https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-26jul13-en.htm PRO Cross-Ownership Removal Request Comment / Reply Periods (*) Comment Open Date: 26 July 2013 Comment Close Date: 16 August 2013 - 23:59 UTC Reply Open Date: 17 August 2013 Reply Close Date: 8 September 2013 - 23:59 UTC Important Information Links Public Comment Announcement<https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-26jul13-en.htm> To Submit Your Comments (Forum)<mailto:comments-pro-xo-removal-26jul13@icann.org> View Comments Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-pro-xo-removal-26jul13/> Brief Overview Originating Organization: ICANN Categories/Tags: * Contracted Party Agreements Purpose (Brief): ICANN is posting today for public comment the Afilias Limited request to removal of the cross-ownership restrictions reflected on the .PRO Registry Agreement dated 22 April 2010. Current Status: ICANN conducted a competition review in accordance to the process and has determined that the request does not raise significant competition issues. Next Steps: Following the public comment period, a summary and analysis will be posted, the request will be considered by ICANN and the result will be made public. Staff Contact: Karla Valente Email Staff Contact<mailto:karla.valente@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20.PRO%20Cross-Ownership%20Removal%20Request%20public%20comment%20period> Detailed Information Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose: Afilias Limited requests the removal of the cross-ownership restrictions reflected on the .PRO Registry Agreement dated 22 April 2010. See: http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro> This request is submitted according to the "Process for Handling Requests for Removal of Cross-Ownership Restrictions on Operators of Existing gTLDs" adopted by the Board on 18 October 2012. See: http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership>. According to the approved process, in order to lift cross-ownership restrictions, existing gTLD registry operators could either request an amendment to their existing Registry Agreement to remove the cross-ownership restrictions or request to transition to the new form of Registry Agreement for new gTLDs. Any proposed material amendments to gTLD registry agreements would be subject to public comment prior to ICANN approval. Section II: Background: The current .PRO agreement dated 22 April 2010 has cross-ownership restrictions See: http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro> On 18 October 2012 the Board approved the "Process for Handling Requests for Removal of Cross-Ownership Restrictions on Operators of Existing gTLDs". See: http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership>. In early 2013 Fundació puntCAT, the registry responsible for .CAT had a similar request approved by the Board. Section III: Document and Resource Links: * Current .PRO Registry Agreement and Appendices<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro> * Board Approved Process<https://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership> * Proposed Afilias Limited Amendment<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro/proposed-pro-amendm...> [PDF, 48 KB] * Proposed Redlined Agreement<https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/pro/proposed-pro-agreem...> [PDF, 94 KB] Section IV: Additional Information: None ________________________________ (*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses. Glen de Saint Géry GNSO Secretariat gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org http://gnso.icann.org