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GAC Advice

The GAC provides advice to the ICANN Board on policy matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN’s policies and various laws, international agreements and public policy objectives. GAC Advice is communicated to the ICANN Board through either a Communique or a formal piece of Correspondence.

2012-06-28-IDN-3

GAC Advice

Reference No. :

2012-06-28-IDN-3

First Delivered via :

N/A

Consenus:

Consensus met

2012-06-28-IDN-3

Communication

IDN ccTLDs

In principle the GAC considers that the introduction of IDN ccTLDs on an expeditious basis is in the global public interest. The GAC notes that a conservative approach has been taken in respect of two character IDN applications. The GAC is of the view that decisions may have erred on the too-conservative side, in effect applying a more stringent test of confusability between Latin and non-Latin scripts than when undertaking a side by side comparison of Latin strings. A practical approach should be followed allowing confusability to be pragmatically considered on a case by case basis, following publicly documented criteria.

The GAC advises the Board:

  • recently refused IDNs, particularly those nominated by public or national authorities should be urgently re-considered in light of the above considerations.
  • Without prejudice to the previous bullet and for transparency and accountability purposes, the GAC further advises the Board to create a mechanism of appeal that will allow challenging the decisions on confusability related to proposed IDN ccTLDs.

Communication

IDN ccTLDs

In principle the GAC considers that the introduction of IDN ccTLDs on an expeditious basis is in the global public interest. The GAC notes that a conservative approach has been taken in respect of two character IDN applications. The GAC is of the view that decisions may have erred on the too-conservative side, in effect applying a more stringent test of confusability between Latin and non-Latin scripts than when undertaking a side by side comparison of Latin strings. A practical approach should be followed allowing confusability to be pragmatically considered on a case by case basis, following publicly documented criteria.

The GAC advises the Board:

  • recently refused IDNs, particularly those nominated by public or national authorities should be urgently re-considered in light of the above considerations.
  • Without prejudice to the previous bullet and for transparency and accountability purposes, the GAC further advises the Board to create a mechanism of appeal that will allow challenging the decisions on confusability related to proposed IDN ccTLDs.

GAC Acknowledgement of Register Entry

27 July 2012

Responsible Party

ICANN Board

Current Status/Communications Log

Board Response:

The community is reviewing the issues raised in the GAC Communiqué. These issues have been the subject of community discussion during the last two annual reviews of the Fast Track process. Based on input received, ICANN has improved the process documentation to clarify the Fast Track process requirements. A more detailed explanation of the DNS Stability Panel decision is provided where possible, along with a description of options for next steps.

The annual reviews of the Fast Track process and the GAC advice provide valuable input to the ongoing ccNSO policy work on IDN ccTLD string selection criteria. The ccNSO is currently undertaking a policy development process (PDP) on the introduction of IDN ccTLDs, which includes a review of the string selection criteria and requirements, and it is within the PDP that any enhancements to the evaluation methodology and process should be considered.

As part of its PDP on IDN ccTLDs, the ccNSO IDN Working Group is presently seeking public comments from the Internet community on its Draft Recommendations Overall Policy for the selection of IDN ccTLD Strings. The draft recommendations indicate that the final policy that the ccNSO will recommend to the Board will address the GAC's concerns in the following ways:

    • Provide additional guidelines, including a refined method and set of criteria, on how string similarity evaluations should be performed;
    • Include an additional independent and external review panel, to allow for a final validation review relating to the assessment of string confusing similarity; and
    • Allow any requests that did not successfully complete the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process to opt for an additional final validation evaluation under the overall policy.

The public comment and reply period will remain open until 9 November 2012. We hope that all members of the community will participate in the process.

Board-Response-to-GAC-Prague-Communique_20121013.pdf