Project Status

The Implementation Review Team (IRT) is assisting ICANN org in the implementation of the policy recommendations from the Phase 1 work of the Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group on the Review of All Rights Protection Mechanisms (RPMs) in All Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs).

Note that this project incorporates a phased approach that allows for straightforward-to-implement recommendations to be implemented first, with those recommendations with more significant complexity and timing considerations to be implemented sequentially according to level of effort.

Background

On 18 February 2016, the GNSO Council resolved to initiate a two-phased PDP to review all existing RPMs in all gTLDs. The Final Report issued by the PDP Working Group is the culmination of over four years of work from Phase 1, assessing the effectiveness of the relevant RPMs established as safeguards in the 2012 New gTLD Program. These RPMs are: the Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure (TM-PDDRP); Sunrise and Trademark Claims services offered through the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH); and the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) dispute resolution procedure.

The Working Group finalized its recommendations and submitted its Phase 1 Final Report to the GNSO Council on 24 November 2020. In January 2021, the GNSO Council unanimously approved the Final Report, containing thirty-five (35) final recommendations from the Phase 1 work of the PDP Working Group on the Review of All RPMs in All gTLDs. Pursuant to the ICANN Bylaws, the GNSO Council transmitted the recommendations to the ICANN Board, a Bylaws-mandated Public Comment proceeding concerning the Phase 1 Final Report was conducted (from 7 April 2021 to 21 May 2021).

On 16 January 2022, the ICANN Board adopted all thirty-five (35) final Phase 1 PDP recommendations as documented in from the PDP Working Group's Phase 1 Final Report. On 16 January 2022, the Board adopted the policy recommendations from the Phase 1 PDP and directed a tiered approach for the work based on timing, staffing, and resourcing needed for implementation of the recommendations. In adopting the recommendations, the Board noted that implementation of the recommendations could be divided into several categories. These implementation categories are:

1. Recommendations that call for updates to existing operational practices or documentation concerning the RPMs where no substantial resources are required for implementation - a total number of sixteen (16) recommendations;

2. Recommendations to maintain the status quo (i.e. maintaining the Phase 1 RPMs as implemented for the 2012 New gTLD Program) - a total number of nine (9) recommendations;

3. Recommendations that require substantial resourcing, and involvement of multiple stakeholders to implement - a total number of six (6) recommendations; and

4. Recommendations affecting subsequent round(s) of new gTLDs - a total number of four (4) recommendations.

The IRT is assisting ICANN org in implementing the recommendations in the first and third implementation categories identified above. Implementation of the remaining recommendations from the Phase 1 Final Report will be integrated into the implementation work related to the subsequent round of new gTLDs.