Work Efforts

The GAC regularly considers a broad range of public policy issues impacting the DNS and other matters regarding the functions of ICANN. This work can result in consensus advice for the ICANN Board or public comment guidance to the ICANN community. This part of the website shares information related to those ongoing topics and activities.

GAC Working Group to Examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any Future Expansion of gTLDs

The objective of the GAC Working Group to Examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any Future Expansion of gTLDs is to review and consider any necessary improvements to the existing protections by:

Examining (and describing) how relevant sections of the GAC Principles Regarding new gTLDs were implemented in practice.
Examining (and describing) how relevant sections of the new gTLD Applicant Guidebook were implemented in practice.
Clearly explaining why protections for geographic names are necessary as a matter of good public policy.
Developing practical options that are aimed at improving protection of geographic names during any future expansion of gTLDs.
Developing practical suggestions and rules to lower uncertainties both for the governments, communities and also for the applicants, once using a geographic or community name.
Developing best practice rules to avoid misuse of geographic and community names as new gTLDs and at the same time lowering uncertainties for the applicants, trademarks and the business involved.
Defining the terms “Public Interest”, “geographic name” and “community interests” or others that may be relevant to the Advice issued by GAC in Durban (2012).
Engaging with the Cross Community Working Group in the use of Country/territory Names as TLDs, and any other ICANN bodies or groups dealing with similar issues.
Proactively engaging with the GAC, ICANN and the ICANN community to develop support for the agreed best options.

The working group may then make a recommendation to the GAC about appropriate next steps regarding the agreed best options.

See Terms of Reference.

CHAIR:

SUPPORT:

Olga Cavalli, Argentina

Robert Hoggarth, VP, Policy Development and GAC Relations

STATUS:

Active, Group formed 09 Aug, 2013

Activities

ACTIVITY NAME:

STATUS:

Meetings & Records

Related Content

The GAC Geographic Names Working Group focuses on how to improve the protections offered to geographic names in any future expansion of gTLDs.

Meeting	Documents
Preparation for ICANN 58	Best practices document with edits - 29 January 2017.doc Summary comments Geo Names v2 - 29 January 2017.pdf
ICANN 57 Hyderabad Thursday 3 November 2016 08:30-09:30	Geo Names WG Slides GAC Working Group to examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any future expansion of gTLDs Meeting Transcript.pdf
Monday 12 September 2016 at 13:00 UTC Participants: Olga Cavalli, Argentina Finn Petersen, Denmark Maura Gambassi, Italy Mzia Gogilashvili, Georgia Sabine Meyer, Germany Syed Iftikhar Shah, Pakistan Vyacheslav Erokhin, Russian Federation Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine Mark Carvell, United Kingdom Ryan Caroll, United States Giaccomo Mazzone, EBU Apologies: Annaliese Williams, Australia Denis Gonzales, Chile Rita Forsi, Italy Milagros Castanon, Peru Gema Campillos, Spain Jorge Cancio, Switzerland GAC Staff: Fabien Betremieux Michelle Scott-Tucker Gulten Tepe Julia Charvolen	GAC Geo Names best practices document Call recording
ICANN 56 Helsinki Monday 27 June 2016 08:15 to 09:15	Geo Names WG Work Plan v2.pdf GEO names Helsinki Presentation English transcript Translations: العربية II Español II français II Português II Pусский II 中文
Thursday 19 May at 13:00 UTC Participants: Olga Cavalli Oleksandr Tsaruk Wanwit Ahkuputra Mzia Gogilashvili Finn Petersen Ryan Caroll Miguel Munoz Gloria Katuuku Denis Gonzalez Staff: Michelle Scott-Tucker Olof Nordling Julia Charvolen	Agenda: 1) Concept of public interest and public good - How to move forward? (See two documents attached) 2) Revision of use of some regional names proposed by Ukraine and Georgia 3) Reactions to Strawoman paper proposed by CCWG on Country and Territory Names (see document attached) 4) News about the new gTLD process (see document attached) 5) Possible development or use of new lists in ISO (Giacomo) 6) Status of request of inclusion of other experts outside GAC in our WG email list (meetings are open) 7) AOB About Public Interest v2.docx Brief for WG Meeting May 2016td.doc Peru - Feedback on the public internet draft document.docx Summary of Geonames WG Responses to StrawWoman Paper.docx WG Geo Names Work Plan Updated v4 19 May 2016.docx Call recording
ICANN 55 Marrakech Tuesday 8 March 2016 12:30 to 14:00	GAC Geographic Names WG meeting Work Plan About Public Interest Working Paper

Meeting

Documents

Preparation for ICANN 58

Best practices document with edits - 29 January 2017.doc

Summary comments Geo Names v2 - 29 January 2017.pdf

ICANN 57 Hyderabad

Thursday 3 November 2016

08:30-09:30

Geo Names WG Slides

GAC Working Group to examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any future expansion of gTLDs Meeting Transcript.pdf

