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{{People

{{People

|portrait  = Kpbored.Jpg

|region=North America

|caricature = KurtPritzCaricature.jpg

|country=USA

|country   = USA

|linkedin=https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kurt-pritz/12/98/838

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|linkedin   = [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kurt-pritz/12/98/838 kurt-pritz]

|userbox     = {{Template:UBX-ICANNSTAFF-P}} {{Template:UBX-CARDSSEN}} {{Template:UBX-CARD49}}

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'''Kurt Pritz''' is a licensed attorney and the Executive Director of the [[Domain Name Association]].<ref>[Interview at ICANN 48]</ref>

'''Kurt Pritz''' is a licensed attorney, with experience in ICANN and the domain name industry.  Kurt is currently a member of the Strategic Planning Board at UK Creative Ideas, operator of the .ART domain registry. In that role, Kurt provided operational and policy guidance during the launch of the .ART registry and teamed with .ART Founder Ulvi Kasimov and other .ART team members in the launch of Art Digital Twin, an innovative domain name product incorporating additional registration data fields dedicated to the identification of art objects, the Getty Trust standard for identifying art objects and elements of a blockchain and Industry 4.0.

Pritz is the former Chief of Strategy at [[ICANN]]. He was appointed to this role, moving on from his prior role as Senior Vice President, when ICANN's newest CEO, [[Fadi Chehadé]], assumed his position on September 14, 2012. In his prior role, Kurt Pritz oversaw the vitality of the [[Multistakeholder Model]], stakeholder relations, and also the [[New gTLD Program]]. These responsibilities seem to have been split up by President Chehadé.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14sep12-en.htm Announcement 14 Sep 12, ICANN.org]</ref><ref>[http://icann.org/en/general/staff.html ICANN.org]</ref> His high-profile work has included representing ICANN at judicial and legal hearings in Washington, D.C..<ref>[http://domainincite.com/the-10-dumbest-moments-from-that-new-tlds-congressional-hearing/, the 10 Dumbest Moments for that New TLDs Congressional HEaring, DomainIncite.com]</ref>  

Kurt is the former Executive Director of the [[Domain Name Association]] (DNA),<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20131118_former_icann_executive_kurt_pritz_joins_domain_name_association/ Circle Id]</ref> holding the position from November 2013-October 2015.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2015/10/01/kurt-pritz-resigns-from-domain-name-association/ DomainNameWire]</ref>

His resignation was announced on November 15, 2012, by CEO [[Fadi Chehadé]], with an undisclosed conflict of interest cited as the reason.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11024-breaking-kurt-pritz-quits-icann-over-conflict-of-interest Breaking Kurt Pritz Quits ICANN Over Conflict of Interest] DomainIncite.com. Published & Retrieved 15 November 2012.</ref> The conflict in question was later reported as being a personal issue with [[ARI Registry Services]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11037-pritzs-conflict-of-interest-was-with-ari Pritz Conflict of Interest Was With ARI, DomainIncite.com] Retrieved 23 November 2012</ref>

Pritz is the former Chief of Strategy at [[ICANN]], working with them for nearly ten years. He was appointed to this role, moving on from his prior role as Senior Vice President, when ICANN's newest CEO, [[Fadi Chehadé]], assumed his position on September 14, 2012. In his prior role, Kurt Pritz oversaw the vitality of the [[Multistakeholder Model]], stakeholder relations, and also the [[New gTLD Program]]. These responsibilities seem to have been split up by President Chehadé.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14sep12-en.htm Announcement 14 Sep 12, ICANN.org]</ref><ref>[http://icann.org/en/general/staff.html ICANN.org]</ref> His high-profile work has included representing ICANN at judicial and congressional hearings in Washington, D.C..<ref>[http://domainincite.com/the-10-dumbest-moments-from-that-new-tlds-congressional-hearing/, the 10 Dumbest Moments for that New TLDs Congressional Hearing, DomainIncite.com]</ref>  

Prior to joining [[ICANN]], Pritz was the Vice President of Production at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he directed the manufacturing and engineering of theme park shows worldwide. He has also worked as a plant manager for the Eaton Corporation.<ref>[http://www.domainfest.com/SantaMonica2010/experts domainfest.com]</ref>

Prior to joining [[ICANN]], Pritz was the Vice President of Production at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he directed the manufacturing and engineering of theme park shows worldwide. He has also worked as Advanced Assembly Facility Manager for the Eaton Corporation, building electronic avionics systems.<ref>[http://www.domainfest.com/SantaMonica2010/experts domainfest.com]</ref>

He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Physics, an M.B.A. and a J.D.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/biog/pritz.htm icann.org]</ref>

He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Physics, an M.B.A. and a J.D., and licensed to practice law in the State of California. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/biog/pritz.htm icann.org]</ref>

==Role within ICANN==

==Role within ICANN==

Kurt Pritz was appointed as a Vice President of ICANN in September 2003. He was promoted to Senior Vice President for Stakeholder Relations in December, 2006.<ref>[http://www.domainsget.info/tag/kurt-pritz/ domainsget.info]</ref> As VP for Stakeholder Relations, Kurt served as spokesperson for the organization on a variety of issues, perhaps most notably its [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. He led the coordination of multiple public consultations regarding the program until it was approved and implemented by the [[ICANN Board]]. Kurt continues to provide information, presentations, answer questions and discusses issues related to the new gTLD program as they arise in different events such as the [[.nxt]] conference, and congressional hearings.<ref>[http://dot-nxt.com/agenda/wed/keynote Keynote: Kurt Pritz]</ref>

