This is the wiki page for At-Large comments on the objection statement on community objection grounds against applicant "Afilias Limited" for the applied for string ".health"

Information about the applicant Afilias Limited

Provided by http://gtldresult.icann.org/) :

(updated March 6 2013 with link to PIC)


String
Applicant
Location
Community
Geographic
Primary Contact
Email
Application ID
Updates
GAC EW
PIC
HEALTHAfilias LimitedIE  John Kanejkane@afilias.info1-868-3442 YesYes


The applicant details can be viewed at http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1852

Link to applicant Public Interest Commitments (PIC) : https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/viewstatus:downloadpicposting/1852

Objection Statement produced by the gTLD RG for RALO review

The PDF of the objection statement can be viewed at draft-objection-statement-against-applicant-Afilias-Limited-for-.HEALTH-25-feb-2013.pdf

Members of the gTLD RG considered the comments from the At-Large community as of February 8 2013 and ranked each factor of the four tests for community objection grounds based on these comments and discussions. 
gTLD RG members gave the factors of the 4 tests a "pass" and therefore, an objection statement was drafted by the gTLD RG based on this initial review. 


Comment on this objection statement

Please review the initial comments that were received by the gTLD RG. At-Large members are encouraged to read and post comments. 

 

NOTE: You must be logged in to post comments. If you do not have a wiki account, please email your comment to the gTLD RG group at  newgtldrg@icann.org and the group will update this wiki page.

 

The gTLD RG reserves the right to remove comments that do not adhere to ICANN's Expected Standards of Behavior and Open Comment Forum Process and Standards.

 

  • No labels

12 Comments

  1. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Comment received from International Medical Informatics Association
    http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/attachments/20130125/469ed997/IMIArequesttoALAC-0001.pdf 

    Request to consider an Objection for the “.health” new gTLDs

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    This note is to request the ALAC to consider filing an objection for the applications for the “.health” new gTLD, on Community objection grounds. Currently there are five applications for “.health”, four of which are in English and one in Chinese script. These five proposals are seen as problematic by the global health community for the following reasons:

    1. None of the applicants demonstrates that the name will be operated in the public interest.
    2. None of the applicants demonstrates adequate consumer protection mechanisms.
    3. All of the applicants are commercial in nature and none represent the health community.

     

    Basis for Community Opposition to the ‘.health’ TLD applications

    In 2012, a number of stakeholders expressed concerns about the creation of the new “.health” gTLD by current applicants and requested that its allocation, in all UN languages, be postponed to allow for the consultation of global health stakeholders. Examples include:

    • The governments of France and Mali have issued ‘Early Warnings’ for the five “.health” applications
     

    • A number of NGOs in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) have posted Comments on the ICANN Public Forum and written to ICANN and the Government Advisory Committee (GAC)

    • WHO has written to ICANN and the GAC 

     • The European Commission has issued a letter to ICANN, noting ‘.health’ among others, as a sensitive string 
    (http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/steneberg-to-icann-boardannexes-27nov12-en) 

    The concern of the Community is along the following lines:
     

    • The “.health” TLD should be a trusted resource for health, in particular to counter current international challenges such as fraud, identity theft, illicit sale of pharmaceuticals, security, protection of minors and so on. 
    • There is no guarantee that the new “.health” TLD will be operated in the interest of global public health and consumer protection.
    • The “.health” TLD without the adequate quality assurance and consumer protection mechanisms in place will undermine credibility and harm the growth of the health online market place. An open and unrestricted TLD will help to bypass regulatory controls creating new risks for the whole industry sector. 
    • Developing countries will suffer the most in this scenario, due to their difficulties in enforcing national policies to regulate, monitor, and stop fraud and misuse. 


    We have read the conditions for Community Objection grounds, and believe there are sufficient grounds on which to make an objection. We would be pleased to provide further detailed information, based on an analysis of the applications and with the health community, to support the Objection, should you decide to proceed.

