FYI:

A blog on the just concluded DNS & Trademarks workshop in Benin has
just been posted at:

 http://blog.icann.org/2014/05/curtains-fall-on-the-domain-names-trademarks-and-user-rights-protection-workshop-benin-africa/

So there is on-going related activity in this area.

On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 8:28 AM, Rafik Dammak <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> Quite important comment to respond : it is a continuity of the work started
> with the new gTLD applicant support Working Group or JAS that was pushed by
> NCSG in Kenya meeting in 2010 and initiated as joint cross community group
> between GNSO and ALAC. The WG provided several recommendations to the board
> to support applicants form developing countries and in particular non-profit
> to become registries. unfortunately the board acted too late and there was
> no enough outreach during the critical time of application period.
>
> There were also requests from African and MENA strategy working group to
> (Amr and me were members of the latter) to support more DNS industry in
> developing countries in order to have more registrars.
>
> the report outlines several issues and barriers for any entrepreneur from
> developing countries to be an ICANN accredited registrar. they are due to
> ICANN requirements and to the registrar accreditation agreement which is the
> contract between registrar and ICANN.
>
> having more registrars and registries from Africa, LAC, AP is important to
> serve users more closely and for strengthening internet infrastructure in
> developing countries. registries and registrars are part of the internet
> ecosystem and their presence is enabler for more local content (providing
> cheaper access to hosting service since registrars usually provide bundled
> services etc). it will important to support non for profit model to serve
> communities.
>
> I think that I will start drafting a comment and welcome any volunteer to
> join me in this effort. we have other comments in parallel and we will try
> to share the workload. just contact me .
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Rafik
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Yaovi Atohoun <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2014-05-15 17:19 GMT+09:00
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Call for comments- appel à commentaires; Report:
> Supporting the Domain Name Industry in Underserved Regions
> To: AfrICANN list <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> Dear all,
> (Français plus bas)
>
> This is a report about supporting the domain name industry in underserved
> regions, prepared by ICANN staff for public comment. Public comments on this
> report will be used to determine next steps to support the domain name
> industry in underserved regions.
>
> More information at
> http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/dns-underserved-14may14-en.htm
>
> Thanks
> -----
> Bonjour à tous,
>
> C'est un appel à commentaire du rapport sur l'appui à l'industrie des Noms
> de Domaies dans les regions mal désservies.   Les commentaires publics
> serviront pour la détermination des prochaines étapes pour l'appui à
> l'industrie des Noms de Domaines dans les régions mal désservies.
>
> Plus d'information à
>
> http://www.icann.org/fr/resources/registrars/accreditation/dns-underserved-14may14-fr.pdf
> http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/dns-underserved-14may14-en.htm
> -
>
> Merci
>
>



-- 
Cheers,

McTim
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel