Dear Working Group on New gTLDs, Please be advised that a public comment period has been opened on the Modification of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), an issue related to the remit of your working group. In keeping with the 'bottom up' nature of ICANN, your working group's attention is kindly drawn to this comment period, which ends on August 12th. If you would be interested in a telephonic briefing on the UDRP and the proposed modifications, please let us know so that we can go ahead with the planning of such a session. The consultation information may be found at http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#udrp. The announcement of the same follows immediately hereafter. ********************************** Modification of UDRP Rules Explanation: The implementation rules for the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) document the procedures for the implementation of UDRP proceedings (http://www.icann.org/en/udrp/udrp-rules-24oct99.htm). ICANN has received a proposal from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) regarding suggested changes to the implementation rules to allow for a paperless UDRP proceeding, or "eUDRP." WIPO does not propose any changes to the UDRP itself. The WIPO proposal ( http://www.icann.org/en/wipo/wipo-proposal-eudrp-rules-30dec08-en.pdf)[PDF, 13K] includes an explanation for WIPO's proposal, as well as a redline of the proposed rule changes. WIPO's proposal is being posted for public comment for 30 days to ensure broad community input. Feedback received will be considered in the evaluation of the need to modify the implementation rules to give effect to the specific purpose proposed. Note: The proposal also includes sections relating to proposed changes to WIPO's supplemental rules for the administration of UDRP proceedings. The public comment forum is not intended to address the supplemental rules change issues. Comments regarding WIPO's proposed amendments to the implementation rules maybe submitted by email to: eudrp@icann.org through 12 August 2009. -- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart, Heidi Ullrich, Matthias Langenegger, Gisella Gruber-White ICANN At-Large Staff email: staff at atlarge.icann.org