Hi Lars,

I am really sorry,  but I won’t be able to make the key  meeting  tomorrow  on Application Fees & Applicant Refunds.

Like many in the community , I am strongly opposed to :

3.1.3 Refund Windows

1. The period between receipt of applicant gTLD evaluation fee and 10 DAYS after String Confirmation Day ( 65% of the gTLD evaluation fee paid eligible as a refund ).

From my experiences from the 2012 Round,   String Confirmation Day will be an absolutely critical day  for all applicants – on whether they now need to change their  strategy , whether they now  need to raise additional funds - having now found themselves in a contention set, whether they now need to withdraw their application , whether they now need a new business model  etc etc .

10 days is far far too short a time to make these key decisions ( with their advisors) . Please extend this to a full month after String Confirmation Day).

As regards the 65% refund. Our calculations suggest that each applicant will need to raise $500,000 to apply.  So, in a matter of weeks from submitting their application , through no fault of their own , applicant will actually lose $360, 000 in the event that an applicant decides to withdraw. It is a huge deterrent , can only lead to a further down grading of the number of applications expected. A vicious circle. The likelihood of a volume refund is increasingly unlikely ,especially if a cost recovery recalculation is made in 2028.  The financial risks are far too high , especially for a single applicant from the “global south “ entering into an already saturated market. It will only lead to a large number of TLDs in the next Round having to enter into EBERO status.

We strongly recommended that the refund is restored to the 80 % refund level of the 2012 Round or higher to 90% or even 100% for  a single applicant from the global south.

In return,  we suggest 3.1.3 Refund 2  from the end of Refund 1 date  is lowered to a 25% refund.

Thanks.  

Phil

From: Lars Hoffmann via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org>
Sent: 29 April 2025 10:36
To: Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org>
Subject: [SubPro-IRT] IRT meeting 30 April

Dear members of the IRT,

For tomorrow’s (30 April) call, we will discuss fees and application questions.

Materials for both topics were previously shared on list. We also updated the wiki that now has a link to the slide deck.

Best wishes,

Lars

https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AQDMCg