Dear All, Interim report on internationalizing data related to WHOIS information released for comments. Regards, Sarmad _____ Interim Report of the Internationalized Registration Data Working Group 15 November 2010 Background/Explanation: On 26 June 2009 the Board of Directors of the Internet Corporate for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approved a resolution (2009.06.26.18 <http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-26jun09.htm#6> ) requesting that the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) and the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC), in consultation with staff, convene an Internationalized Registration Data Working Group (IRD-WG) comprised of individuals with knowledge, expertise, and experience in these areas to study the feasibility and suitability of introducing display specifications to deal with the internationalization of registration data. The Board further directed the IRD-WG to solicit input from interested constituencies including country code top level domain (ccTLD) operators and the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) during its discussions to ensure broad community input. Subsequently, the SSAC and the GNSO formed the IRD-WG. This Interim Report of the IRD-WG summarizes the discussions of the IRD-WG to date, provides preliminary recommendations, and seeks input from the community on the following questions relating to internationalized registration data: 1. Which of the four models described in Section 4 for internationalizing registration contact data is most appropriate, if any? Are there other models the IRD-WG should consider? 2. Which of the preliminary recommendations in Section 5, if any, are feasible? Are there related recommendations the IRD-WG should consider? The Interim Report provides the community with an opportunity to understand ongoing discussions relating to the internationalization of registration data and to provide valuable input to these discussions. At the direction of the IRD-WG, staff will post this Interim Report for public comment for a period of no less than 60 days. Document Links: Interim Report of the ICANN Internationalized Registration Data Working Group: http://gnso.icann.org/issues/ird/ird-wg-final-report-15nov10-en.pdf [PDF, 688 KB] The Process From Here: At the end of this Public Comment Forum period, ICANN Staff will review the comments submitted and prepare a summary analysis of the various submissions for the IRD-WG to review and consider. Deadline and How to Submit Comments: At the direction of the IRD-WG, staff will post this Interim Report for public comment for a period of no less than 60 days beginning 15 November 2010 and ending 13 January 2011. Translations into the six United Nations languages will be posted as soon as they are available. The IRD-WG invites community comments on this document and, in particular, the questions provided above. The formal Public Comment Forum Box is located here: http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201101-en.htm#ird To submit comments: ird-wg-report@icann.org To view comments: http://forum.icann.org/lists/ird-wg-report/ Staff Responsible: Julie Hedlund