[At-Large] VOTE RESULT: Statement on New gTLD Draft Application Process v2

[Evan Leibovitch]

My sincere thanks to ALAC for its high participation on this vote and
its unanimous support. The next step, in my opinion, is to ensure that
our voice is not simply presented to the process, but that the staff who
are assembling the guide actually pay attention to it.

When Rudi and I spoke at the public gTLD session in Mexico, it is my
opinion that we were responded to in a manner that I would characterize
-- at best -- as patronizing. Concrete suggestions were dismissed out of
hand.

(A transcript for the masochistic is available at
http://mex.icann.org/files/meetings/mexico2009/transcript-applicant-guidebook-qa-02mar09-en.txt)

Indeed, it was this specific exchange that inspired the comment in my
closing Summit speech that "we still find within ICANN that merely
having the ability to speak does not mean we get listened to".

It is my understanding that US government input to the gTLD process
shares our objection to the "morality and public order" objection. I am
still at a loss to see who is defending this odious clause -- I would
welcome open debate, but I don't even know *who* we would be debating
(and ICANN has certainly done little to encourage open debate outside
the GNSO, making its own staff the sole arbiter of conflicting views).

ICANN is paying lots of attention to the intellectual property crowd and
had even paid to create its own "think tank" on IP (of course dominated
by those who want to maximize protection). I am not denying that that IP
issues are important -- indeed there are public benefits to reduced
phishing and other abuse through tougher trademark protection. However,
I am concerned that ICANN has chosen its "priority" constituencies on
this matter and that the public at large is not there.

How do we change this attitude? Do we have any channels to address this
short of the Board level?

- Evan

PS: As a reminder, the gTLD statement that ALAC has just approved can be
seen at
https://st.icann.org/working-groups/index.cgi?at_large_gtld_working_group_statement_on_applicant_guidebook_v2