Changes

===New gTLDs===

===New gTLDs===

The U.S. Government had been involved in the 6 year process that created the 2011 gTLD Application Program, and NTIA's [[Lawrence Strickling]] has been both a vocal critic and ally of ICANN, its processes, and the new gTLD program. In January, 2012, Mr. Strickling wrote to ICANN following multiple recent [[gTLD#New_gTLD_Senate_and_House_of_Representatives_Hearings|hearings in the U.S. Congress]] regarding ICANN's new gTLD program; this was a time of widespread concern on behalf of poorly-informed trademark owners, and also calls for the delay or cancellation of the program by trademark lobby groups [[CRIDO]] and [[CADNA]]. What little media attention the program received was almost wholly negative, including Op-eds in the New York Times<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/expanding-internet-domains.html?_r=4&ref=internetcorpforassignednamesandnumbers Expanding Internet Domains, NYTimes.com]</ref> and Wall Street Journal.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whats-the-rush/2011/12/09/gIQA5Ms9nO_story.html Whats the Rush, WashingtonPost.com]</ref> In his letter, addressed to [[ICANN Chairman|Chairman]] [[Steve Crocker]], Mr. Strickling urged ICANN to more successfully showcase their new gTLD expansion program, and especially emphasize the number of built-in protections for trademark owners.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>  

The U.S. Government had been involved in the 6 year process that created the 2011 gTLD Application Program, and NTIA's [[Lawrence Strickling]] has been both a vocal critic and ally of ICANN, its processes, and the new gTLD program. In January, 2012, Mr. Strickling wrote to ICANN following multiple recent [[gTLD#New_gTLD_Senate_and_House_of_Representatives_Hearings|hearings in the U.S. Congress]] regarding ICANN's new gTLD program; this was a time of widespread concern on behalf of poorly-informed trademark owners, and also calls for the delay or cancellation of the program by trademark lobby groups [[ANA]], [[CRIDO]], and [[CADNA]]. What little media attention the program received was almost wholly negative, including Op-eds in the New York Times<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/expanding-internet-domains.html?_r=4&ref=internetcorpforassignednamesandnumbers Expanding Internet Domains, NYTimes.com]</ref> and Wall Street Journal.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whats-the-rush/2011/12/09/gIQA5Ms9nO_story.html Whats the Rush, WashingtonPost.com]</ref> In his letter, addressed to [[ICANN Chairman|Chairman]] [[Steve Crocker]], Mr. Strickling urged ICANN to more successfully showcase their new gTLD expansion program, and especially emphasize the number of built-in protections for trademark owners.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>  

Mr. Strickling notes that NTIA has no plan or desire to actually interfere in the process after the 6 years of work and the imminent launch, but he does lament the number of problems that have been created largely by [[ICANN]]'s poor outreach and education. NTIA identified 3 specific things to address: to educate trademark owners about measures in place allowing them to forego [[Defensive Registration|defensive registrations]]; to immediately implement consumer protections it has already devised; and to generally better educate all stakeholders. However, NTIA did suggest and open up the possibility of adding further protections once the application pool is closed and NTIA, alongside [[ICANN]]'s [[GAC]], had a chance to review the pool of applicants and reflect on what further steps could  be taken in the [[SLD|second level]].

Mr. Strickling notes that NTIA has no plan or desire to actually interfere in the process after the 6 years of work and the imminent launch, but he does lament the number of problems that have been created largely by [[ICANN]]'s poor outreach and education. NTIA identified 3 specific things to address: to educate trademark owners about measures in place allowing them to forego [[Defensive Registration|defensive registrations]]; to immediately implement consumer protections it has already devised; and to generally better educate all stakeholders. However, NTIA did suggest and open up the possibility of adding further protections once the application pool is closed and NTIA, alongside [[ICANN]]'s [[GAC]], had a chance to review the pool of applicants and reflect on what further steps could  be taken in the [[SLD|second level]].