Monday 12 September 2016 at 13:00 UTC

Participants:

Olga Cavalli, Argentina
Finn Petersen, Denmark
Maura Gambassi, Italy
Mzia Gogilashvili, Georgia
Sabine Meyer, Germany
Syed Iftikhar Shah, Pakistan
Vyacheslav Erokhin, Russian Federation
Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine
Mark Carvell, United Kingdom
Ryan Caroll, United States
Giaccomo Mazzone, EBU

Apologies:

Annaliese Williams, Australia
Denis Gonzales, Chile
Rita Forsi, Italy
Milagros Castanon, Peru
Gema Campillos, Spain
Jorge Cancio, Switzerland

GAC Staff:

Fabien Betremieux
Michelle Scott-Tucker
Gulten Tepe
Julia Charvolen

GAC Geo Names best practices document

Call recording

ICANN 56 Helsinki

Monday 27 June 2016

08:15 to 09:15

Geo Names WG Work Plan v2.pdf

GEO names Helsinki Presentation

English transcript
Translations: العربية II Español II français II Português II Pусский II 中文

Thursday 19 May at 13:00 UTC

Participants:
Olga Cavalli
Oleksandr Tsaruk
Wanwit Ahkuputra
Mzia Gogilashvili
Finn Petersen
Ryan Caroll
Miguel Munoz
Gloria Katuuku
Denis Gonzalez

Staff:
Michelle Scott-Tucker
Olof Nordling
Julia Charvolen

Agenda:

1) Concept of public interest and public good - How to move forward? (See two documents attached)
2) Revision of use of some regional names proposed by Ukraine and Georgia
3) Reactions to Strawoman paper proposed by CCWG on Country and Territory Names (see document attached)
4) News about the new gTLD process (see document attached)
5) Possible development or use of new lists in ISO (Giacomo)
6) Status of request of inclusion of other experts outside GAC in our WG email list (meetings are open)
7) AOB

About Public Interest v2.docx
Brief for WG Meeting May 2016td.doc
Peru - Feedback on the public internet draft document.docx
Summary of Geonames WG Responses to StrawWoman Paper.docx
WG Geo Names Work Plan Updated v4 19 May 2016.docx

