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information My new blog at FreeSpeech.com, and ICANN threatens my participation rights.

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I just launched a new blog at FreeSpeech.com that folks might be interested in following.

The 2nd article in particular might be of interest, as ICANN has threatened my participation rights in the RPM PDP (which is chartered to review the UDRP, URS, and other rights protection mechanisms, which I've been a member of for 3 years).

https://freespeech.com/2019/04/05/i...articipation-rights-of-critic-george-kirikos/

The first article just has some background info:

https://freespeech.com/2019/04/05/hello-world/

Happy to get input on other kinds of articles folks would like to read in the future.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
I look forward to reading your blog, George! It’s about time ;)
 
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HI thanks for that. ICANN does seem to struggle with their procedures, and this is very topical.

There have been quite a few freedom of speech threads on NP lately - about the terms in a domain name, about Godaddy expelling Gab.com, about freedom of speech in general, and about Epik.com and Rob Monster's views and practices with regard to freedom of speech.
 
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Great domain put to right use George.

I am on my way to your blog to read all that you have shared :)
 
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Best domain ever. I hope you'll encourage other stakeholders to contribute.
 
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I wish you well with the blog and the issues that you raise are important to all in the domain community. I certainly will be one off your regular readers, @GeorgeK! By the way you have an AMAZING domain name for your blog! I am sorry about the ICANN decision re your participation and I wish you well as you push for free and informed speech around domain issues.
Bob
 
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wow, really great domain name!
 
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I would say consumers have lost an important advocate. How can we help ?

Be warned.
These TM lawyers are chipping away and will take away your domain rights, they are ruthless. This is a serious development, counter to protecting domain owners rights.

I alerted everyone several times after joining as Observer only in November 2017.
Anybody else joined the RPM group? Now you should join, especially if you have valuable domains.
@mr-x you really should join. There are some others here with years of experience that should also join.

George posted details how to join here back in 2017.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ic...ge-domain-owners-rights.1048344/#post-6420973

To quote @Nat Cohen on the above thread:

"It is no secret that big brands and the IP lawyers that represent them are frustrated that the UDRP currently makes it difficult to take control of a domain that is being used in bad faith if the domain was registered before the trademark rights arose.

They want to turn the key test in the UDRP into simply "used in bad faith to take advantage of a trademark".


https://www.namepros.com/threads/ica-big-players-propose-to-change-domain-owners-rights.1048344/

Losing George, that's a huge understatement. He has gathered lot's of data, has written countless, well researched examples to refute claims by TM Lawyers. His portfolio and talent imo is way beyond. Domain Investors are at a huge risk. It surprises me really that none of the Blog owners or Brokers don't participate. Do they not have portfolios worthy of protection? It also surprises me why anyone would dump all the money on the ICA membership, when the RPM group is free. I don't know what the ICA even does so in my ignorance I won't be critical of that ICA group and those of you who are members, but I don't want to pay to join it and I don't know what actually they even do to advocate. I don't recall seeing ICA members participated in the RPM group- but correct me if I am wrong.

I would suggest if anyone here has portfolios of say $50-$100k value, you should sign up and actively participate in the RPM group. Afaik, there were only 2 active voices for Domainers, George and Nat.

I am an observer in the RPM group and was motivated to discover the inner workings, politics and organizational stuff. What I saw was shocking. While this forum has some pretty stupid threads, I never expected an ICANN group to stoop that low to bickering by Lawyers to George who has held his professional composure through many instances.

This RPM isn't for the faint hearted or uninformed, I don't know who could even begin to fill his shoes. I told George I would like to participate, but after observing the complexities and learning curve I truly felt unqualified. George is way beyond my level of knowledge and after all these months, reading the advanced level of knowledge that George’s experience was, I felt intimidated by his work, his citations, the Legalese and Lawyer crapolla. Also parliamentary procedure.

The other thing is that anybody who is familiar with my comments here, I am no diplomat and constantly a unapologetic critic and pundit. If I would have gotten involved as a participant, they would have probably booted me in the first few months for calling bullshit on the nonsense. Especially arguing with a bunch of arrogant TM lawyers in such a politicized group.

George has been in a constant battle with Trademark Lawyers. I have witnessed the hundreds of emails in my short time in the RPM group as an observer.

I also have collected a whole bunch of RPM emails which have examples of bullshit, petty and sometimes childish comments from Trademark Lawyers made to George. WIPO deleted one of "Case Law" so to speak references that was on the WIPO site. The head honcho is a lawyer, and George voted against him and of course all the fellow TM lawyers didn't like that! I should post some of the nonsense thrown at him, but will defer to George as it is his blog and he knows first hand what I am talking about that should be exposed.

Originally, I assumed that by joining the group it would be more productive. However, George has been continually berated, and his participation is only squelched by the Attorneys.
 
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I’m an active participant of some of WG’s at ICANN and have seen George participate quite actively, even though mostly remotely in one of the (GNSO Sub Pro WG) meetings sometime back.

Hoping for the best for your participation George.
 
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Here is a quote from one person on the RPM, regarding the upcoming selection of the new chairperson back in early 2018:

"The bigger picture I get is of a steady and experienced ***** who can stay above the fray in terms of issues and positions, who can actively work with the ******* to identify and ****** consensus, and someone who has very good understanding of and facility with our rules of procedure so that they can run the meetings well and make them as efficient and effective as possible, while ensuring that all positions are heard. From a procedural side, t h i s sounds completely sensible and not that uncommon in ICANN-----"
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With the unexpected ouster of @GeorgeK , this particular paragraph contradicts such writing and it was written by the person who evidently was referenced on FreeSpeech.com : "Eleven months ago, there was an exchange of emails on the mailing list between myself and another working group member-----> redacted xxxxxx

"While ensuring that all positions are heard" - maybe in hindsight it should have been written:

"while ensuring that only selected IP and TM attorneys positions are heard. We must dismiss critics, and silence domain owners"
 
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FreeSpeech has come under serious attack ever since Trump won the election in 2016. People want us to shut up and comply. Once you support President Trump, your free speech automatically becomes hate speech.

Now, same treatment is being apply to domain owners. ICANN now trying to silence domain owners and abhor criticism for doing that.

Great domain name but I think FreeSpeech.com will do better as a news blog, especially conservatives news blog, similar to BreitBart.com
 
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I added a new blog post today,

Double Standards in the Application of the ICANN Expected Standards of Behavior – Part 1

https://freespeech.com/2019/04/08/d...-icann-expected-standards-of-behavior-part-1/

George,

The proverbial pen is mightier than the sword. The pen in the hands of an intelligent, articulate person who is on the right side of the law, is indeed very mighty.

If there is a form to sign, let everyone sign it, on every committee and let that form be subject to the same governance as would be applied to any other material change in code of conduct at ICANN.

Hopefully cooler heads prevail and there is a rational path for going forward with a process that is democratic and transparent.

In the meantime, thank you for fearlessly shining a spotlight on what looks increasingly like an unrepentant breach of duty of care.

As for the domain, I agree with the idea that FreeSpeech.com has a larger mandate to protect the interests of Free Speech on the Internet. As you are passionate about that, even better.

Regards,
Rob
 
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