Dear ICANN: Explain Rejection of Defensive Registration Proposals | ANA Government Relations | ANA

ANA Calls on ICANN to Explain Rejection of Defensive Registration Proposals for the Top Level Domain Name Expansion Program

ANA has written to ICANN asking that it provide a clear and complete analysis and review of its decision to summarily reject the proposal for a “Do Not Sell” registry. Such a list, or a similar approach, would address the serious concerns internet stakeholders have about the need for “defensive registrations” to protect their brands in the Top Level Domain (TLD) expansion program. We have also written to the U.S. Department of Commerce, urging the Department to seek a full accounting from ICANN of its decision to reject the “Do Not Sell” approach or other response to the significant danger of defensive registrations for new Top Level Domains.

Our letters included two attachments demonstrating that numerous groups had specifically raised concerns about the need for defensive registrations at the top level. They also noted specific reasons why the existing protections provided by ICANN are not adequate, including potential string confusion problems.

We believe that failure by ICANN to act quickly in this area will, in effect, create a final decision in regard to defensive registration through inertia and inaction. Instead, our comments and the comments of many others seem to have been ignored. We believe that internet stakeholders deserve a an explanation for the rejection of the "Do Not Sell" proposal.

If you have any questions, you can reach Dan Jaffe, Group EVP for Government Relations in ANA's Washington, D.C. office at 202.296.2359 or at djaffe@ana.net.