The Internet Commerce Association  (ICA) submitted comments to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) website, on the current  draft  statement   of  Registrants’   Rights  and   Responsibilities  (RRR)  calling it “deficient in scope”.

“We prefer the alternate version proposed to ICANN by the Non­ Commercial  Stakeholders  Group  (NCSG) and propose  that a modified  version  of it be adopted   as  the  final   RRR said Phil Corwin in his letter to ICANN

“As  a  document   intended   to  provide   guidance   to  all registrants,  especially those lacking a sophisticated  understanding of their rights and responsibilities, it is important  that the RRR reflect  the input of registrants  represented by such entities as the NCSG and the ICA as well as of registrars.”

The  ICA  strongly  supports   the  concept  of  a  standard  statement   of  RRR  that  all accredited  registrars  must provide  a link to.

However,  the current draft RRR (available at http:1/www.icann. org/en/resources/registrars/raa/proposed-registrant-rights­ responsibilities-22apr13-en.pdf) is insufficient  in scope.

This deficiency  perhaps  reflects the  fact  that  it  was  drafted   by  registrars   without  input  from  registrants   or  entities representing them.

As an RRR starting point, we prefer the proposed draft submitted by ICANN’s NCSG on May  14,  2013  and  available   at  http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-proposed-raa-22apr13/msg00010.html.

We have modified and added some provisions  of that draft-­ and have also included,  for the sake of comprehensive treatment  and balance,  some important provisions of the current registrar-developed draft RRR.

We would propose that ICANN adopt this modified RRR statement  in lieu of the current draft RRR; modifications  and additions to the NCSG draft are indicated below
Registrants’ Rights and Responsibilities

Registrants  of domain  names  depend  on the  DNS  to provide  stable  online  location­ pointers for their speech, association, commercial,  and non-commercial activities. Registrants  derive  rights  and responsibilities  from applicable  law as well as from  the web of ICANN-based  contracts  and relevant  policies.  As a matter  of policy,  ICANN should ensure that its contracts  and the parties bound by them can support  a wide range of lawful and innovative end-user activities and free and open communications.

Registrants shall have the right to:

• Reliable neutral resolution of registered domain names;

• No suspension or termination of registration without due, disclosed process;

•    Administration  of UDRP disputes  and other ICANN-adopted  rights  protection mechanisms  (RPMs)  in a uniform  and neutral  manner  by arbitration  entities that are effectively overseen by ICANN;

• Privacy in the provision and display of registration data;

·Fair and non-discriminatory  treatment from ICANN, Registrars and Registries;

•  No  censorship  of  domain  use,  content,  or  communications through  Registries  or
Registrars;

• Timely and secure transfer of registered domain names between Registrars;

• Renewal  (or  choice  not  to  renew)  domain  name  registrations  on  clearly  disclosed terms.

To not be subject  to false advertising  or deceptive  practices  by their Registrar or through any proxy or privacy services made available by their Registrar.  This includes deceptive notices, hidden fees, and any practices that are illegal under the consumer  protection  laws of the relevant  jurisdictions  of their registrar  or the registrant’s  domicile.

To accomplish that. registrants shall be entitled to accurate and accessible  information about:

• The identity of their ICANN Accredited Registrar;

• The identity of any proxy or privacy service provider affiliated with their Registrar;

• The terms and conditions under which Registrant information is revealed by a proxy or privacy service provider;

• The terms and conditions under which Requests are relayed to Registrants by a proxy or privacy service provider (without revealing of the identifying information);

• The Registrar’s terms and conditions,  including clear and conspicuous  disclosure of  pricing  information  and  other  key  terms  and  conditions,   applicable  to  both Registrar services and any proxy/privacy services offered by the Registrar;

• Clear and conspicuous identification of any changes to the Registrar contract and/or the terms of the proxy/privacy agreement, to which they will be held on continuation  or renewal of the domain name;

• Notice of the customer support services offered by the Registrar and its proxy/privacy service providers,  and how to access  them,  including  means  to raise concerns  and resolve disputes;

• Instructions that are readily understandable  and explain the Registrar’s processes for  registering,  managing,  transferring,  reviewing  and  restoring  domain  name registrations,  including  any  proxy/privacy  services  that  may  be  available  from  the Registrar.

Registrants have the responsibilities:

•     To comply  with  their Registrar’s  posted  terms  and  conditions  and  with applicable Registry and ICANN policies.
•     To assume responsibility for the use of their domain name.
•     To provide accurate WHOIS and other required information.

• To be contactable, to maintain current Registrar account data, and to respond to registrar  inquiries within  a reasonable  time; or to provide  an alternative  such  as allowing  the  registrar  to  suspend  registration  upon  an  unresponded-to  allegation  of abuse;

• Not to use the domain name for abuse of the DNS (to be defined more specifically: e.g.,  specific  DNS  attacks,  deliberate  malicious  distribution  of  malware,  or  criminal activity); and

• Not to commit intentional trademark infringement (“cybersquating as defined in the UDRP and enforced through it and other ICANN-adopted  RPMs).
Conclusion

The adoption of an RRR that provides a clear, comprehensive  and balanced recitation of rights and responsibilities is an important objective. Therefore, the current draft RRR should be replaced by an improved document.

We hope that ICANN finds our views useful Thank you for considering them in this important matter affecting the general  understanding  of the basic rights  and responsibilities of domain registrants.