At-Large RRR WG -- RAA Section 3.7.8 Modification

RAA section 3.7.8

Background

From Garth Bruen:

It is important to understand that unlike other parts of the RAA there are four (4) parties to 3.7.8:

1. ICANN
2. The Registrar
3. The domain owner/registrant
4. The complainant

The complainant is pure public interest and this is what probably riles them the most. The process is completely driven from outside by non-contracted parties and non-consumers, it is initiated by a lowly Internet user.

Will making domain deletions mandatory reduce the rights of domain owners? The situation is in fact unchanged. Domain owners have no recourse in the current scheme either. This is something the RRRWG should recommend, a due process for deleted or suspended domains.

The current Draft RAA (prague44.icann.org/meetings/prague2012/presentation-draft-2012-raa-03jun12-en.pdf) changes some of the language in 3.7.8 but does not specifically fix these issues. The new 3.7.8 refers to a WHOIS ACCURACY PROGRAM SPECIFICATION (prague44.icann.org/meetings/prague2012/presentation-whois-accuracy-03jun12-en.pdf). Some of the language in this document should be moved directly into 3.7.8, specifically item 5. In general, revised language should include clear language making failure to follow the policy is a breach offense but also absolving a registrar who properly follows policy.

The draft language I’m proposing takes section 5 from the WHOIS ACCURACY PROGRAM SPECIFICATION to replace most of the last section of the existing 3.7.8 and uses language from the 2003 advisory (icann.org/en/news/announcements/advisory-03apr03-en.htm), which is already “policy”, to replace the term “reasonable steps.” The last section I have added to clarify the registrar’s immunity and responsibility.  

ICANN staff's currently proposed wording:

Registrar shall comply with the Whois accuracy program as specified in the Whois Accuracy Program Specification to this Agreement.  In addition, Registrar shall abide by any Consensus Policy requiring reasonable and commercially practicable (a) verification, at the time of registration, of contact information associated with a Registered Name sponsored by Registrar or (b) periodic re-­‐verification of such information.  Registrar shall, upon notification by any person of an inaccuracy in the contact information associated with a Registered Name sponsored by Registrar, take reasonable steps to investigate that claimed inaccuracy.  In the event Registrar learns of inaccurate contact information associated with a Registered Name it sponsors, it shall take reasonable steps to correct that inaccuracy.

ALAC's proposed wording:

Original wording from Garth with contributions from Cintra:

Registrar shall, upon notification of an inaccuracy in the contact information associated with a Registered Name sponsored by Registrar, investigate by promptly transmitting to the registrant the inquiries concerning the accuracy of the data that are suggested by RAA Subsection 3.7.7.2. The inquiries should be conducted by all commercially practicable means available to the registrar: by telephone, e-mail, and registered postal mail.

Upon the occurrence of a Registered Name Holder's willful provision of inaccurate or unreliable WHOIS information, its willful failure promptly to update information provided to Registrar, or its failure to respond for over fifteen (15) calendar days to inquiries by Registrar concerning the accuracy of contact details associated with the Registered Name Holder's registration, Registrar shall either terminate the Registered Name Holder’s Registration or place such registration on clientHold and clientTransferProhibited. The sponsoring Registrar is responsible for maintaining and presenting to ICANN Compliance all communication records occurring during the complaint period. Registrars taking all reasonable steps to execute this policy properly shall not be held at fault.