Public Comment
Preliminary Issue Report on gTLD Registration Data Services
Open Date
15 March 2013 23:59 UTC
Close Date
19 April 2013 23:59 UTC
Staff Report Due
10 May 2013 23:59 UTC
Brief Overview
This Public Forum invites comments on the Preliminary Issue Report on the gTLD registration data services [PDF, 946 KB]. The Report forms part of a ICANN Board-initiated GNSO policy development process (PDP) that aims to review the purpose and accuracy of domain name registration data and directory services, as well as its underlying technical protocol – currently also known as 'Whois'.
Section I: Description and Explanation
Comprehensive 'Whois' policy reform remains the source of long-running discussions within the ICANN as well as wider Internet community. Any discussion of 'Whois' – hereafter called gTLD registration data and directory services – typically includes topics such as purpose, accuracy, availability, privacy, anonymity, cost, policing, intellectual property protection, security and malicious use and abuse.
The Board specifically called out two of these topics in its request; purpose and accuracy. With regard to purpose, at a minimum the most basic purpose, which is commonly accepted, is that gTLD registration data allows domain name holders to be contacted. However, who would be granted the right to access the data under what circumstances and contact the holder and by which means, is a set of difficult follow-up questions that need to be answered. In relation to accuracy, There are many data elements in the Whois database required under the Registry Agreements and the Registrar Accreditation Agreements; if only one of these data fields is incorrect, does that mean the Whois information is inaccurate? And how can the accuracy of data be verified and/or measured, especially considering that if data is not accurate the purpose of gathering the data might be questionable in the first place.
This Preliminary Issue report lays out in detail many of the issues mentioned above and how they relate to the gTLD registration data and directory services. In addition, it also provides an overview of many of the affected Stakeholder Groups, Constituencies, and other relevant parties. Furthermore, the Report explains in details the continuous issues with regard to accuracy and purpose of gTLD registration data services and elaborates on the need for changes to the technical aspects.
In addition to requesting the Issue Report, the Board has directed the formation of an Expert Working Group (EWG) that is currently working on a comprehensive proposal how to solve the issues surrounding the purpose and accuracy of domain registration data services. The EWG is tasked with providing concrete solutions to many (if not all) of the issues raised in this Report. In accordance with the Board's direction, the outcome of the EWG will feed into the Final Issue Report which will form the basis for the next steps in the Policy Development Process.
Section II: Background
After the submission of a Report drafted by the Whois Policy Review Team in 2012, the ICANN Board passed a resolution on 8 November 2012 that led to the creation of an Expert Working Group (EWG) and, in parallel, also launched a Board-initiated GNSO Policy Development Process (PDP).
ICANN's requirements for domain name registration data collection, access and accuracy for gTLD registries have undergone some important changes; yet after more than 12 years of GNSO task forces, working groups, workshops, surveys and studies the policy is still in need of comprehensive reforms that address the significant number of issues related to gTLD registration data services.
Following review of the public comments received, the Staff Manager will update the Issue Report as appropriate and submit a summary of the comments received together with the Final Issue Report.
Section III: Relevant Resources
- Preliminary Issue Report on gTLD Registration Data Services – http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/gtlds/registration-data-prelim-15mar13-en.pdf [PDF, 946 KB]
- ملخص تنفيذي [PDF, 85 KB]
- 执行摘要 [PDF, 219 KB]
- Resumen Ejecutivo [PDF, 213 KB]
- Résumé [PDF, 213 KB]
- Сводное резюме [PDF, 226 KB]
- Board resolution from 8 November 2012 - http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-08nov12-en.htm
- Expert Working Group on gTLD Directory Services - https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40175189
- Closed and archived GNSO Whois Policy Work - http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/whois/archive
Section IV: Additional Information
N/A
Comments Closed
Report of Public Comments