The ICANN Board passed a bunch of resolutions Friday morning in Seoul. Internalized domain names will be fast-tracked, new generic top level domains will be slow tracked. Applications for new gTLDs will only be accepted after (and depending upon) (1) more economic analysis as to whether new gTLDs are a good thing or not; (2) more analysis as to the cumulative effect of new IDNs and other implementations on the scalability of the DNS; (3) more consideration of trademark protection; and (4) the appointment of the evaluators of the gTLD application process. So expect a fourth version of the draft Applicant Guidebook. I’m predicting fall of 2010 now as the opening date for filing applications.

I’m here in Seoul at the ICANN meeting. The third version of the Draft Applicant Guidebook to the new TLDs is out.
As to timing, the initial word is that the process will be kicked even further into the future. ICANN suggested in the opening remarks that the application process itself, intially scheduled for early 2010, may not even start until 2011. There are TLD start-ups out there carrying heavy salary loads and they were not happy to hear this. Of course if the delay is only until September 2010, that may seem like a relief.
Also, there is the issue as to ‘dot brands,’ TLDs consisting of a brand owned by that brand, such as .NIKE or .AMAZON (I’m using those as examples of famous brands, not because I have any reason to believe that those particular companies want those particular TLDs). It has been an assumption that TLD applications would be judged on various technical criteria but the judging would be ‘content-neutral’ (within reason).
Well, the word on the street is that two ICANN board members stated publicly on Sunday that they are opposed to dot brands and will work to reject such applications.
It’s not clear to what extent they can bring that about – but ICANN may wish to clarify this issue before the Fortune 100 each pay $185k in fees to ICANN for dot brands.
Of one thing I am certain – I am glad I did not devote psychic energy to this process two years ago.
The Seoul meeting can be tracked and followed remotely here.

A approaches a law firm and says that they’ve negotiated a settlement in principle with B, and can the law firm please eyeball the final agreement. The settlement will be about $280k and you can keep $5k for 1 or 2 hours of work. A is to be paid by wire upon receipt of a certified check from B made out to the law firm. The certified check arrives and the law firm deposits it. The scam depends on the hope that the firm will mistakenly think that a certified check is like depositing cash, and will therefore immediately wire the balance to A. However, the certified check is forged.
Note: This scam is going on presently, while this post from the North Carolina Bar Association indicates that it has been around since at least May 2008 (and is of course a variation of the ‘classic’ bank frauds). The post contains practice pointers and red flags.

Ralph Lauren ran a photo of a model that seems obviously re-touched (the photo, not the model). A website ran the photo in order to ridicule it. Ralph Lauren sent a DMCA letter to the site and another which reported on the photo. The website re-printed the photo and the DMCA letter. Sites like mine re-printed the photo and reported on the controversy. Ralph Lauren released a statement that the image was ‘mistakenly released’ and was ‘inconsistent with our creative standards and brand values.’ Then it was reported that the model was fired for being too fat.
Discuss.

This article says that New York City claims that it does. Meanwhile the operators of the predcessors of the now-bankrupt restauarnt are the title owner of incontestable registration no. 1154270 (good job of reporting there guys). I see why the City would want the name – they own the land and a future leasee would certainly want the option of naming the new restaurant Tavern on the Green. There must be forty years worth of leases covering the parties’ rights.
I did a search of EMINENT DOMAIN TRADEMARK and came up with this and this.
Some sort of sovereign immunity to Section 15, perhaps?
Generic term for taverns on greens?
UPDATE: I note that hte registration is in the name of Tavern on the Green LP. Articles indentify the bankrupt operator as Tavern on the Green LLC. These articles identify the LeRoy family as having control over the restaurant through a series of entities.