[Chapter-delegates] Fw: Strange press release

[Michiel Leenaars]

Dear all,

no doubt many of you are still in Paris. Those on the outside had to do
with ICANN's press release subtly entitled "Biggest Expansion to
Internet in Forty Years Approved for Implementation", which I found to
be somewhat missing the mark.

I sent below message to the person responsible for the press contacts,
in the hope they might still be able to somewhat repair it.

Best,
Michiel Leenaars
ISOC.nl

Hieronder het oorspronkelijke bericht:

Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:35:23 +0200
From: Michiel Leenaars <Michiel at staff.isoc.nl>
To: jason.keenan at icann.org
Subject: Strange press release


Hello Jason,

wrt http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-4-26jun08-en.htm

how come your press release fails to mention the hundreds of ccTLD's
around and says there are only 21 TLD's? Also, the internet will not be
expanded in any way, the machines will just have a wider span of names.
The history of DNS goes back only 25 years, also. That makes it a
rather strange press release.  

I think it would be nice to correct this in your press release online.

Kind regards,
Michiel Leenaars
Director ISOC.nl

--------------------



Biggest Expansion to Internet in Forty Years Approved for Implementation

26 June 2008

Paris, France: The Board of ICANN today approved a recommendation that
could see a whole range of new names introduced to the Internet's
addressing system.

"The Board today accepted a recommendation from its global stakeholders
that it is possible to implement many new names to the Internet, paving
the way for an expansion of domain name choice and opportunity" said Dr
Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN.

A final version of the implementation plan must be approved by the
ICANN Board before the new process is launched. It is intended that the
final version will be published in early 2009.

"The potential here is huge. It represents a whole new way for people
to express themselves on the Net," said Dr Twomey. "It's a massive
increase in the 'real estate' of the Internet."

Presently, users have a limited range of 21 top level domains to choose
from — names that we are all familiar with like .com, .org, .info.

This proposal allows applicants for new names to self-select their
domain name so that choices are most appropriate for their customers or
potentially the most marketable. It is expected that applicants will
apply for targeted community strings such as (the existing) .travel for
the travel industry and .cat for the Catalan community (as well as
generic strings like .brandname or .yournamehere). There are already
interested consortiums wanting to establish city-based top level
domain, like .nyc (for New York City), .berlin and .paris.

"One of the most exciting prospect before us is that the expanding
system is also being planned to support extensions in the languages of
the world," said Peter Dengate Thrush, ICANN's Chairman. "This is going
to be very important for the future of the Internet in Asia, the Middle
East, Eastern Europe and Russia." The present system only supports 37
Roman characters.

Upon approval of the implementation plan, it is planned that
applications for new names will be available in the second quarter of
2009.

Frequently asked questions on the process

1. Are you selling these new names?

 ICANN is not "selling" new top level domain names. There will be a
limited application period where any established entity from anywhere
in the world can submit an application that will go through an
evaluation process. It is anticipated that there will be additional
rounds relatively soon after the close of the first application round.

2. What's to stop others registering my brand name?

Trademarks will not be automatically reserved. But there will be an
objection-based mechanism for trademark owners where their arguments
for protection will be considered.

3. How did this proposal get developed?

ICANN has a multi-stakeholder policy development process that served as
the foundation for the process design. It involved consultation with
domain name industry, trade mark attorneys, the business sector, users,
governments and technicians.

4. How will offensive names be prevented?

Offensive names will be subject to an objection-based process based on
public morality and order. This process will be conducted by an
international arbitration body utilizing criteria drawing on provisions
in a number of international treaties. ICANN will not be the decision
maker on these objections.

5. When will all this happen?

ICANN is working towards accepting the first applications in the second
quarter of 2009.

About ICANN:

ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's
system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and
country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet
protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet.
Careful management of these resources is vital to the Internet's
operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly to develop
policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability.
ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit
company. For more information please visit: www.icann.org.

Media Contacts:

Jason Keenan
Media Adviser, ICANN
Ph: +1 310 382 4004
E: jason.keenan at icann.org

International: Andrew Robertson
Edelman (London)
Ph: +44 7921 588 770
E: andrew.robertson at edelman.com