Proposed ALAC Stmt on URS

The ALAC is very concerned with the apparent  lack of action related to the URS. The URS has  been described as one of the mechanisms that  will provide TM owners with adequate protection  within the context of the new gTLDs.

ICANN has  stated that potential URS providers believe that  the current version of the URS is not  implementable at the required costs and ICANN  has budgeted $175k to address this issue with  the work to be carried out by a bottom-up  community effort.

To date, neither the GNSO nor  the ALAC have been invited to participate.

The  ALAC advises the Board to take immediate action  to ensure that ICANN is seen as moving forward  with the URS and that the URS is available as  planned by the launch of the first new gTLD.