So we have a new structure - great. I look forward to hearing their views and opinions on the ongoing policy and process issues taking place at ICANN. However, I am still skeptical - as the ALS/ALAC community has still not responded to the recent developments @ Registerfly (see below). In fact, was ALAC at all consulted on the issue ? regards, Robert --- Robert Guerra <rguerra@privaterra.org> Managing Director, Privaterra Tel +1 416 893 0377 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070227-8933.html Registerfly faces losing ICANN accreditation 2/27/2007 12:37:07 PM, by Jacqui Cheng Domain registrar and SSL certificate issuer Registerfly has been given notice by ICANN for violation of numerous policies and must remedy the situation by March 13 or lose ICANN accreditation. The issue is focused on Registerfly's failure to unlock tens of thousands of domain names despite repeated requests by customers and ICANN itself, a violation of ICANN's Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy, as well as repeated failure to pay ICANN's accreditation fees. The company's troubles have been snowballing for a while now, and came to a head with Registerfly's financial problems that caused the company to allow 75,000 domain names to expire despite repeated user requests to renew and/or transfer them. Registerfly blamed the financial crisis on parent company Unified Names' CEO Kevin Medina's misue of company funds. Medina was terminated from the company on February 12 and Unified Names sued him that same day, accusing him of misusing the funds on liposuction and escorts. Registerfly claims that upon Medina's termination, he deleted quite a bit of company information, including passwords and access to the billing department in order to issue refunds. ICANN isn't impressed with Registerfly's excuses and accuses it of severe breaches of its agreements with customers and ICANN. In a letter sent to Registerfly and seen by Ars Technica, the organization accuses Registerfly—with plenty of examples—of withholding approval and otherwise acting to block requested transfers of domain names, despite their agreement to do so within five days of request. The letter also details numerous complaints made by customers about being charged multiple times for domain names as well as Registerfly changing some WHOIS entries from the actual domain owner to "Kevin Medina." "Registerfly's pattern of neglect of its obligations to ICANN, fellow registrars, and customers demonstrated by the above circumstances is unacceptable," wrote ICANN. "We hereby demand that Registerfly act promptly to cure the breaches outlined in this letter, and will become more responsive and cooperative in dealing with additional issues as they are discovered." What's next for Registerfly? Newly-appointed CEO John Naruszewicz made a public statement last week, one day after ICANN's notice to Registerfly, insisting that customer service is Registerfly's utmost priority. He also called Medina a "selfish, cold-hearted, self- loving, criminal" and stated that Naruszewicz is personally taking out funds to help remedy the dire situation that the company has found itself in: "I've mortgaged my home, leveraged all assets, and am in the stages of securing large letters of credit to bring this company forward properly." Those certainly seem like committed words, although many of Registerfly's burned customers have had a hard time swallowing these assertions without much evidence of action. Some customers have reported late last week that they have been able to log into their previously-locked accounts, however, so it appears as if there may be some glimmer of hope for those who are still waiting for resolution. But will the company be able to right its financial obligations to both customers and ICANN in time to save its accreditation?

Great news, congratulations!!!! José Ovidio Salgueiro A. jsalgueiro@cantv.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Nick Ashton-Hart To: At-Large Worldwide ; na-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org ; Africa Discuss ; Europe Discuss ; LAC Discuss Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:54 AM Subject: [LAC-Discuss] Fwd: AP-RALO completed MoU and OP Today I thought the wider At-Large world would be keen to hear the good news from Asia today. Congratulations to the AP At-Large Community :) It was great to meet you all and I look forward to helping to facilitate your making a difference for a long time to come :) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Izumi AIZU <iza@anr.org> Date: 28-Feb-2007 22:57 Subject: [APAC-Discuss] AP-RALO completed MoU and OP To: Interim ALAC <alac@icann.org>, Asia-Pacific Discuss <apac-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org> Dear all, I would like to take this opportunity to report that AP RALO formation meeting here in Bali during APRICOt took place today, and I am pleased to share that we have completed most of the tasks for the formation, we reached the consensus on Draft MoU with ICANN, and also on Operating Principles. 12 ALS representative out of 13 gathered here and we put our initiating signatures to the documents, to be submitted to the ICANN Board. We could not complete the selection of new ALAC members and officers, but agreed with the selection schedule, including the nomination starting shortly, for a week, etc. The official announcment should come any time soon together with the minutes of our meeting. As one of "interim" members of ALAC together with Ms. Hong Xue from AP region, I personally feel greatful to all the support and active involvement of all ALS members here in our region, as well as staff support, and also all the friendly advices and suport from larger ALAC friends in other regions and othe ICANN community memebrs. Nom-com designated Siavash did the great job of charing the session of the entire day. Special thanks to Siavash! Well, the real tasks will be still there, and not easy, but I hope we will eventually make rational and meaningful steps to bring the voices of individual users in this region to the ICANN policy process. izumi _______________________________________________ APAC-Discuss mailing list APAC-Discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/apac-discuss_atlarge-lists.i... -- -- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart PO Box 32160 London N4 2XY United Kingdom UK Tel: +44 (20) 8800-1011 USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 Fax: +44 (20) 7681-3135 mobile: +44 (7774) 932798 Win IM: ashtonhart@hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart@mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ LAC-Discuss mailing list LAC-Discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/lac-discuss_atlarge-lists.ic...