Not everyone is happy with ICANN's decision last week that could
lead to a lot more TLDs. The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse
(CADNA) is dead against such a move, saying it could lead to as many as
300 new gTLDs in 2009. CADNA has called the decision "drastic" and that
the decision was made "despite opposition by many leading brand owners
at the ICANN meeting". Well, as if CADNA is the only interested party
in this decision.
However they did give the ICANN meeting one tick of approval – they
were happy the ICANN board voted to delay making a decision on proposed
voting and restructuring changes to the Generic Names Supporting
Organization (GNSO) council that would reduce the voice of business in
this policymaking body from 33% to 21%. One could ask if this would
really be a bad thing overall!
The CADNA news release is below.
CADNA's Paris Forum: Brand Owners Working Together to Curb Domain Name Abuses and Improve the Internet
Brand Owners Working Together to Curb Domain Name Abuses and Improve the Internet [news release]
This past week, the 3rd Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA)
international domain abuse forum was held in Paris to coincide with one
of the most contested ICANN meetings in years. Brands from around the
world gathered at the CADNA forum with academic and business leaders to
discuss the future of the domain name space and what can be done to
improve the landscape for consumers and brand owners alike.
CADNA's forum aimed to give brand owners the chance to share their
collective knowledge, discuss matters related to online brand
enforcement, and better understand the developments underway in ICANN.
Attendees heard expert advice on the changing domain name landscape
from WIPO, IP Twins, a law professor from the EDHEC Business School,
CADNA representatives from Richemont, HSBC, Bacardi, and FairWinds
Partners.
CADNA's forum was timely given the widely publicized decision by the
ICANN Board to open up the domain name space to as many as 300 new
gTLDs in 2009. Despite opposition by many leading brand owners at the
ICANN meeting, the Board moved forward with this drastic domain name
policy that will impact brand owners and consumers alike.
There was some positive news for brand owners at the meeting, however.
The ICANN Board delayed making a decision on proposed voting and
restructuring changes to the Generic Names Supporting Organization
(GNSO) council that would reduce the voice of business in this
policymaking body from 33% to 21%. The concerted efforts of many
individuals and companies both inside and outside of ICANN sent a clear
message to the Board that the community will not sit idly by as the
Board considers moving forward with this proposal.
The ICANN Board has asked for more work to be done at the council level
before they make a final decision at the end of August. During this
period, it is critical for brand owners to voice their concerns and
work to prevent the disenfranchisement of important constituencies
whose inclusion is necessary for effective and balanced policy making.
As always, CADNA remains dedicated to being a source of information and
an agency of action that will assist brand owners in making the
Internet safer and more stable.
The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) is a 501(c)(6)
non-profit organization dedicated to ending the systemic domain name
abuses that plague the Internet today. Its members include the
following global corporations: American International Group, Inc.;
Bacardi & Company Limited; Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA; Dell
Inc.; DIRECTV, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Hilton Hotels Corporation;
HSBC Holdings plc; Marriott International, Inc.; Verizon Communications
Inc.; and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation. For more information, please
visit www.cadna.org.
This news release was sourced from the CADNA website at www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-releases/paris-forum.