We are fortunate to have three such capable, experienced and knowledgeable individuals, with such impeccable integrity, willing to volunteer for these positions. Full support. ---------------------------------------- From: "Phil Corwin" <psc@vlaw-dc.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 3:05 PM To: "gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org" <gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org> Subject: [gnso-rpm-wg] Joint Message from Three RPM WG Leadership Candidates Dear Members of the Rights Protection Measures Review Working Group: As the three candidates for WG leadership positions who have received substantial support from WG members, we wish to collectively thank all of you for committing to the very challenging and lengthy journey that lies before us, and for voicing support for us as potential WG Chairs. Each of us believes that our task is extremely important, and that whatever consensus recommendations this WG makes for post-review alterations in the new gTLD RPMs, and subsequently the UDRP, will if adopted likely be the "rules of the road" for ICANN trademark protection measures for many years to come. We have the collective opportunity to establish improved arbitration procedures and other safeguards that are more predictable and consistent for all parties, and that minimize the burden on trademark holders while recognizing the importance of domains as platforms for speech and commerce and as valuable intangible assets. We also believe that the odds of success will be substantially improved if this WG operates from its inception in a collegial and cooperative manner that, while maximally efficient, is committed to a balanced and fair hearing for all viewpoints, and is based upon empirical data and sound legal and policy analysis. It was in that spirit of mutual respect that we three engaged in a joint conference call on Friday, April 15th to discuss how to best facilitate a constructive path forward. As a result of that discussion, we wish to propose for your consideration the adoption of a leadership structure in which each of us serves as a co-equal Co-Chair. We collectively urge you to support that approach to leadership structure when we hold our first WG meeting on April 21st. We believe that in most instances we shall be able to reach consensus agreement regarding recommendations to you on the management of our work. In those (hopefully rare) instances where we fail to reach such agreement, we shall inform the membership of our different viewpoints and proceed in whatever manner garners consensus support. We are also in general agreement that portions of the task before us can best be facilitated by the creation of focused subgroups that will provide additional leadership opportunities for other members of this WG, with each of the Co-Chairs acting as an Ex Officio member of all subgroups in order to monitor their efforts and assist in coordination with our overall work plan. If selected as co-equal Co-Chairs, we shall immediately set to develop an initial work plan for your consideration so that we can begin engaging in substantive RPM review by the early part of May. It is our collective goal to develop final reports and recommendations that are consistent with the responsibilities established by this WG's Charter - and that every member of this WG can be proud of having a role in shaping. Again, we thank you for your support and look forward to joining with you on our initial WG call this coming Thursday. With best regards, Philip Corwin J. Scott Evans Kathy Kleiman Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal Virtualaw LLC 1155 F Street, NW Suite 1050 Washington, DC 20004 202-559-8597/Direct 202-559-8750/Fax 202-255-6172/Cell Twitter: @VlawDC "Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey