RE: [wg-c] I/O Design Initiates Legal Proceedings against CORE

["Neuman, Jeffrey" <jjneuman@steptoe.com>]

Hypothetical: (If one of the CORE TLDs are selected)

Why not allow CORE to keep the IP rights to the registry and require them by
contract to assign those rights to ICANN should their relationship with
ICANN terminate.

This would protect CORE should any dispute develop while they are a
registry.  It will also prevent another organization from trademarking the
TLD for that duration. 

I am not a member of CORE (nor do I necessarily agree with some of their
tactics here), but I am a trademark attorney and I do understand some of the
rationale for applying for a trademark for their TLDs.

However, once the relationship is terminated with ICANN, it should be
mandated by contract that CORE assign the IP rights (along with the
databases etc...) to ICANN.

Is this a workable solution?

Jeffrey J. Neuman
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
v: 202.429.6206
f: 202.429.3902
jjneuman@steptoe.com


-----Original Message-----
From: werner@axone.ch [mailto:werner@axone.ch]
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 1999 7:07 AM
To: Ivan Pope
Cc: 'mueller@syr.edu'; wg-c@dnso.org
Subject: Re: [wg-c] I/O Design Initiates Legal Proceedings against CORE


Ivan,

> I'm not suggesting that we resolve the IP issues. I am asking why the
Chair
> wants us to propose a set of gTLDs which are claimed as IP property by
CORE.
> Do you think this will look to outsiders as a gift of control of new gTLDs
> to CORE by this WG? 

The solution is very simple. Require that any organisation getting 
involved in a new gTLD as a registry or registrar give up to ICANN 
any IP registrations or IP property claims it may hold or believe
to hold if they affect the gTLD.


Regards,

Werner


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