ICANN Asks GNSO to Weigh-in on Domain Trademark Issues by December
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
GNSO given two months to weigh-in on intellectual property issues for new top level domain names.
ICANN President & CEO Rod Beckstrom and Chairman of the Board Peter Dengate-Thrush have sent a letter to Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), asking it to weigh-in on intellectual property issues related to new top level domain names by December 14.
The letter (pdf) explains proposals put forth for protecting the rights of intellectual property owners during and after the introduction of new top level domain names. ICANN is asking GNSO to confirm (or suggest otherwise) that these protections meet GNSO’s earlier recommendation that “strings must not infringe the existing legal
rights of others that are recognized or enforceable under generally accepted and internationally
recognized principles of law.”
In explaining the two month window for response, Beckstrom and Dengate-Thrush wrote:
The Board requests the GNSO to complete this work in two months from the publication date of this letter (14 December 2009). This timeframe reflects the Board’s desire to close on this issue and launch
the new gTLD process – and is comparable to that suggested for other efforts.
Related posts:
ICANN Asks GNSO to Weigh-in on Domain Trademark Issues by December – http://tinyurl.com/yk2o37f
I have just posted an analysis of this very important letter at:
http://www.internetcommerce.org/ICANN_Requests_GNSO_Feedback
@Philip – Great letter. An excellent analysis of key points. ICANN’s continued rush to get their way with new tld’s foreshadows bad things to come. Logic and balance seem to have little place in their plan. And instead, only the appearance of an open process.
Certainly appreciate the work you have done representing domain investors and internet businesses. The ICA is a consistent voice of reason and logic.
Bravo to Beckstrom for making a push to put this issue to bed once and for all. Trademark attorneys and domainers will never be satisfied – consider their input, make a decision, and be done with it.