New gTLD Committe Tells ICANN To Consider Appeal Mechanism In String Confusion Cases

The New gTLD Program Committee of ICANN (NGPC) pased a resolution, directing the ICANN President and CEO, to initiate a public comment period on the framework principles of a potential review mechanism to address the perceived inconsistent String Confusion Objection Expert Determinations.

The effect of this proposal, and the issue that is likely to be before the NGPC after the close of the public comments, is to consider implementing a new review mechanism in the String Confusion Objection cases where objections were raised by the same objector against different applications for the same string, where the outcomes of the String Confusion Objections differ.

If the proposal is eventually adopted after public comment and further consideration by the NGPC, ICANN would work with the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) to implement the new review mechanism outlined in the proposal.

The posting of the proposal for public comment is an Organizational Administrative Action not requiring public comment, however follow on consideration of the proposal requires public comment.

Its not clear if this would apply to inconsistent decisions already rendered by the ICDR for future decisions only.