Update from ICANN – “We have reached a turning point”
Here’s a quick update from the ICANN meeting in Cartagena. I will publish a fuller analysis later.
The quick take-away is that the new gTLD process is now nearly inevitable, and that the GAC and the ICANN Board will meet in February 2011 to resolve the remaining issues. This will push the timeline out, but not by much, perhaps a month or two.
In brief, the Board passed a resolution (link not yet available) that they consider several matters in the Guidebook closed, but that several other remain and that they will have a summit with the GAC in February 2011 to resolve remaining issues.
Of huge import is that among the issues considered closed are the trademark issues. Since this has always been the issue holding up the new gTLD process, we can now say that we are definitely moving forward.
The other big issue now considered closed is the economic analysis, which has been the big issue from the Department of Commerce. Other issues deemed closed are root scaling and malicious conduct.
As Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush said on stage, “We have reached a turning point.”
We now therefore have a clear path forward. Finally.
