This is an excellent question which I have forwarded on to the CCWG Legal Sub-Team to prepare a response.  I will forward the CCWG Legal Sub-Team answer to this question on to this list when we have it - very soon!  Thanks for raising the issue.

Best,
Robin

> Dear Legal Sub-Team,
> 
> I've received the below question from a stakeholder group member about
> the implications of the US law, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
> under the Membership Model under consideration that I believe warrants an
> answer from our legal experts.
> 
> Note: OFAC acts to prevent "prohibited transactions", which are
> considered trade or financial transactions and other dealings in which US
> persons [such as ICANN] may not engage unless authorized by OFAC or
> expressly exempted by statute.  OFAC enforces economic sanctions against
> countries, businesses, or groups of individuals, using the blocking of
> assets and trade restrictions to achieve US foreign policy and national
> security goals.  
> 
> Will it be more difficult for participants in countries that are on the
> US's naughty list (like Iran, Cuba, Syria) to be able to participate in
> the reformed ICANN and to fully exercise equal rights given this US trade
> law OFAC?  Will they need to apply for and obtain a special exemption
> from OFAC in order to do so?  Does it make a difference between the two
> models under consideration how this law will impact participation from
> individuals in those countries?
> 
> Thanks,
> Robin


On Apr 15, 2015, at 8:52 PM, farzaneh badii wrote:

> Dear all
> 
> I need some clarification regarding  the designators / membership models that  were introduced to enhance the accountability of ICANN.
> 
> I have not looked into the details of these recommendations, I totally understand that membership is not at individual level but I would very much like to know how the intake of members by the constituencies work if we were to choose one of the models or if any other model is proposed. 
> 
> 
> I am interested in knowing how the membership intake is regulated. Will the constituencies remain autonomous in selecting their members?  If the intake is also regulated as it is with associations members then it might well be subject to the US sanction law that are applied to several countries. Therefore those located in countries sanctioned by the US cannot become members ! or it may cost alot. 
> 
> This might not even be an issue and I might be off track and ignorant about this but getting an early clarification is better .
> 
> Now you might ofcourse say that but the membership has nothing to do with financial transactions (which it might have sometimes). Please don't get me started. ISOC has more than once rejected the establishment of an Iran ISOC chapter with a very generic answer! stating  their great reason: OFAC doesnt let them ! But ofcourse that is wrong and ISOC can ask OFAC for a license but they won't bother, there might be other problems as well. Anyhow, ICANN has been dealing with OFAC very well so far. but I don't know what will happen in the future. So an answer from someone who knows better is much appreciated ! 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Farzaneh