EPSRP opens public comment on second string similarities

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Country Code Name Supporting Organisation (ccNSO) Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP) Working Group is seeking public comments on its proposed guidelines for and refinement of the methodology on the second string, reports ITRealms.

This, ITRealms gathered include the similarity review process, and the interpretation of its split recommendations, of which the public comment period which commenced on July 19 will close on 31 Aug 2016.

ITRealms recalls that currently the EPSRP Working Group has concluded its deliberations on developing further policy guidance for the Extended Process Similarity Review Panel, hence this current steps following the closure of the public comment proceeding, the EPSRP Working Group will review the public comments received and revise its proposed guidelines, if deemed appropriate. 

The proposed guidelines will then be submitted to the ccNSO Council for approval and submission to the ICANN Board.

Also gathered by ITRealms that Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose showed the ccNSO Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP) Working Group was established to, Provide guidance on and refinement of the methodology for second string similarity review process, Provide interpretation of split recommendations, Inform policy on selection of strings.

The work of the EPSRP Working Group, ITRealms gathered is limited to the review of the EPSRP as defined in the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Implementation Plan and EPSRP Guidelines.

“Focus is on providing guidance on how to treat an IDN ccTLD string that is only found confusingly similar in UPPERCASE and not in lowercase. This is both relevant for the Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD Fast Track process and also the proposed overall policy for the selection of IDN ccTLD strings.

As part of its charter the EPSRP Working Group is expected to at least conduct one public consultation on their proposals.

Therefore, the group noted that as part of the third review of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track process in FY2015, some policy issues pertaining to the guidance of the second string similarity review panel became apparent, in particular how to treat an IDN ccTLD string that is only found confusingly similar in UPPERCASE and not in lowercase.

ITRealms recalled that at its meeting on 25 June 2015, the ICANN Board requested that "the ccNSO, in consultation with other stakeholders, including GAC and SSAC, to provide further guidance on and refinement of the methodology of second string similarity review process, including the interpretation of its split recommendations, to be applied to the relevant current and subsequent cases in the IDNccTLD Fast Track process as well as to inform the proposed policy for the selection of the IDNccTLD strings."

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