ICANN74: Internet stakeholders reject waiver request clause - ITREALMS

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The global internet stakeholders of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) may be squaring up against the organisation over what has been described as overboard waiver request for those intending to participate in ICANN74 in-person, reports ITREALMS.

They also rejected the introduction of the so-called waiver indemnity by ICANN at this time to dodge liability.

One of the earlier protesters came from the Managing Director of Blacknight Internet Solutions, Michele Neylon, who sought legal advice on behalf of himself and staff, was advised that neither he nor his staff should sign a waiver granting ICANN blanketexclusion of liability.

ICANN, ITREALMS confirmed, introduced a waiver to be signed by onsite attendees largely described as broad release of liability and indemnification clause, claiming that the waiver helps to enshrine that ICANN’s funds should not be used to defend ICANN against items for which ICANN itself should not be held liable.

This, the organisation said, is about protecting ICANN in this way to help support ICANN’s continued ability to serve its mission.

ICANN, ITREALMS confirmed introduced a waiver to be signed by onsite attendees largely described as broad release of liability and indemnification clause.

ICANN said that a liability waiver helps enshrine that ICANN’s funds should not be used to defend ICANN against items for which ICANN itself should not be held liable.

This, the organisation said, is about protecting ICANN in this way to help support ICANN’s continued ability to serve its mission.

This is coming as several registrars among the internet community stakeholders have also requested that such a waiver be jettisoned because it’s a “blanket exclusion of liability by ICANN.”

They also alleged that ICANN is hiding under the so-called waiver to deny its stakeholders any liability in case of any eventuality, advising potential participants not to sign the purported waiver.

Some of the unhappy stakeholders further described it as an unfortunate way for ICANN to commence its face-to-face meeting after over two years in strictly virtual meetings which has taken its own toll on participants who have to sit long hours during various ICANN and related meetings.

Some lawyers who reviewed the so-called waiver condemned its wordings and advised ICANN community to be wary and at best not to put their signatures on the purported waiver.

For more detailed information about ICANN74, click here.

“In-person registration for this hybrid event closes five days before the meeting starts. On-site registration is not possible and all participants intending to attend in person must register in advance,” ICANN insisted.

ITREALMS further gathered that ICANN org will implement a comprehensive plan to ensure a safe and productive meeting in The Hague, including, but not limited to the fact that:

· All attendees will be required to show proof of being “fully vaccinated and up to date” against COVID-19, which, in most cases, includes booster shot(s).

· Daily temperature checks and verbal health screenings.

· Contact tracing measures.

· Mask wearing while on-site.

· Physical distancing while on-site.

· Enhanced venue cleaning and contact safety measures.

· Enhanced food service handling and safety for catered services.

· Attendee acknowledgement to agree to health and safety measures.