Issue
Protection of Certain International Organization Names in all gTLDs
Upcoming Important Dates
Publication of the Final Report with proposed policy recommendations for the GNSO Council planned by 10 November 2013.
Summary
The GNSO Council initiated a policy development process (PDP) to evaluate the need for, and develop policy recommendations to provide additional permanent special protections at the top and second level in all gTLDs for the names and acronyms of certain International Government Organizations (IGOs) and International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs), including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the American Red Cross (collectively, the “RCRC”) and the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”). The PDP Working Group (WG) is concluding its deliberations on possible recommendations for permanent protections for identifiers in all gTLDs for the organizations mentioned previously. After considering specific issues outlined in its charter, including an evaluation of the existing scope of legal protection for the names of IGOs and INGOs under international law, the WG is currently considering proposed recommendations to protect IGO, IOC and RCRC names including those which are consistent with the GAC advice with the exception on the protection of acronyms. The WG found that there was virtually no support to reserve acronym identifiers at the Top-Level via Applicant Guidebook nor was there support – apart from the IGOs that were represented in the WG - to protect IGO acronyms at the Second-Level via Specification 5 the new gTLD Registry Agreement. However, the WG does propose a recommendation for IGO Acronyms to be bulk-added to the Trademark Clearinghouse and use the 90-days claims service (permanent Claims notification only shows divergent support). The WG published its Draft Final Report for public comment on 20 September. The draft report includes and solicits public comments on proposed policy recommendations as considered by the WG for special protections of identifiers of certain IGOs and INGOs.
ALAC Engagement Opportunity Status
The public comment forum on the WG’s Draft Final Report closes on 31 Oct 2013, following which the WG will finalize its report. It is expected that the GNSO Council will consider the IGO-INGO protections issue at its weekend and mid-week meetings in Buenos Aires. Additional opportunities for input will occur, provided the GNSO Council adopts the recommendations, such as a public comment forum on the policy recommendations prior to Board consideration as well as an invitation to the GAC to provide input to the ICANN Board on these recommendations if it believes that there are public policy issues raised by these recommendations
