Hi All,

I wanted to share an update on the STI -- the Special Trademarks Issues 
Committee that worked nonstop from Seoul through early Dec. to re-think 
and re-write the Trademark Clearinghouse and Uniform Rapid Suspension 
(originally proposals of the IRT). Our STI Team - Wendy, Konstantinos, 
Robin & I- worked to make the proposals fairer, more balanced and with 
much more due process.

Here's the latest: the STI proposals went before the public and comments 
were due at the end of January. The comment summary was issued by Staff 
a week ago. It is posted at: 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/summary-analysis-special-trademarks-issues-report-15feb10-en.pdf 
. In a nutshell, it says: "The recommendations contained in the GNSO STI 
Report reflect the carefully negotiated consensus position of the STI 
drafting team... Staff's approach ... is to adopt /substantially all /of 
the GNSO-STI Model." /*Hooray -- hard effort, cooperation and 
negotiation make a difference!*/

Now ICANN has adopted the STI proposals in two more details pieces -- 
two final proposals on the Clearinghouse and URS now open for public 
comment. They are posted at: http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#urs 
and http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#tmc Comments are due by 
April 1^st .

*/I would recommend that NCUC appoint a small team to:/*

*+ strongly support the work of ICANN in adopting a fairer and more 
balanced approach (!),*

*+ review these final proposals carefully,*

*+ determine whether the final reports adopt all of the carefully 
negotiating positions of the STI, including implementation details 
(details matter!),*

*+ offer changes, if any, needed to better align the final Staff reports 
with the STI work, and *

*+ support our greatest contributions, including limiting the 
Clearinghouse to registered federal/regional trademarks and text marks. *

Overall, it has been a great group effort and we are in the final round!

All the best,

Kathy