Call recording

ICANN 55 Marrakech

Tuesday 8 March 2016
12:30 to 14:00

GAC Geographic Names WG meeting
Work Plan
About Public Interest
Working Paper

Date	Participants	Recording and Documents	Call notes and Action Items
28 May 2015	Argentina - Olga Cavalli Chile - Denis Gonzalez Germany - Sabine Meyer Switzerland - François Maurer, Jorge Cancio Ukraine - Oleksandr Tsaruk United States - Suzanne Radell Staff Olof Nordling Michelle Scott-Tucker Julia Charvolen	Recording 20150528_Geographic_Names_Protection_WG.mp3 ******* Background Brief - Public Interest v2mst.pdf Comments Switzerland Geo Names.pdf Draft Terms of Reference - GAC Geo Names WG v7.pdf GAC Geo-names WG - Working Papers.pdf	Notes from Olga Cavalli The Chair noted that the aim of the WG was to provide input to any future versions of ICANN's Applicant Guidebook, to ensure there was better clarity for applicants around geographic names. The group considered three papers: - the 'working paper' background paper - the draft Terms of Reference - a draft compilation of definitions and uses of the term 'public interest' The WG agreed to revise the 'working paper' to include a draft document produced in early 2011 during a GAC meeting, which focussed on geographic names. The WG agreed to revise the draft Terms of Reference to clarify that any material changes to the WG work-plan will be agreed by the WG. The final sentence of the ToRs will also be further clarified. The WG noted that reaching an agreed definition of 'public interest' was likely to be a challenge. The WG agreed to add Switzerland's procedural approach to the compilation of public interest definitions and uses. The Chair will also add some additional definitions. The WG agreed to distribute the above revised documents to the GAC, for consideration during the BA meeting. The WG agreed that next steps will include: - further work on defining 'public interest' - work on defining 'geographic names', in consultation with the County Names CCWG - checking with GAC colleagues what regulations exist at the national level regarding geographic names.
19 August 2015	Olga Cavalli, Argentina Denis Gonzalez, Chile Julia Wolman, Denmark Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine Jorge Cancio, Switzerland Apologies Sabine Meyer, Germany Suzanne Radell, USA Olof Nordling, support staff Staff Julia Charvolen Tom Dale	Recording 20150819_Geographic_Names_Protection_WG.mp3 ******** Background Brief - Public Interest v2mst.pdf Draft ToR - GAC Geo Names WG v7.pdf GAC Geo-names WG - Working Papers.pdf GEO names buenos aires june 2015.ppt	Notes from Olga Cavalli 1- Define a work plan and a time that should include: - Inject information gathered from our WG into the new gtld first round revision process of the first round and the GNSO PDP process related with a new round of gTLDs. - Include in the document concrete experiences of use of geographic names in new gtlds (document have some examples and we could add others as well) - About public interest: difficult to define. WG should reinforce in the document the importance of outreach to the whole community in possible impact of the use of geographic and community names in future rounds of new gltds, perhaps defining procedures for affected parties in how to participate or object. (the importance of outreach is already included in the document but should be hightlighted). - Interact with WG about community applications. - Seek advice in order to understand how a set of best practices could be "enforceable" and not only aspirational or desired. - Share information with this WG about activities done from the CCWG on use of country and territory names as tlds. 2- Organize biweekly calls, of no more than one hour each, towards the meeting in Dublin.
2 September	Participants Olga Cavalli, Argentina Nicolas Caballero, Paraguay Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine Apologies Julia Wolman, Denmark Mark Carvell, United Kingdom Suzanne Radell, USA Jorge Cancio, Switzerland Olof Nordling, support staff Staff Julia Charvolen Tom Dale	Recording 20150902_Geographic_Names.mp3 ******** WG Geo Names Work Plan.doc	Notes from Olga Cavalli We agreed in the proposed work plan (attached), if those that were not in the call have comments or suggestions please send them by Friday this week. The general idea is to enhance our backgroun document by early October, with the following inputs and activities. As next steps we will: 1- contact GNSO and ICANN Staff to inject our ideas and outcomes to the process of new rounds of new gtlds. - Olga and others that want to join me 2- Giacomo: can you please explore your idea of contacting ISO about a geo-names list? 3- Gather information about good and bad experiences of the use of geo names and community names as tlds in the first round. Olga will prepare a list and will share with the group. Giacomo Mark could you please provide input about community applications? 4- CCWG use of country and territory names as gtlds: there was agreement during the last ICANN meeting in the GAC that there should be more interaction with this WG. So it is my understanding that other colleages may join me in these CCWG calls. Please let me know who could join me as I am the only one participating for the moment and sometimes the call collapses with other activities. 5- Public Interest: Olga will draft a text with focus on geographic and community names and will share with the group for comments and feedback.

Date

Participants

Recording and Documents

Call notes and Action Items

28 May 2015

Argentina - Olga Cavalli
Chile - Denis Gonzalez
Germany - Sabine Meyer
Switzerland - François Maurer, Jorge Cancio
Ukraine - Oleksandr Tsaruk
United States - Suzanne Radell

Staff
Olof Nordling
Michelle Scott-Tucker
Julia Charvolen

Recording
20150528_Geographic_Names_Protection_WG.mp3

*******

Background Brief - Public Interest v2mst.pdf

Comments Switzerland Geo Names.pdf

Draft Terms of Reference - GAC Geo Names WG v7.pdf

GAC Geo-names WG - Working Papers.pdf

Notes from Olga Cavalli

The Chair noted that the aim of the WG was to provide input to any future versions of ICANN's Applicant Guidebook, to ensure there was better clarity for applicants around geographic names.

The group considered three papers:

- the 'working paper' background paper

- the draft Terms of Reference

- a draft compilation of definitions and uses of the term 'public interest'

The WG agreed to revise the 'working paper' to include a draft document produced in early 2011 during a GAC meeting, which focussed on geographic names.

The WG agreed to revise the draft Terms of Reference to clarify that any material changes to the WG work-plan will be agreed by the WG. The final sentence of the ToRs will also be further clarified.

The WG noted that reaching an agreed definition of 'public interest' was likely to be a challenge. The WG agreed to add Switzerland's procedural approach to the compilation of public interest definitions and uses. The Chair will also add some additional definitions.

The WG agreed to distribute the above revised documents to the GAC, for consideration during the BA meeting.

The WG agreed that next steps will include:

- further work on defining 'public interest'

- work on defining 'geographic names', in consultation with the County Names CCWG

- checking with GAC colleagues what regulations exist at the national level regarding geographic names.

19 August 2015

Olga Cavalli, Argentina
Denis Gonzalez, Chile
Julia Wolman, Denmark
Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine
Jorge Cancio, Switzerland

Apologies
Sabine Meyer, Germany
Suzanne Radell, USA
Olof Nordling, support staff

Staff
Julia Charvolen
Tom Dale

Recording

20150819_Geographic_Names_Protection_WG.mp3

********

Background Brief - Public Interest v2mst.pdf

Draft ToR - GAC Geo Names WG v7.pdf

GAC Geo-names WG - Working Papers.pdf

GEO names buenos aires june 2015.ppt

Notes from Olga Cavalli

1- Define a work plan and a time that should include:

- Inject information gathered from our WG into the new gtld first round revision process of the first round and the GNSO PDP process related with a new round of gTLDs.

