Board Liaison Nominee - Seth Reiss

2009 Election Call for Board Liaison - Level of Commitment and Information on Nominee

Level of Commitment of Board Liaison

1. Acceptance of the Nomination to the position.

Nominee accepted nomination on 18 August 2009.

2. Biography

I received a BA in Biology and Chemistry from New College of Florida, a MS degree in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai`i, a JD degree from the University of Hawai`i School of Law where I served on the law review, and a LLM degree in international and comparative law from the University of Cambridge in England.

Professional positions I have held include law clerk and staff attorney to the Hawai`i Supreme Court, visiting lecturer of law at the universities of Malaya and Hawai`i, public defender, and deputy attorney general representing, among others, the consumer advocate before the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission.

For the past 20 years I have been engaged in the private practice of law within medium and small firms and, most recently, as a solo practitioner, in Honolulu, Hawai`i. My practice emphasizes patent, trademark, copyright, technology and Internet law while also encompassing business law, commercial litigation and alternate dispute resolution. I represent, for the most part, small businesses and individuals and, on occasion, large businesses.

I am a member of the bars of the states of Hawai`i and California, admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Federal and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal, a registered patent attorney with the USPTO, and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

I have served on a number of professional and community based non-profit boards, including a youth opera chorus. I currently serve as a UDRP arbitration panelist for WIPO and have represented a NARALO ALS since NARALO was constituted at the Puerto Rico meeting in June, 2007.

I regularly speak and publish on intellectual property, technology and Internet law topics.

The following aspects of my background and experience would facilitate my work as the ALAC Board Liaison: my background and experience in international law, intellectual property and Internet law, commercial law and regulation, and the law and regulation of non-profit organizations; studying, teaching, working and living in Europe, Asia and the United States; my training in and experience with alternative dispute resolution and facilitation techniques; and my participation in various volunteer and non-profit community organizations and boards.

Additional information about my education and experience, published works, and representative clients is available at my website located at www.lex-ip.com.

3. Statement of Interest

I have a strong interest in the work and success of ICANN. I find ICANN to be uniquely constituted and propelled, an organization that can and perhaps has become a model for other international bodies and initiatives. I have been impressed with the skills and dedication of many who work with and within ICANN. I would like opportunity to become more familiar and more closely associated with the organization and with those who oversee, direct and administer its functions. As the ALAC Board Liaison, I would have this opportunity as well as the opportunity to further the interests and goals of the At-Large Internet community and ICANN.

I am motivated to assist ICANN in effectively and efficiently addressing the important but sometimes difficult policy issues currently facing the organization. While my technological background is limited, I possess at least some and in some areas considerable specialized knowledge and experience in subjects essential to ICANN’s work as, for example, public and private international law, privacy law, intellectual property law, non-profit law, commercial law and regulation, facilitation and consensus building.

I also have experience teaching and working with individuals from Europe and Asia as well as North America, and experience teaching and working with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Knowledge and understanding gained from studying in England, teaching in Malaysia, marrying a German national following a courtship in Italy, raising dual national children, and living and doing business in multi-ethnic Hawai`i, has endowed me with sensitivity and insights that promote trust and confidence in the communications I have and relationships I form with individuals from all over the world.

Training and regular volunteer work with alternative dispute resolution organizations has given me an understanding of and experience with facilitation techniques to promote consensus and agreement among parties with disparate interest and agendas.

Volunteer director and officer positions on non-profit boards have afforded me familiarity with individuals and groups dedicated to the betterment of communities, the mechanics and personalities involved in these organizations, tools with which to guide such organizations, and some understanding of what succeeds in these organizations and what does not.

On a personal level, I would like to see ICANN continue on its path to becoming more international, while garnering increased confidence and respect from persons and government of all nations. These include, perhaps more importantly, the governments and peoples of the developing world and of non-democratic countries. I would like to see ICANN address and solve difficult policy issues more efficiently, in a more timely manner, without sacrificing transparency and responsiveness and without overlooking available input and valuable contributions. Policy issues should get even handed treatment and attention, and not attention measured by the passion or volume of the proponent.

As ALAC’s liaison to the ICANN Board, I would seek to accurately and candidly champion to the Board the interests of the Internet user as expressed in policies developed by the ALAC and the At-Large community, unaffected by any personal interest, prejudice or bias. I would exercise my independent wisdom and judgment to transparently and effectively represent the views and positions of the At-Large as formulated by the ALAC.

As an ALS representative, my participation in ICANN list serves, telephone conferences and discussions has been limited. I take responsibility seriously and will commit that if selected as ALAC’S Liaison to the ICANN Board, I will quickly bring myself current on all topics in discussion, diligently follow these discussions, and attend all in-person and telephone conferences (though most are scheduled at 3 and 4 AM Hawai`i Standard Time) to the greatest extent possible. My employment status and client mix permit me the flexibility to dedicate the time needed to properly discharge the liaison duties without compromising my other responsibilities and commitments.

At the same time I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the considerable knowledge, experience and dedication possessed by my fellow candidates, each of whom would undoubtedly serve the ALAC and At-Large well.

4. Conflict of Interest Statement

Disclosing any conflicts as provided at *

http://www.icann.org/en/committees/coi/coi-policy-04mar99.htm*

. Where the referenced uses the term 'Director' this shall be understood as meaning Liaison; it is further understood that Section 4 in that document is not applicable, as a liaison does not have a vote.

Apart from the following, I am not aware of having any direct or indirect financial interest in ICANN, or in any contract or arrangement with ICANN, or in any entity under contract to or having some arrangement with ICANN. I agree to abide by the Corporation’s Conflicts of Interest Policy in all respects.

I am a WIPO UDRP panelist and am compensated for cases assigned to and decided by me. I am assigned on average 1 to 3 cases each year, and paid US $1,000 for each case decided. I would abstain from discussions and voting on matters that involve compensation for UDRP panelist, and I would disclose my position as a panelist in the context of discussions concerning the UDRP. I would in all cases accurately represent and advocate the position and view of the ALAC and larger the At Large community including on matters concerning the UDRP.

Questions from Community Members

Q.1 Question: Apart from assuming the heavy workload on the Board, would the liaison commit to keep in close contact with the at-large community, such as attending ALAC meetings as far as possible and participating the policy discussions online and offline? (Question submitted by Hong Xue, APRALO)