The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) just issued its Buenos Aires Communiqué from the ICANN Meeting and “requests a briefing on the public policy implications of holding auctions to resolve string contention (including community applications)”.
The GAC considers that new gTLD registry operators should be made aware of the importance of protecting children and their rights consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The GAC advises the ICANN Board:
To re-categorize the string .doctor as falling within Category 1 safeguard advice addressing highly regulated sectors, therefore ascribing these domains exclusively to legitimate medical practitioners. The GAC notes the strong implications for consumer protection and consumer trust, and the need for proper medical ethical standards, demanded by the medical field online to be fully respected.
The GAC welcomes the Board’s communication with applicants with regard to open and closed gTLDs, but seeks written clarification of how strings are identified as being generic.
GAC Objections to Specific Applications (ref. Beijing Communiqué 1.c.)
.guangzhou (IDN in Chinese), .shenzhen (IDN in Chinese), and .spa
The GAC advises the ICANN Board:
Not to proceed beyond initial evaluation until the agreements between the relevant parties are reached
The application for .guangzhou (IDN in Chinese – application number 1-1121-22691)
The application for .shenzhen (IDN in Chinese – 1- 1121-82863)
The applications for .spa (application number 1- 1309-12524 and 1-1619-92115)
The GAC notes that the application for .yun (application number 1-1318- 12524) has been withdrawn.
The GAC welcomes the Board’s acceptance of its advice in the Durban Communiqué on the application for .thai.
.wine and .vinThe GAC took note of the developments on the two strings .wine and .vin from its previous meetings in Beijing and Durban.
GAC members have undertaken extensive discussions to examine a diversity of views on these applications, and the protections associated with Geographical Indications (GIs).
GAC considers that appropriate safeguards against possible abuse of these new gTLDs are needed.
Some members are of the view, after prolonged and careful consideration, that the existing safeguards outlined in the GAC’s Beijing Communiqué and implemented by the ICANN Board are appropriate and sufficient to deal with the potential for misuse of the .wine and .vin new gTLDs. These members welcome the Board’s response to these safeguards, which prohibit fraudulent or deceptive use of domain names. They consider that it would be inappropriate and a serious concern if the agreed international settings on GIs were to be redesigned by ICANN.
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