Thanks for sharing this Sebastien.  I have suggested that we add this to our August Council agenda as AOB, since the deadline is today, but this may be something we can progress over email. 

 

During the last Council meeting I flagged that there are a number of inter-related workstreams that likely need to conclude before the 10 year old IGO issue is fully resolved, including implementation of the  Curative Rights Protections recommendations, development of a post-registration notification system for IGOs and, possibly, continuing the Bylaws-mandated Board-GAC consultation process, if this has not been concluded. Mary’s email touches on some, but not all of this. 

 

It would be extremely helpful to get a clear understanding of exactly which steps do need to be taken and the anticipated timelines, which could then help to manage the expectations of those for whom this remains an issue of importance.  Whilst I appreciate that once policy leaves the GNSO and moves into implementation it formally ceases to be our responsibility, nevertheless as the manager of the PDP process it is appropriate that Council should maintain an interest in what happens to the policy that it delivers.  I believe that Council should therefore seek such an update, and note that there was support for this from Kurt during our July meeting. 

 

Thanks

Susan

 

 

Hi Susan,

 

We did check with Mary who had no objections. Thank you for the reminder, it was on my todo list.

Here is what she sent Greg, John and I:

 

Dear Sebastien, Greg and John,

 

I understand that, for its meeting this week, the GNSO Council is planning to discuss whether to take steps to request that ICANN org’s implementation of the IGO curative rights policy recommendations recently adopted by the Board remains a high priority, taking into account resourcing in the context of other ongoing implementation work. As the staff lead for ICANN org’s overall program of IGO-related work, I apologize that I am unable to join the Council call and I hope that this note will be of assistance to you and the Council in your discussion.

 

Following the Board’s adoption on 30 April 2023 of the four recommendations from the GNSO’s 2019 PDP on IGO-INGO Access to Curative Rights Protection Mechanisms and the five recommendations from the 2022 EPDP on Specific Curative Rights for IGOs, ICANN org convened an internal staff team to begin implementation planning, in line with the Board’s directive to proceed with implementation “as soon as feasible” and to prepare an implementation plan for submission to the Board. The staff team has met to review the recommendations in order to assess the staffing, timelines and other resources that may be required to implement them, as instructed by the Board (see https://www.icann.org/en/board-activities-and-meetings/materials/approved-resolutions-regular-meeting-of-the-icann-board-30-04-2023-en#section2.c). This analysis includes looking at the extent to which staffing this work will impact other org projects, in accordance with the Board’s request that the implementation plan includes information about how the implementation work will “fit into ICANN org's operational planning and prioritization of its ongoing work to implement other community-developed recommendations that the Board has adopted”.  Among other things and as noted in the rationale accompanying the Board resolution, the staff team is also considering whether engaging third party vendors and experts may allow for timely and efficient implementation.

 

Although the team is not at a stage where we can publish an implementation plan, we are continuing with our discussions and intend to provide the Board and GNSO Council with an update as soon as possible.  

 

If it is helpful, I’ll add that this implementation project has been incorporated into the org’s work on IGO protections overall, including work streams that will enable the Board to lift the moratorium on the IGO acronyms which have been reserved on an interim basis, such as development of a permanent post-registration notification system for IGOs. I note this to assure you and the GNSO Council that ICANN org is actively working on achieving the Board’s and community’s intentions and policies relating to second-level protections for IGOs, their names and acronyms, including supporting the work that will be needed to reconcile the remaining, outstanding inconsistencies between GAC advice and GNSO policy recommendations. 

 

Thank you.

 

Best regards,

Mary

 

Kindly