Hello All, Further to the posting of the resolution regarding the contract with IBM for the trademark clearinghouse, ICANN has now published a preliminary report for the meeting held on 26 March 2013. From: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/prelim-report-new-gtld-26mar1... 1. Approval to Enter Agreement with IBM for Trademark Clearinghouse Due to a potential for conflict of interest, Thomas Narten was not present for the deliberation of this item. The Committee received an update on the development of the Trademark Clearinghouse as it has been divided into two functions, one to be performed by Deloitte and the other by IBM, which will perform the sunrise and claims work. The Committee also received some detail on the negotiated costs for the IBM work. Staff confirmed that an RFP had been issued prior to the selection of the Trademark Clearinghouse providers. The Committee then took the following action: Whereas, ICANN and IBM have negotiated in good faith the terms for a proposed statement of work for operation of the Sunrise and Trademark Claims services offered by the Trademark Clearinghouse. Whereas, the New gTLD Program Committee has reviewed the terms of the proposed Statement of Work for ICANN. Whereas, approval is required to commit ICANN funds in the amount of USD 4 million. Whereas, execution of the agreement enables continuation of the technical build out to support these services for the New gTLD Program. Resolved (2013.03.26.NG01), the New gTLD Program Committee authorizes the President and CEO to enter into the proposed agreement with IBM. Ten members of the Committee voted in favor of the Resolution. Two members of the Committee were unavailable to vote. The resolution carried. 2. Protections for Names of IGOs The Committee received an update on the status of work regarding the establishment of protections of names of IGOs within the first round of the New gTLD Program, including a brief discussion of the advice from the GAC, issues relating to the protection of common acronyms that are also acronyms of IGOs, and the creation of a ongoing mechanisms that may need to be put in place to address the GAC advice. The Committee agreed that further briefing was necessary, and that it would have a broader discussion of this issue at its meeting during ICANN's Beijing meeting. 3. "Closed" Generics The Committee briefly discussed the issue of "closed" generics and received an update on the work that was requested from staff on this issue, as well as the results of the public comment forum. The Committee agreed that further discussion on this topic would be necessary at its meeting during ICANN's Beijing meeting. The Committee also requested that this topic be on the agenda for the Public Forum in Beijing. 4. Update on Registrar Accreditation Agreement Negotiations and the Registry Agreement The Committee received an update on the status of the RAA negotiations as well as the status of the Registry Agreement after ICANN posted a version for public comment on 5 February 2013. The President and CEO provided a brief summary of the public comments on the Registry Agreement. The Committee also briefly discussed the Board-approved amendment process as well as proposed changes to that process to respond to community concern. 5. Any Other Business The Committee received a brief update from the President and CEO on the work towards a DNS summit in New York City on 23 April 2013, where the work of taskforces arising out of the CEO Roundtables will be progressed, and, if available and appropriate, a signing ceremony will take place regarding the new Registrant Rights and Responsibilities document within the RAA. The Committee also received a brief update on the status of the Public Interest Commitments documents that were submitted by applicants.