ICANN Announcements

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Munich Registry/Registrar Event

25 May 2011

On 12-13 May 2011, ICANN hosted its Europe Regional Registry/Registrar Event in Munich, Germany. ICANN shared news of this event with the community in its 28 March 2011 blog post.

More than 60 participants including representatives from gTLD registries, ICANN-accredited registrars, and numerous observers including a ccTLD registry and future new gTLD applicants, attended the event. ICANN introduced the regional event model in 2005 and the primary goals are two-fold. First, they provide an educational opportunity, to discuss topics important to the effective contractual compliance and operation of a gTLD registry or ICANN-accredited registrar. Second, the sessions are intended to broaden participation in the ICANN multi-stakeholder governance model. Additionally, the event is open to observers that may have an interest in becoming a gTLD registry or ICANN-accredited registrar.   

While the agenda for ICANN general meetings includes policy issue debates and decision-making by various ICANN groups, these regional events have a different focus.  They are not intended as a replacement for attendance at the ICANN meetings, but are designed to assure that the parties to contracts with ICANN better understand their roles and responsibilities while encouraging them to participate more fully in the process. These events are also an opportunity for future gTLD registries and ICANN-accredited registrar to learn more about what is involved in serving in those stakeholder groups. Efforts to enhance the interactive nature of the presentations have proven successful as participants actively contribute to the presentations with questions and input gleaned from their own experiences.

The two-day agenda included ICANN staff providing updates and answering questions on topics including, new gTLDs, GSNO Policy Development, Contractual Compliance, gTLD Registry and Registrar Operational Readiness for new gTLDs, Registrar Training Program, and IDNs. Additionally, Stéphane van Gelder, Chair of the GNSO Council and Chuck Gomes, former Chair of the GSNO Council, led a session about the GNSO, Jean-Christophe Vignes, Vice Chair of the Registrar Stakeholder Group, and James Bladel, Director, Policy Planning at GoDaddy, led a session about the Stakeholder group, Michele Neylon, CEO of Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd., facilitated a discussion about Registrars/Law Enforcement, and Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia, led a session about the Joint IDN Working Group. Lastly, the following gTLD registries opted to provide an update on their TLDs' activities to attendees: DotAsia, Verisign, and ICM Registry, LLC. ICANN staff is grateful for the broad participation and contributions these speakers made to the event. Overall feedback from participants to date has been very positive.

In the interest of transparency, the following information is available from the event.