Dear colleagues, I assume some of you received the notification below. This is a clear evidence that the ICANN staff choose to proceed with .brand implementation WITHOUT GNSO's confirmation as requested by the Board. Ching -------- Dear Applicants and Registry Operators: On 26 March 2014, the New gTLD Program Committee (“NGPC”) of the ICANN Board approved the Registry Agreement Specification 13 for .Brand TLDs. View this resolution at: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-new-gtld-26mar14-.... As per this resolution a process for requesting and evaluating applications for Specification 13 to the New gTLD Registry Agreement has been published at http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/base-agreement-spec-13-applicati... . We encourage you to read the resolution referenced above as well as Specification 13 to determine whether it is applicable to you. If you would like to submit an application for Specification 13, please follow the process described in Q1, Q2, or Q3 of the *Specification 13 to the Registry Agreement FAQs* posted at http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/base-agreement-spec-13-faqs-14ap... . Please note that ICANN will post all applications for .Brand TLD designation for public comment for a period of 30 calendar days. The posting of these applications for public comment does not mean and should not be construed as a determination by ICANN that the TLD meets the criteria to be qualified as a .Brand TLD. Even if no public comments are received objecting to the designation of a TLD as a .Brand TLD, ICANN will review the re-application and may determine that the TLD does not qualify as a .Brand TLD. If you have previously submitted a Code of Conduct exemption request, please let us know via the Customer Service Center atnewgtld@icann.org or https://myicann.secure.force.com/ whether you intend to also submitting an application for .Brand TLD designation. As much as possible, ICANN will try to process the two requests together. If you have any questions regarding Specification 13 or this email notification, please contact the Customer Service Center atnewgtld@icann.org . --------