To the GNSO Council: Item #7 on the agenda for the GNSO Council's 17 April 2003 meeting is "Discussion on WIPO recommendations regarding names and acronyms of International Intergovernmental Organisations". <http://gnso.icann.org/dnso/notes/20030417.GNSOteleconf-agenda.html> As noted in the agenda, on 21 February 2003, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sent to ICANN a letter (copy attached) describing two decisions of WIPO concerning recommendations about the names and acronyms of International Intergovernmental Organizations and about country names, which WIPO member states requested be transmitted to ICANN. On 12 March 2003, the ICANN Board invited all ICANN Supporting Organizations (including the GNSO) and Advisory Committees to provide, no later than 12 May 2003, any comments that they may formulate, according to their processes, concerning the matters discussed in the WIPO letter. As also noted in your agenda materials, the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) has already provided its comments. They may be seen in the GAC Communique at <http://www.icann.org/committees/gac/communique-25mar03.htm#4>. Please note that comments at this stage are due by 12 May 2003. In connection with its 12 March 2003 resolutions, the Board affirmed its belief that, once these comments are received, a policy-development process should be initiated in the GNSO concerning issues discussed in the WIPO letter. (The selection of the GNSO as the responsible policy-development organization reflects the fact that the WIPO recommendations apply in gTLDs, but not ccTLDs.) Any comments of the GNSO Council on this topic should be transmitted to me as ICANN Secretary. Thank you for your attention. Best regards, Louis Touton Secretary
Attachment:
wipo-to-icann-21feb03.pdf
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