Re: [ga] CONFLICT OF INTEREST

["JandL" <jandl@jandl.com>]

Danny:

I respectfully strongly disagree with you in your assertion that there 
would be a conflict of interest with participation in both the GA and 
the TLDA.  Please note that the mission statement reads "ALL TLD 
holders are welcome to join the TLDA."  This includes DoC as well. 
All means ALL Why, then would you perceive a conflict when the 
goal is to have everyone at the table in a cooperative manner?

In addition, the press release was also clear with regards to this 
being an initial board with limited terms of service.

I sincerely hope that the GA would not wish to discriminate against 
TLD holders in this fashion.  There are many members, including 
myself who are TLD holders and strong advocates for individual 
domain name holders as well.  I see absolutely no conflict 
whatsoever.

Patrick Corliss is an honest and principled man, IMO, who would 
serve the GA well.  This assembly is made up of every conceivable 
Internet particpant, from the IP interests all the way to the end 
user.  If you would discriminate against a TLD holder who is a 
member, then why not a user who may disagree with you?  If 
involvement in formation of the TLDA is grounds for conflict, then 
surely IP interests are grounds, participation in WIPO, as well as 
membership in the ISP/C or any other trade association or industry 
specific organization.  There are many voting members of the GA 
who actively participate in trade associations.  Using your criteria, 
no one from other constituencies would qualify to run for GA chair.

How many voices would be silenced in typical ICANN fashion if 
membership in other organizations were criteria for discrimination in 
the GA?  Half?

I would ask you to reconsider your statements regarding any alleged 
conflict of interest on the part of Patrick.  It is non-existent.

Sincerely,

Leah Gallegos

> On March 22, the Top Level Domain Association was formed
> (www.tlda.org).
> 
> Preliminary participants in this association include six members of
> the Voting Registry of the GA:
> 
> Patrick Corliss - Director
> Leah Gallegos - Director
> Miles Eugene Marsh - Chairman of the Board
> John Palmer - Secretary
> Bruce James - Initial Advisory Committee member
> Prof. A. Michael Froomkin - Initial Advisory Committee member
> 
> A member of the Names Council, Milton Mueller, is similarly listed as
> an Initial Advisory Committee member, and assuredly other GA members
> will soon declare themselves as participants in the TLDA efforts.
> 
> The mission statement of this association represents that it is a:
>  "trade association of Internet Top Level Domain (TLD) holders. This
> organization represents the interests of TLD Holders and will seek to
> foster cooperation among TLD holders to advance the cause of building
> a stable, collision free namespace. All TLD holders are welcome to
> become members of the TLDA."
> 
> While I loudly applaud the efforts of the alternate root community to
> seek out efforts to eliminate collisions in their own namespace, I
> find myself deeply troubled by the fact that none of these members
> that routinely participate on the GA list have commented on this
> development in the midst of this GA election cycle.
> 
> What has happened to the concept of openness and transparency by which
> we are expected to abide?    The Bylaws of our Corporation point to
> the need for full disclosure of "conflicts of interest" by members of
> our Board; can we expect anything less from candidates to the highest
> office of the GA?
> 
> Up until a few days ago, I was fully prepared to endorse Patrick
> Corliss for the Chairmanship of this Assembly.  These recent events
> have made me reconsider my position.  I respect Patrick's efforts to
> work in his own way towards achieving the goal of a stable Internet; I
> still believe that Patrick is a pioneer and visionary with a heart of
> gold and a passion for safeguarding the rights of Individuals.
> 
> But I cannot approve of his decision to both accept a position as a
> Director of the TLDA, and to simultaneously run for the office of
> Chair of this General Assembly.
> 
> I look forward to working with Patrick, and with the many of you that
> respect the fact that the worldwide Internet community includes the
> alternate root system - but I believe that in this instance, Patrick
> made an error in judgement... one cannot effectively serve two such
> disparate masters.
> 
> Best regards,
> Danny Younger
> 
> 
> 
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