GAC’s role at ICANN should be a concern for brand holders

If there is one theme emanating from the current ICANN meeting in Singapore, it is the friction between the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) and other stakeholders. While the GAC may not be on the radar of many trademark counsel, the president of the International Trademark Association has warned that its role in the ICANN structure …

ICANN 52: A Proposal for Creation of “Community Veto” Process on ICANN Board’s Key Decisions

By Robin Gross on CircleID Below is the text of a proposal made today to ICANN’s Cross Community Working Group on Accountability (CCWG-ACCT) to create a community veto process over certain key decisions of ICANN’s board of directors. This community veto process could be created by amending ICANN’s existing corporate bylaws, which should also be amended …

IpJustice: Civil Society Cautions Against ICANN Proposal to Give Governments a Veto Over New Domains Using “Geographic Names”

A group of twenty-four civil society organizations and individuals today submitted a joint statement regarding a proposal from an ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) sub-group on the use of “geographic names” in top-level domains.  The joint civil society statement cautioned against the adoption of the GAC proposal that would give governments veto power on domains …

ZACR Falsely Appropriated .Africa Endorsement, ICANN Assisted ZACR to Pass Review

. DCA’s latest Memorial submitted by international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP – which represents DCA in the DCA vs. ICANN IRP – indicates that appear to be an anomaly on ZACR’s .africa endorsement section amongst others. . It states that: “The Board itself undertook to promote the AUC’s attempts to secure .AFRICA; …

“Attempts to impose rules on the Internet are doomed to fail” says ICANN CEO

ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade  has told Bloomberg yesterday in an interview that government attempts to impose rules on the Internet are doomed to fail Read the coverage below Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) — ICANN, the gatekeeper for Web addresses, said government attempts to impose rules on the Internet are doomed to fail as the group seeks …

Exclusive interview: ICANN GAC Chair Change

In October 2014, the Chair of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), Heather Dryden of Canada, stood down after four years at the helm.  She and incoming ICANN GAC Chair Thomas Schneider of Switzerland discuss the role, the past and the future, and governments’ role within ICANN. Thomas Schneider, incoming ICANN GAC Chair What are you most looking …

The Internet Power Vacuum Worsens, A looming threat

The U.S. hasn’t even abandoned its Web protection yet, and authoritarians are making their move. by wsj.com The Obama administration plan to give up U.S. protection of the open Internet won’t take effect for a year, but authoritarian governments are already moving to grab control. President Obama is learning it’s as dangerous for America to create …