ALAC Statement on WIPO Recommendations Regarding IGOs and Country Names

ALAC Statement on WIPO Recommendations Regarding IGOs and Country Names

On 21 February 2003, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sent to ICANN a letter describing two decisions of WIPO concerning recommendations about domain names that are similar to the names and acronyms of International Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and country names. WIPO member states recommended that the names and acronyms of IGOs and country names (being one particular type of geographical identifier) should be protected against abusive registration as domain names, and requested that these recommendations be transmitted to ICANN.

In response to the WIPO letter, on 12 March 2003, the ICANN Board invited all ICANN Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees (including the ALAC) 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.

Public input is requested on the following draft "ALAC Statement on WIPO Recommendations Regarding IGOs and Country Names". Comments to forum@alac.icann.org are requested by 9 May 2003 (Comments submitted will be publicly posted).