     

    Best regards,

     

    Antoine Geissbuhler
    President of the International Medical Informatics Association

  2. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    From the Feb 17 2013 email at http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-February/000316.html

    Summary of notes gTLD RG members made about the factors on the four community criterion for the applications for .health (PDF)

  3. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email received from Antonine Geissbuhler, International Medical Informatics Association: http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-February/000326.html

    Dear Dev,
    Please find attached an Overview file and the Health Community Objection Table, as requested.

    Health Community Objection 20 Feb 2013.pdf

    Health Community Objection table.pdf

     

  4. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Question from Garth Bruen. gTLD RG member

    "Dev,

    In reviewing the details of this objection in preparation for the RG statement I have come to some curious questions. The IMIA did not file an objection to .MEDICAL which is a word that actually appears in title of the International Medical Informatics Association. The .MEDICAL application is also by Donuts, so all of the IMIA's objections to the Donuts .HEALTH application would not only apply to .MEDICAL and in a more targeted sense. .MEDICAL is also uncontested which would make the objection less complicated. A similar question could be asked about the .HEALTHCARE application, also an uncontested Donuts application. I am interested in knowing why "health" is more important or potentially harmful than these other strings (also .DENTIST, .DENTAL, .DOCTOR, .HOSPITAL, .SURGERY).

    Thanks"

     

    1. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

      Reply from Antoine Geissbuhler : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-February/000353.html


      Dear Dev,
      
Apologies for the late answer, but I was travelling in poorly connected areas.

We had discussions about the issue of the many names that are related to health and healthcare, 
      not even considering their possible translations.

IMIA's priority is to make sure that one TLD can be protected and identified as a 
      safer place for health information.

The name is well within the scope of IMIA's mission, and meets the need to preserve 
      the name for the global health community. Regarding the other names mentioned, 
      some are also facing the issue that they may be regulated in some 
      countries, e.g., .doctor, .dentist, but  these names are all too limited and specialized 
      to be a good fit for IMIA to object to (even medical).

I hope that this clarification helps,

      With kind regards,
Antoine Geissbuhler

  5. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Message from Célia Boyer, Executive Director Health On the Net : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000393.html

    Attachment : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/attachments/20130306/33a49e3f/06-March_2013_Objection_support_docHealth_HON_NGO-0001.pdf


    Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find attached the official letter from the Health On the Net, an 
NGO organisation which support*s highly**
At-Large New gTLD Review Group for *_*considering filling an Objection
to the 5 proposed .health gTLD applications (including the .health 
application in Chinese).*_


Thank you very much for your consideration.

Yours sincerely

Célia Boyer

Executive Director Health On the Net

-- 

______________________________________________________

CéliaBOYER

Executive Director

*H*ealth *O*n the *N*et Foundation

NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations

Tél: +41 22 3726250 - Fax: +41 22 3728885 - Web: http://www.HealthOnNet.org

  6. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Reply from Dev Anand Teelucksingh, gTLD RG chair to Joan Dzenowagis, World Health Organisation (WHO) Geneva 
    http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000395.html



    Dear Joan Dzenowagis,

Thanks for your email. By reply I am posting this to other members of
the gTLD Review Group (gTLD RG) in charge of coordinating the process
by which the ALAC can object to new gTLD applications (see PDF at
http://bit.ly/how-ALAC-files-objection-to-new-gTLD for a summary of
this process)

Currently, 5 objection statements are undergoing Regional At-Large
Organisation (RALO) review and all can be viewed at this page :
https://community.icann.org/x/soxwAg

Discussion by the RALOs on the applicants and the objection statements
can be viewed on the RALO mailing list archives
NARALO : http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/pipermail/na-discuss/2013-March/thread.html
APRALO : http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/pipermail/apac-discuss/2013/thread.html
LACRALO : https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40931651
(web page)

Any comments you wish to send re: objections statements will be
uploaded to the appropriate webpages for the objection statements for
viewing by the At-Large community as well as the ALAC which will be
considering the RALO advice on Friday March 8 2013. Any such comments
should be sent before the ALAC call on Friday March 8 2013.


