Dear Alan,

thank you for your follow-up.
I take your point in relation to "Advice" and am sad that we'd need to constantly downplay the ALAC's input in ICANN's processes by not emphasising the importance of "Advice" but by also consciously and constantly undermining the importance of "advice". If ALAC "advice" is so inconsequential, why are we intent on wasting scarce volunteer resources on it?

Let me answer the rest of your email inline:

On 23/05/2026 03:33, Alan Greenberg wrote:
As implied in my earlier mail, it is crucial that if we are giving formal ADVICE, we label it as such. I recognize that at the time, we clearly did not think that this was an issue that would have needed such attention.

Regarding how to react now, it may be that I am simply old and crotchety, but I think that taking formal action now will:
- cause a bunch of paperwork and effort, but end up with no change;

Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu would vehemently disagree of starting an effort when you already think you'll lose.

- annoy some people;

Since when is this a cause for concern? Not in 2026. I could quote many historical examples whereas the fear of annoying people caused inaction that led to catastrophe.

- cause some people to wonder why ICANN is wasting money on us; and

The answer for this is simple: this complete ecosystem would not be possible without end users purchasing domain names. So the money comes from Internet domain name Registrants. If ICANN's mindset is such that it is wasting money on the very people who are meant to be served by the organisation, then it's time everyone packs up their bags and go home.


- cause a few people to admire us for sticking to our principles.

None of the points you have made are valid reasons for inaction, this one included.


The negatives seem to far outweigh the positives. 

I admire Olivier's idealism, but the cynic in me cannot recommend putting volunteer effort into this.

There is no idealism in my prose. Neither is there "frustration", or "passion". I am stating basic facts which put ICANN, the Organisation, and its complete multistakeholder ecosystem at risk:

1. ICANN is acting outside its Bylaws
2. It is attempting to fix its breaking of the Bylaws by re-writing them on the fly
3. There appears to be no interest in the ICANN Board or Management (and it seems, in the Community neither) to perform ICANN's mandated reviews prior to substantive completion of the next "new gTLD round" that is widely thought to bring substantial income to both the Organisation and potentially other participants.
4. With the Empowered Community being what it is, there appears to be no independent oversight of these failings to good Governance.

You might find basic reading matter interesting: Enron; Lehman Brothers; UK Post Office Horizon Scandal -- all of whom were afflicted with significantly poor Governance.

Kindest regards,

Olivier