[lac-discuss-en] Fwd: ICANN News Alert -- Last Contractual Hurdle Cleared in the Introduction of New Domain Names

[Carlton Samuels]

like the man says, one more hurdle over.....

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Carlton A Samuels
Mobile: 876-818-1799
*Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround*
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 [image: ICANN] <http://www.icann.org/> News Alert

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-03jul13-en.htm
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 Last Contractual Hurdle Cleared in the Introduction of New Domain Names

ICANN Board Approves 2013 Registry Agreement

3 July 2013

ICANN's New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program has reached another
milestone with passage of the 2013 Registry
Agreement<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/agreement-approved-02jul13-en.pdf>[PDF,
809 KB] (RA).

The new baseline agreement was approved by the New gTLD Program Committee
of the ICANN Board of Directors.

"New gTLDs are now on the home stretch," said Chris Disspain, a member of
ICANN's New gTLD Program Committee. "This new Registry Agreement means
we've cleared one of the last hurdles for those gTLD applicants who are
approved and eagerly nearing that point where their names will go online."

Among the key points in the new Registry Agreement:

   - Includes a Trademark Clearinghouse that will serve as a one-stop shop
   where trademark holders can protect their rights.
   - Provides for a process for a rapid, efficient way to take down
   infringing domain names.
   - Provides a procedure where trademark rights holders can assert claims
   directly against a registry operator for domain name abuse if that operator
   has played an active role in the abuse.
   - Requires registry operators to have a single point of contact
   responsible for handling abuse complaints.

 "We're getting to the point now where new gTLD applicants can see the
finish line," said Akram Atallah, President of the ICANN's Generic Domains
Division. "Much like the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement approved by
the Board last week, this new Registry Agreement is the culmination of
input from a wide range of stakeholders and marks a dramatic improvement
over the previous baseline agreement."

The New gTLD Registry Agreement is intended to enhance the security and
stability of the Domain Name System while bolstering competition in domain
name industry. The security provisions include:

   - A requirement that registry operators implement Domain Name System
   Security Extensions (DNSSEC), reducing so-called "man-in-the-middle"
   attacks and spoofed DNS records.
   - A requirement of enhanced WHOIS service at the registry level with a
   common interface, and more rapid search capabilities, facilitating
   efficient resolution of malicious activities.

 "This isn't just a gradual step forward," said Atallah. "This is a major
move that translates to far greater security protections."

To read the 2013 Registry Agreement, go here:
http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/agreement-approved-02jul13-en.pdf[PDF,
809 KB]