Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services to Replace Whois

Please note that this wiki space is the work space of the PDP WG, the authoritative space for all relevant resolutions, work documents, and tracking of progress, please consult the Project Page on gnso.icann.org.  

Welcome to the Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services to Replace WHOIS workspace.

To Learn More 

To learn more about the now-terminated Next-Generation RDS PDP to replace WHOIS, visit these links:

• • RDS PDP Termination Summary and GNSO Council Motion to Terminate
  • RDS PDP Policy Briefing - June 2018
  • RDS PDP Phase 1 Draft Outputs, including work-in-progress through ICANN61
  • RDS PDP Mailing List Archives
  • RDS PDP WG Membership
    
    

Background

This Policy Development Process (PDP) was initiated by the ICANN Board on 8 November 2012 when it launched an Expert Working Group on gTLD Registration Directory Services (EWG) to (1) help redefine the purpose of gTLD registration data and consider how to safeguard the data, and (2) propose a model for gTLD registration directory services to address accuracy, privacy, and access issues.Upon publication of the EWG’s Final Report in 2014, an informal group of GNSO Councilors and ICANN Board members collaborated to propose a Process Framework for structuring this PDP. On 26 May 2015, the ICANN Board adopted that Process Framework and reaffirmed its request for a Board-initiated PDP, using the recommendations in the EWG’s Final Report as an input to, and, if appropriate, as the foundation for a new gTLD policy. Both Preliminary and Final Issue Reports for this PDP were published for public comment in 2015.On 19 November 2015, the GNSO Council approved a Charter for the Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Service (RDS) to replace WHOIS (Next-Gen RDS) Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group. The initial meeting of this WG was held on 26 January 2016.

Following ICANN61 (March 2018), the RDS PDP Leadership decided to put on hold WG meetings indefinitely. This decision was made in light of the uncertain status of GDPR-related work and the possible duplication of efforts as a result of the adoption by the ICANN Board of the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data.

Following the initiation by the GNSO Council of the Expedited Policy Development Process (EPDP) on the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration data, the RDS PDP on 17 July 2018, the GNSO Council Liaison to the RDS PDP WG, Stephanie Perrin, submitted, at the request of the RDS PDP WG, the required Termination Summary [https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/next-gen-rds-12oct18-en.pdf] to recommend to the GNSO Council that the RDS PDP WG be terminated as per section 15 of the PDP Manual.

On the 24^th October 2018, the GNSO Council voted in favour of the motion to terminate the RDS PDP. Accordingly, no further RDS PDP WG meetings will be held, and this workspace reflects progress made prior to RDS PDP termination.