[ALAC] Preliminary report for meeting of the new gTLD committee on 26 March 2013

[Alan Greenberg]

From: 
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/prelim-report-new-gtld-26mar13-en.htm


1. Approval to Enter Agreement with IBM for Trademark Clearinghouse

Due to a potential for conflict of interest, Thomas Narten was not 
present for the deliberation of this item.

The Committee received an update on the development of the Trademark 
Clearinghouse as it has been divided into two functions, one to be 
performed by Deloitte and the other by IBM, which will perform the 
sunrise and claims work. The Committee also received some detail on 
the negotiated costs for the IBM work. Staff confirmed that an RFP 
had been issued prior to the selection of the Trademark Clearinghouse 
providers.

The Committee then took the following action:

Whereas, ICANN and IBM have negotiated in good faith the terms for a 
proposed statement of work for operation of the Sunrise and Trademark 
Claims services offered by the Trademark Clearinghouse.

Whereas, the New gTLD Program Committee has reviewed the terms of the 
proposed Statement of Work for ICANN.

Whereas, approval is required to commit ICANN funds in the amount of 
USD 4 million.

Whereas, execution of the agreement enables continuation of the 
technical build out to support these services for the New gTLD Program.

Resolved (2013.03.26.NG01), the New gTLD Program Committee authorizes 
the President and CEO to enter into the proposed agreement with IBM.

Ten members of the Committee voted in favor of the Resolution. Two 
members of the Committee were unavailable to vote. The resolution carried.


2. Protections for Names of IGOs

The Committee received an update on the status of work regarding the 
establishment of protections of names of IGOs within the first round 
of the New gTLD Program, including a brief discussion of the advice 
from the GAC, issues relating to the protection of common acronyms 
that are also acronyms of IGOs, and the creation of a ongoing 
mechanisms that may need to be put in place to address the GAC 
advice.  The Committee agreed that further briefing was necessary, 
and that it would have a broader discussion of this issue at its 
meeting during ICANN's Beijing meeting.


3. "Closed" Generics

The Committee briefly discussed the issue of "closed" generics and 
received an update on the work that was requested from staff on this 
issue, as well as the results of the public comment forum.  The 
Committee agreed that further discussion on this topic would be 
necessary at its meeting during ICANN's Beijing meeting.  The 
Committee also requested that this topic be on the agenda for the 
Public Forum in Beijing.


4. Update on Registrar Accreditation Agreement Negotiations and the 
Registry Agreement

The Committee received an update on the status of the RAA 
negotiations as well as the status of the Registry Agreement after 
ICANN posted a version for public comment on 5 February 2013.   The 
President and CEO provided a brief summary of the public comments on 
the Registry Agreement.   The Committee also briefly discussed the 
Board-approved amendment process as well as proposed changes to that 
process to respond to community concern.

5. Any Other Business

The Committee received a brief update from the President and CEO on 
the work towards a DNS summit in New York City on 23 April 2013, 
where the work of taskforces arising out of the CEO Roundtables will 
be progressed, and, if available and appropriate, a signing ceremony 
will take place regarding the new Registrant Rights and 
Responsibilities document within the RAA.  The Committee also 
received a brief update on the status of the Public Interest 
Commitments documents that were submitted by applicants.