Hi All, I took a shot at drafting a problem statement using the ether pad tool. If you look at the ether pad timeline you will see I decided to simplify/shorten what I originally wrote. I’ve copied the text I ended up with below for convenience. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts…. Alex Draft Problem Statement (a.k.a. What problem are we trying to solve.) WHOIS has been the source of almost two decades of study, discussion and debate within the ICANN community and beyond. The Next Generation Registration Directory Service (RDS) PDP Working Group has been tasked to define the policies associated a new and improved RDS that will meet the needs of the existing and ever evolving global Internet. The core problem that will need to be solved in defining this policy is addressing the tension among the varied and competing views of ICANN constituencies on key issues related to the right to privacy, anonymity, intellectual property protection, security and abuse, among others. [2] At a high level this means understanding the purpose of domain name registration data [3] in addition to ensuring a system to support domain name registration and maintenance which: * Provides appropriate access to accurate, reliable, and uniform registration data; * Protects the privacy of Registrant information; * Enables a reliable mechanism for identifying, establishing and maintaining the ability to contact Registrants; * Supports a framework to address issues involving Registrants, including but not limited to: consumer protection, investigation of cybercrime, and intellectual property protection; and * Provides an infrastructure to address appropriate law enforcement needs. [4] References [1] "...the current [WHOIS] system is broken and needs to be repaired." - WHOIS Policy Review Teams Final Report, May 2012 [2] "A gross understatement is that tensions exist between the various ICANN constituencies regarding WHOIS. Issues abound including right to privacy, anonymity, intellectual property protection, security and abuse, among others. Each is important. None more so than the other." - WHOIS Policy Review Teams Final Report, May 2012 [3] "The SSAC believes that the foundational problem facing all “WHOIS” discussions is understanding the purpose of domain name registration data." - SAC055 WHOIS: Blind Men And An Elephant [4] “...the EWG developed a high-level statement of purpose, using it to align this report’s recommendations with ICANN’s mission and design a system to support domain name registration and maintenance which: * Provides appropriate access to accurate, reliable, and uniform registration data; * Protects the privacy of Registrant information; * Enables a reliable mechanism for identifying, establishing and maintaining the ability to contact Registrants; * Supports a framework to address issues involving Registrants, including but not limited to: consumer protection, investigation of cybercrime, and intellectual property protection; and * Provides an infrastructure to address appropriate law enforcement needs." - Final Report from the EWG on gTLD Directory Services, June 2014