Kind Regards,

Dev Anand Teelucksingh
gTLD RG chair


On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 6:57 PM, DZENOWAGIS, Joan Helen <dzenowagisj at who.int> wrote:
> Dear Dev, 

    I'm aware that there are questions about the above objections, some of which relate to WHO. 
    We would appreciate the opportunity to address them directly, as some of the assertions by
    an applicant are inaccurate and/or misleading and this must be corrected. 

    As you know, we have previously written to ICANN about our concerns and we are working 
    within the ICANN process as we understand it. A number of global NGOs also share our concerns 
    and have asked how they can support the objection. I would appreciate your guidance on how 
    they can do this.

    > I hope you can accommodate the time difference in your deliberations, as it is 24.00hrs in Geneva, 
    to give us the chance to respond. Thank you for your consideration.

    > Joan Dzenowagis, WHO Geneva

  7. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email from David Abreu, COHRED - Council on Health Research for Development : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000397.html

    Dear Sir or Madam,



I am writing on behalf of the Council on Health Research for Development –
COHRED, an international not-for-profit organisation with the mission to
improve health, equity and development by supporting countries to develop
strong research and innovation systems. We work globally, but prioritise
low and middle income countries.


It has come to our attention that you are considering filing an Objection
to the 5 proposed .health gTLD applications (including the .health
application in Chinese).


We share the concerns of the International Medical Informatics Association
as noted in their letter of 25 January 2013:

ü  The ".health" TLD should be a trusted resource for health, in particular
to counter current international challenges such as fraud, identity theft,
illicit sale of pharmaceuticals, security, protection of minors and so on.



ü  There is no guarantee that the new ".health" TLD will be operated in the
interest of global public health and consumer protection.



ü  The ".health" TLD without the adequate quality assurance and consumer
protection mechanisms in place will undermine credibility and harm the
growth of the health online market place. An open and unrestricted TLD will
help to bypass regulatory controls creating new risks for the whole
industry sector.



ü  Developing countries will suffer the most in this scenario, due to their
difficulties in enforcing national policies to regulate, monitor, and stop
fraud and misuse.


We hereby lend the voice of COHRED and our country partners to this
Objection.



Sincerely,

-- 

*David Abreu, MBA*
*Head
Web for Development
Geneva
+41 22 591 89 11
Skype: david_abreu
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
COHRED - Council on Health Research for Development
   *Incorporating the Global Forum for Health Research*
1-5 Route des Morillons
1211 Geneva 2
P.O. Box 2100
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 591 89 00

www.cohred.org

New Resources: 20th Anniversary
<http://www.cohred.org/20th-anniversary/>, COHRED
Publications <http://www.cohred.org/publications/cohred-publications/>


  8. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email from Martine Berger, Health Innovation in Practice : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000398.html

    Attachment : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/attachments/20130307/6fc6a2b6/DGHletterobjectiondothealth_March2013-0001.docx


    Please find attached a letter of support for filing an objection to the 5 proposed ".health" TLD applications.

We thank you in advance for your consideration,

On behalf of the Democratising Global Health Coalition


Martine Berger, MD, PhD, MPH
Director, Health Innovation in Practice
Ecumenical Centre
1-5 route des Morillons
1211 Genève Suisse
Tel: +41 22 7989852
Mob:+41 78 6280176
mberger at hip3.org
skype: berger.hip


  9. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email from Vanda Scartezini http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000398.html

     

    I am becoming a little worry about these objections to common names. I saw
health for instance. The complaint states:

1.   None of the applicants demonstrates that the name will be operated in
the public interest.

2.   None of the applicants demonstrates adequate consumer protection
mechanisms.

3.   All of the applicants are commercial in nature and none represent the
health community.

Well, who said it cannot be a commercial?  Who said was mandatory to
represent any community?  Why they need to operate in the public interest
and not in the private one? And besides, NET, for instance, that is also a
word in English, now in all languages, has the same approach, and does not
follow any of the statements above.  Where is the fairness of the process? 

