The IPC has seen the letter sent to the Chairs of the Rights Protection Mechanisms Review Working Group and published by the EFF. We are concerned that this letter contains an unfortunate number of points which are misleading and inaccurate, particularly in its characterizations of the ICANN RPMs. Since this letter came during ICANN58, the IPC will not have the opportunity to respond fully to these points and to the concerns expressed in this letter until after the ICANN meeting. Our members are deeply engaged in this week’s policy discussions, including the RPM review, and we need to stay focused on the work here.
We do need to note that (as the ICANN community knows) the RPMs are the result of ICANN consensus policy and multistakeholder processes, and represent a compromise between multiple stakeholder groups, including civil society and noncommercial users We also note that a number of the signatories to the letter do not currently participate in discussions of these topics at ICANN, and we would certainly welcome their involvement in the RPM Review Working Group as we engage in the critical discussion and assessment of the RPMs.