[To: council[at]gnso.icann.org; liaison6c[at]gnso.icann.org] [To: ga[at]gnso.icann.org; announce[at]gnso.icann.org] [To: regional-liaisons[at]icann.org] http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-02apr09-en.htm Collaborative Communication: New gTLD Overarching Issues 2 April 2009 In response to the Public Comments regarding the draft Applicant Guidebook posted 24 October, 2008, (http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-2-en.htm), ICANN has created a dedicated WIKI space entitled, "New gTLD Overarching Issues." This wiki will enable the community to view and post comments, upload proposals, documents and reports and leave feedback for ongoing dialogue related to the four overarching issues described in earlier postings: Trademark Protection TLD Demand and Economic Analysis Security and Stability: Root Zone Scaling Potential for Malicious Conduct The WIKI can be accessed at: https://st.icann.org/new-gtld-overarching-issues/index.cgi?new_gtld_overarch... Community members may also continue to provide feedback through the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook version 2 public comments forum that ends on 13 April, 2009 http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-2-en.htm. Comments to the WIKI made on or before 23 May, 2009 will be considered for discussion in Sydney and the next version of the Guidebook. ICANN continues to engage in global collaboration with the many communities that have an interest in finding workable solutions on the outstanding issues in the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook. These collaborations include: the establishment of the Implementation Recommendation Team (IRT) on trademark issues, the request for a joint SSAC-RSSAC study on DNS stability and the commissioning of independent papers on economic and potential user abuse issues. The WIKI is intended to facilitate these discussions and the formation of additional independent thought on these issues ICANN will be participating in additional public consultations to discuss these issues. The dates and times will be announced shortly. After these collaborative efforts have been collated, the recommendations put forth will culminate with public discussions, the first of which will take place at the ICANN Meeting scheduled 21-26 June, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. These discussions are intended to arrive at a final version of the new gTLD implementation plan or Applicant Guidebook. Modifications to the implementation plan related to these overarching issues and embodied in the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook and registry agreement will be open to at least one more round of public comment and feedback in Q3 2009. New gTLDs and the Internet Openness Change Innovation After years of discussion and thought, generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) are being expanded. They will allow for more innovation, choice and change to a global Internet presently served by just 21 generic top-level domain names. A draft Applicant Guidebook describing the detailed application process has been developed with opportunities for public comment. Additional information on the Program can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm. ICANN is a not for profit corporation dedicated to coordinating the Internet's addressing system. Promoting competition and choice is one of the principles upon which ICANN was founded. In a world with 1.5 billion Internet users (and growing), diversity, choice and innovation are key. The Internet has supported huge increases in choice, innovation and the competition of ideas and expanding new gTLDs is an opportunity for more. Media Contact: Brad White Director of Media Affairs Tel: +1 202 429 2710 Email: brad.white@icann.org<mailto:brad.white@icann.org> Glen de Saint Géry GNSO Secretariat gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org http://gnso.icann.org