The number of objection like this one is becoming big and if ICANN  doesn’t
make a move  to  clarify the rights of these applicants, I believe ICANN
will be sued  from many fronts, and more relevant, we will NOT have any
competition at all, since only common names have any attraction to the
public to jump and buy a domain under that name, others are brands.

That was the main intention of this new gTLD program, that may risk to be
lost.

I am  really becoming worried about the way things are going.  We cannot
dismiss applicants for issues they were not supposed to commit under their
application to new gTLD program.

In time, I did not applied for any gTLD, so my comment  is because I am not
seeing any fair approach in these complains. 

All the best, 

Vanda Scartezini
Polo Consultores Associados 
IT Trend
Avenida Paulista 1159 cj 1004
01311-200 São Paulo,SP, Brasil
Tel + 5511 3266.6253
Mob + 5511 98181.1464

     

  10. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email from Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation, World Health Organization http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000400.html

    Dear Sirs,

Following the extensive exchange of comments between Eric Brunner-Williams and DotHealth LLC, 
    the World Health Organization (“WHO”) would like to clarify that WHO does not and will not endorse 
    or support any particular applicant for .health. WHO has engaged in informative dialogue with 
    all applicants with a view to ensuring that the names and acronyms of WHO and its Regional Offices 
    will be appropriately protected at the second level within the .health TLD, should it be delegated, 
    and with a view to understanding whether and how the applicants are proposing to operate 
    the .health TLD in the interest of global public health.

However, WHO has not entered into any consultative or advisory process with any of the applicants 
    on the development of their policies, commitments or applications in general.
Representations by any applicant in that regard would be incorrect and misleading.

For the avoidance of doubt, WHO should also like to clarify that the WHO Executive Board 
    has not adopted any resolution, 10.5 or otherwise, on the .health TLD and/or the possible engagement 
    of WHO with any of the applicants.

On another related note, WHO notes that the 
    string "健康<http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/viewstatus:viewapplicationdetails/450>" has 
    been translated as “healthy” instead of “health”, and that this difference is used to argue that the 
    objection should not proceed. WHO should like to inform the ALAC that the official 
    WHO translation of "健康<http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/viewstatus:viewapplicationdetails/450>" 
    is “health” in English. In French it is “santé”, and in Spanish “salud”. 
    WHO would therefore ask that the ALAC reconsiders the 
    translation of "健康<http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/viewstatus:viewapplicationdetails/450>" and 
    use instead the official WHO translation in determining whether the Objection should proceed or not.

We thank you very much for your attention.

Best regards,

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny
Assistant Director-General
Health Systems and Innovation
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
CH1211-Genève 27
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 35 91
Fax: +41 22 791 49 09
E-mail: kienym at who.int<mailto:kienym at who.int>

  11. Dev Anand Teelucksingh

    Email from Prof. S. Yunkap Kwankam, PhD | Executive Director, International Scoiety for Telemedicine and eHealth ISfTeH) :
    http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/2013-March/000407.html

    Attachment : http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/newgtldrg/attachments/20130311/81bb8d7f/LettertoICANNatLargeCommMarch2013-0001.pdf

     

    Dear Sir / Madame,

We hereby lend our voice to the objection to the 5 proposed .health gTLD applications by At-Large New gTLD Review Group - see attached letter. Thank for you consideration.

regards,

Yunkap
Prof. S. Yunkap Kwankam, PhD | Executive Director, International Scoiety for Telemedicine and eHealth ISfTeH)
Chemin des Champs-Blancs 94 | 1279 Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland
Phone: +41 22 796 6238 | Cell: +41 79 369 0998 | Web: www.isfteh.org