
Lars Hoffmann
Email Staff Contact
<mailto:policy-staff at icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Preli
minary%20Issue%20Report%20on%20gTLD%20Registration%20Data%20Services%20publi
c%20comment%20period>
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose:
Comprehensive 'Whois' policy reform remains the source of long-running
discussions within the ICANN as well as wider Internet community. Any
discussion of 'Whois' ­ hereafter called gTLD registration data and
directory services ­ typically includes topics such as purpose, accuracy,
availability, privacy, anonymity, cost, policing, intellectual property
protection, security and malicious use and abuse.

The Board specifically called out two of these topics in its request;
purpose and accuracy. With regard to purpose, at a minimum the most basic
purpose, which is commonly accepted, is that gTLD registration data allows
domain name holders to be contacted. However, who would be granted the right
to access the data under what circumstances and contact the holder and by
which means, is a set of difficult follow-up questions that need to be
answered. In relation to accuracy, There are many data elements in the Whois
database required under the Registry Agreements and the Registrar
Accreditation Agreements; if only one of these data fields is incorrect,
does that mean the Whois information is inaccurate? And how can the accuracy
of data be verified and/or measured, especially considering that if data is
not accurate the purpose of gathering the data might be questionable in the
first place.

This Preliminary Issue report lays out in detail many of the issues
mentioned above and how they relate to the gTLD registration data and
directory services. In addition, it also provides an overview of many of the
affected Stakeholder Groups, Constituencies, and other relevant parties.
Furthermore, the Report explains in details the continuous issues with
regard to accuracy and purpose of gTLD registration data services and
elaborates on the need for changes to the technical aspects.

In addition to requesting the Issue Report, the Board has directed the
formation of an Expert Working Group (EWG) that is currently working on a
comprehensive proposal how to solve the issues surrounding the purpose and
accuracy of domain registration data services. The EWG is tasked with
providing concrete solutions to many (if not all) of the issues raised in
this Report. In accordance with the Board's direction, the outcome of the
EWG will feed into the Final Issue Report which will form the basis for the
next steps in the Policy Development Process.

Section II: Background:
After the submission of a Report drafted by the Whois Policy Review Team in
2012, the ICANN Board passed a resolution on 8 November 2012
<https://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-08nov12-en.htm>
that led to the creation of an Expert Working Group (EWG) and, in parallel,
also launched a Board-initiated GNSO Policy Development Process (PDP).

ICANN's requirements for domain name registration data collection, access
and accuracy for gTLD registries have undergone some important changes; yet
after more than 12 years of GNSO task forces, working groups, workshops,
surveys and studies the policy is still in need of comprehensive reforms
that address the significant number of issues related to gTLD registration
data services.

Following review of the public comments received, the Staff Manager will
update the Issue Report as appropriate and submit a summary of the comments
received together with the Final Issue Report.

Section III: Document and Resource Links:
* Preliminary Issue Report on gTLD Registration Data Services ­
http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/gtlds/registration-data-prelim-15mar13-en.pd
f 
<http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/gtlds/registration-data-prelim-15mar13-en.p
df>  [PDF, 946 KB]
* Board resolution from 8 November 2012 -
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-08nov12-en.htm
<https://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-08nov12-en.htm>
* Expert Working Group on gTLD Directory Services -
https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40175189
<https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40175189>
* Closed and archived GNSO Whois Policy Work -
http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/archive
<http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/archive>
Section IV: Additional Information:
N/A


(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed
to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or
decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.

 ************

Regards,


Heidi Ullrich, Silvia Vivanco, Matt Ashtiani, Gisella Gruber, Nathalie
Peregrine and Julia Charvolen
ICANN Policy Staff in support of ALAC
E-mail: staff at atlarge.icann.org


One World, One Internet