On the issue of funding, I would rather see ICANN follow Nominet's lead and create a Foundation with a clear set of goals, with transparency in the setting and monitoring of those goals, which could provide per-project funding for important goals, which might include improving engagement in ICANN by under-represented groups in relevant SGs. That way just buljking up the numbers wouldn't be the point, but a clear goal of, for example, increasing participation by developing country organisations both commercial and non-comercial, would be a suitable proposal but just adding yet more trademark holders from the US wouldn't be. -- Professor Andrew A Adams [log in to unmask] Professor at Graduate School of Business Administration, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Business Information Ethics Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan http://www.a-cubed.info/