- Include in the document concrete experiences of use of geographic names in new gtlds (document have some examples and we could add others as well)

- About public interest: difficult to define. WG should reinforce in the document the importance of outreach to the whole community in possible impact of the use of geographic and community names in future rounds of new gltds, perhaps defining procedures for affected parties in how to participate or object. (the importance of outreach is already included in the document but should be hightlighted).

- Interact with WG about community applications.

- Seek advice in order to understand how a set of best practices could be "enforceable" and not only aspirational or desired.

- Share information with this WG about activities done from the CCWG on use of country and territory names as tlds.

2- Organize biweekly calls, of no more than one hour each, towards the meeting in Dublin.

2 September

Participants
Olga Cavalli, Argentina
Nicolas Caballero, Paraguay
Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine

Apologies
Julia Wolman, Denmark
Mark Carvell, United Kingdom
Suzanne Radell, USA
Jorge Cancio, Switzerland
Olof Nordling, support staff

Staff
Julia Charvolen
Tom Dale

Recording

20150902_Geographic_Names.mp3

********

WG Geo Names Work Plan.doc

Notes from Olga Cavalli

We agreed in the proposed work plan (attached), if those that were not in the call have comments or suggestions please send them by Friday this week.

The general idea is to enhance our backgroun document by early October, with the following inputs and activities.

As next steps we will:

1- contact GNSO and ICANN Staff to inject our ideas and outcomes to the process of new rounds of new gtlds. - Olga and others that want to join me

2- Giacomo: can you please explore your idea of contacting ISO about a geo-names list?

3- Gather information about good and bad experiences of the use of geo names and community names as tlds in the first round.

Olga will prepare a list and will share with the group. Giacomo Mark could you please provide input about community applications?

4- CCWG use of country and territory names as gtlds: there was agreement during the last ICANN meeting in the GAC that there should be more interaction with this WG. So it is my understanding that other colleages may join me in these CCWG calls.

Please let me know who could join me as I am the only one participating for the moment and sometimes the call collapses with other activities.

5- Public Interest: Olga will draft a text with focus on geographic and community names and will share with the group for comments and feedback.

Community Input - The protection of Geographic Names in the New gTLDs process
- Geographic Names in the new gTLDs process updated summary and report - February 2015

Members

CHAIR:

Olga Cavalli, Argentina

SUPPORT:

Robert Hoggarth, VP, Policy Development and GAC Relations

Members:

Annaliese Williams, Australia

Parris Burtenshaw, Australia

Nariman Hajiyev, Azerbaijan

Severine Waterbley, Belgium

Jan Vannieuwenhuyse, Belgium

Jean-Philippe Moiny, Belgium

Denis Gonzalez, Chile

Nicolas Schubert, Chile

Guo Lei Cai, China

Guo Feng, China

Jaifa Mezher, Colombia

Santiago Nuñez, Costa Rica

Monica Romero, Costa Rica

Finn Petersen, Denmark

Julia Wolman, Denmark

Nelson Guillén Bello, Dominican Republic

David Martinon, France

Mzia Gogilashvili, Georgia

Panagotis Papaspiliopoulos, Greece

Mauro Milita, Holy See

Reverend Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvan, Holy See

Peter Major, Hungary

Ajay Kumar, India

Rahul Gosain, India

Kaydian A. Smith, Jamaica

Ali Al-Shuraidah, Kuwait

Miguel Muñoz, Mexico

Subhash Dhakal, Nepal

Elise Linderberg, Norway

Ornulf Storm, Norway

Iftikhar Hussain, Pakistan

Nicolas Caballero, Paraguay

Milagros Castanon, Peru

Fiorella Moschella, Peru

Yuliya Elanskaya, Russia

François Maurer, Switzerland

Jorge Cancio, Switzerland

Stephane Bonallaz, Switzerland

Olivier Girard, Switzerland

Gloria Katuuku, Uganda

Mark Carvell, United Kingdom

Nick Shorey - United Kingdom

Oleksandr Tsaruk, Ukraine

Jose Clastornik, Uraguay

Ryan Carroll, United States of America

Jhonder Depablos, Venezuela

Jesus Rivera, Venezuela

OBSERVERS:

Giacomo Mazzone, European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

GAC Working Group to Examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any Future Expansion of gTLDs

Activities

Meetings & Records

Related Content

Related Pages

Members

Terms of Reference

Miscellaneous Resources

GAC Working Group to Examine the Protection of Geographic Names in any Future Expansion of gTLDs

Activities

Meetings & Records

Related Content

Related Pages

Members

Terms of Reference

Miscellaneous Resources

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