Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Part B Policy Development Process - Recommendation 9, Part 2 Concerning a New Provision to Lock and Unlock Domain Name Comment/Reply Periods (*) Important Information Links Comment Open: 23 January 2012 Comment Close: 13 February 2012 Close Time (UTC): 23:59 Public Comment Announcement<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23jan12-en.htm> Reply Open: 14 February 2012 To Submit Your Comments (Forum)<mailto:irtp-b-rec9-part2@icann.org> Reply Close: 6 March 2012 View Comments Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/irtp-b-rec9-part2/> Close Time (UTC): 23:59 Report of Public Comments Brief Overview Originating Organization: ICANN Board Categories/Tags: * Policy Processes * ICANN Board/Bylaws * Contracted Party Agreements Purpose (Brief): Public notice is hereby provided of the proposed change to the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) to address the locking and unlocking of domain names that is considered for adoption as well as an opportunity to comment on the adoption of the proposed policy change, prior to ICANN Board consideration. Current Status: Following adoption by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Council of IRTP Part B Recommendation #9, part 2, a public comment forum is now opened as required by the ICANN Bylaws prior to ICANN Board consideration. Next Steps: Following the closing of the public comment period, the ICANN Board will consider the comments received in conjunction with its consideration of the proposed change to the IRTP. Staff Contact: Marika Konings Email: Policy-staff@icann.org<mailto:Policy-staff@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Inter-Registrar%20Transfer%20Policy%20Part%20B%20Policy%20Development%20Process%20-%20Recommendation%209,%20Part%202%20Concerning%20a%20New%20Provision%20to%20Lock%20and%20Unlock%20Domain%20Names%20public%20comment%20period> Detailed Information Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Part B presented its recommendations to the GNSO Council last year. For one of those recommendation, #9 part 2 ("denial reason #7 should be replaced by adding a new provision in a different section of the IRTP on when and how domains may be locked or unlocked concerning a new provision to lock and unlock domain names"), the GNSO Council requested ICANN staff to provide a proposal. In consultation with the IRTP Part B Working Group, ICANN Staff prepared a proposal that, together with the IRTP Part B recommendation, has now been approved by the GNSO Council. The ICANN Staff proposal, taking into account the deletion of denial reason #7 as previously approved by the ICANN Board, proposes to expand the existing section 5 (EPP - based Registry Requirements for Registrars) of the IRTP to address "Registrar Lock Status". The proposed modifications to the IRTP can be found in redline form in the ICANN Staff Proposal on IRTP Part B Recommendation #9 part 2<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/irtp-b-9-part-2-staff-proposal-22nov11-en.pdf> [PDF, 490 KB]. The main elements of the proposed modifications are: * Registrar may only impose a lock that would prohibit transfer of the domain name if it includes in its registration agreement the terms and conditions for imposing such lock and obtains express consent from the Registered Name Holder: and * Registrar must remove the "Registrar Lock" status within five (5) calendar days of the Registered Name Holder's initial request, if the Registrar does not provide facilities for the Registered Name Holder to remove the "Registrar Lock" status You are invited to submit comments until 13 February 2011 before final consideration by the ICANN Board. Section II: Background The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) aims to provide a straightforward procedure for domain name holders to transfer their names from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another should they wish to do so. The policy also provides standardized requirements for registrar handling of such transfer requests from domain name holders. The policy is an existing community consensus policy that was implemented in late 2004 and is now being reviewed by the GNSO. The IRTP Part B Policy Development Process (PDP) was the second in a series of five PDPs that address areas for improvements in the existing Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy. The GNSO IRTP Part B Policy Development Process Working Group was tasked to address five issues focusing on issues related to domain hijacking, the urgent return of an inappropriately transferred name and "lock status". The WG delivered its Final Report to the GNSO Council on 31 May 2011. The GNSO Council acted on a number of the recommendations at its meeting on 22 June 2011. In relation to recommendation #9, part 2, a proposal from staff was requested. Following consultations with the IRTP Part B Working Group and a public comment forum on the Staff Proposal<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-22nov11-en.htm>, GNSO Council approved IRTP Part B Recommendation #9, part 2 and the staff proposal at its meeting on 19 January 2012 (see http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201201). As required by the ICANN Bylaws, public notice is hereby provided of the policy that is considered for adoption as well as an opportunity to comment on the adoption of the proposed policy, prior to consideration by the ICANN Board of these recommendations. Section III: Document and Resource Links * ICANN Staff Proposal on IRTP Part B Recommendation #9 part 2<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/irtp-b-9-part-2-staff-proposal-22nov11-en.pdf> [PDF, 490 KB] * GNSO Council Resolution on the adoption of IRTP Part B Recommendation #9 part 2<http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201201> * GNSO Council Resolution on the adoption of the IRTP Part B Final Report and Recommendations<http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201106> * IRTP Part B Final Report<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/transfers/irtp-b-final-report-30may11-en.pdf> [PDF, 972 KB] * IRTP Part B PDP Proposed Final Report<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/transfers/irtp-b-proposed-final-report-21feb11-...> [PDF, 734 KB] * IRTP Part B PDP Initial Report<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/transfers/irtp-b-initial-report-29may10-en.pdf> [PDF, 765 KB] * IRTP Part B Issue Report<http://gnso.icann.org/issues/transfers/irtp-report-b-15may09.pdf> [PDF, 260 KB] * Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP)<http://www.icann.org/en/transfers/> 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<mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org> http://gnso.icann.org