[governance] ICANN Board Vote Signals Era of Censorship in Domain Names

[Michael Leibrandt]

Wolfgang,

I guess it's not by accident that your language regarding the introduction of Geo-TLD differs significantly from the already adopted GAC gTLD principles. You suggest that a Geo-TLD should be introduced if the relevant public authority does not have "serious" problems with the specific proposal. But than you're back to the question: Who is going to decide if the objections coming from the relevant public authority are "serious" enough to stop the introduction of the TLD. Should a California based organization do this assessment? Or those parts of the local Internet community that want to cash in with the proposed business model? Or a local multistakeholder forum? What if there is no consensus in such a forum?   

Another aspect that worries me is the lack of distinction between the question of "should a specific Geo-TLD be introduced" and the somewhat different question of "who should operate a specific Geo-TLD". I could imagine a situation where a local community would like to see a Geo-TLD, but actually does not trust the one and only organisation that is applying for running that TLD. For example: Think of a scenario where a private company that intends to apply for a Geo-TLD related to your hometown starts offering domain names under that TLD for five digit USD prices long before even the application process of ICANN has started, not giving investors the full picture of the application process and its risk. Honestly, would you trust such a company and would you like to see it running that particulare Geo-TLD, even if you're generally in favour of introducing the new name space?

Michael, Las Vegas    
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