Comments 15-0 Against Expedited UDRP. So What Will ICANN Do?

Community feedback is pretty clear about Expedited UDRP.

ICANN says it takes community feedback into consideration when managing the domain name system. But clearly it’s not a majority rule system.

So here’s a clear cut case, involving the Czech Arbitration Court’s proposal to offer an “Expedited UDRP”. Out of 15 commentors, not a single person was in favor of the proposal. Zero. Zip. Nada. All 15 commentors were opposed to it either on principle or procedural grounds. And these aren’t just angry, misinformed domainers complaining. The comments include that of an actual UDRP arbitrator, GoDaddy, and even the group drafting the Uniform Rapid Suspension idea. Here are some of the comments:

“Go Daddy strongly opposes the amendments proposed by CAC as they are currently written, and encourage the ICANN Board to reject these changes.” – Go Daddy

“The ICANN public notice for comments has misled the ICANN community and the public. This is not a mere change to supplemental rules for a mere alternative page limit. This is the adoption of an “_Expedited Decision_” analogous to the URS system, recently created by the STI.” -NCSG STI Drafting Team (same people creating Uniform Rapid Suspension)

“It is our position that all of the proposed changes will, in effect, have a material change on the UDRP itself, and therefore…must be subject to the PDP process as defined in the ICANN By-Laws.” – Go Daddy

“Implementation of this proposal through CAC’s Supplemental Rules would constitute a complete perversion of individual arbitration provider authority to amend secondary rules that are solely meant to address minor and
incidental administrative matters.” – Internet Commerce Association

The ball’s in ICANN’s court. What will it do? And what will it do with WIPO, which thinks it can institute similar changes without even asking ICANN for its blessing?