Kurt Pritz was appointed as a Vice President of ICANN in September 2003. He was promoted to Senior Vice President for Stakeholder Relations in December, 2006.<ref>[http://www.domainsget.info/tag/kurt-pritz/ domainsget.info]</ref> As VP for Stakeholder Relations, Kurt served as spokesperson for the organization on a variety of issues, perhaps most notably its [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. He led the coordination of multiple public consultations regarding the program until it was approved and implemented by the [[ICANN Board]]. Kurt continues to provide information, presentations, answer questions and discusses issues related to the new gTLD program as they arise in different events such as the [[.nxt]] conference, and congressional hearings.<ref>[http://dot-nxt.com/agenda/wed/keynote Keynote: Kurt Pritz]</ref>

In March, 2012, during the [[GNSO]] Council meeting at [[ICANN 43]] in Costa Rica, Kurt informed the community that the [[ICANN Board]] plans to implement the "Target Time Variance" (secondary time stamp) system in determining how each new gTLD application will be grouped into batches. According to him an applicant will pick his or her "target time" to process the application on the [[TAS|TLD Application System]] (TAS) then click the submit button. The application batches will be divided based on the fastest applicant, down to the slowest from each of the five ICANN geographic regions in a round robin method. He also said the applicants will have the opportunity to try out the system to determine and adjust their response time. He explained that random selection is not feasible because of legal issues.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/heres-how-new-gtld-batching-will-work/ Here’s how new gTLD batching will work]</ref> The target time variance was officially approved and named "digital archery" by the ICANN Board on March 28, 2012.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-28mar12-en.htm Batching of New gTLD Applications: Secondary Timestamp]</ref>

Prior to the opening of the applications for the new gTLD program on January 12, 2012, Kurt announced that ICANN might release a new separate guidebook for the newly developed Applicant Support program to supplement the [[Applicant Guidebook]]. He explained that a number of questions and requests for clarifications on some points in the guidebook were received and responded to by ICANN's customer service center. He said,  ''"We will summarize those clarifications in one document – that might be an Advisory or in the form of an updated Guidebook. In either case, the positions of applicants will not be affected as the information will repeat that in previously answered questions."''<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-confirms-possible-new-applicant-guidebook/ ICANN confirms possible new Applicant Guidebook]</ref>

Prior to the opening of the applications for the new gTLD program on January 12, 2012, Kurt announced that ICANN might release a new separate guidebook for the newly developed Applicant Support program to supplement the [[Applicant Guidebook]]. He explained that a number of questions and requests for clarifications on some points in the guidebook were received and responded to by ICANN's customer service center. He said,  ''"We will summarize those clarifications in one document – that might be an Advisory or in the form of an updated Guidebook. In either case, the positions of applicants will not be affected as the information will repeat that in previously answered questions."''<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-confirms-possible-new-applicant-guidebook/ ICANN confirms possible new Applicant Guidebook]</ref>

Prior to his work on the new gTLD program, Kurt solidified ICANN's finances by renegotiating agreements with ICANN's accredited registrars and several of the large registry operators. He also led the delivery of several milestones listed in successive MoUs between the US Dept. of Commerce and ICANN, paving the way for ICANN's eventual independence from the USG.

 

He is a member of the [[RySG]] and represents North America on the [[GNSO Council]] until [[AGM]] 2022.

==Congressional Hearings on New gTLDs==

==Congressional Hearings on New gTLDs==

==Statement Regarding HostExploit's Accusation Against eNom==

==Statement Regarding HostExploit's Accusation Against eNom==

In 2010,  HostExploit, an anti-malware research group accused [[eNom]], an ICANN accredited registrar, for hosting an unusually large number of malicious websites and called it the preferred registrar for pharmaceutical spammers. The group also accused the company's domain name resellers of violating ICANN rules by allowing registrants to provide inaccurate information in the [[Whois]] data base. In response to the issue, Kurt informed the research group that ICANN will investigate the issue.<ref>[http://www.itpro.co.uk/626284/enom-accused-of-being-number-one-for-malware-sites eNom accused of being number one for malware sites]</ref> <ref>[http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9181278/ICANN_asks_Demand_Media_for_answers_after_report ICANN asks Demand Media for answers after report]</ref>

In 2010,  HostExploit, an anti-malware research group accused [[eNom]], an ICANN accredited registrar, of hosting an unusually large number of malicious websites and called it the preferred registrar for pharmaceutical spammers. The group also accused the company's domain name resellers of violating ICANN rules by allowing registrants to provide inaccurate information in the [[Whois]] database. In response to the issue, Kurt informed the research group that ICANN will investigate the issue.<ref>[http://www.itpro.co.uk/626284/enom-accused-of-being-number-one-for-malware-sites eNom accused of being number one for malware sites]</ref> <ref>[http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9181278/ICANN_asks_Demand_Media_for_answers_after_report ICANN asks Demand Media for answers after report]</ref>

==RegisterFly Issue==

==RegisterFly Issue==

[[RegisterFly]] was a problematic registrar whose accreditation was terminated by ICANN in 2009. The company started its business as a reseller for [[eNom]]. In 2004, RegisterFly purchased Top Class Names, Inc., an ICANN accredited registrar. After the acquisition, the new owners of the company assumed the accreditation and role as a registrar and its name was change to RegisterFly. In 2005, ICANN started receiving complaints of poor service from consumers. The number and substance of complaints escalated from being unresponsive and 30 minutes call hold time to overcharging of credit cards, and domain names being deleted and stolen from registrants. In 2007, Kurt issued a Notice of Breach to the company for violating several provisions of the [[Registrar Accreditation Agreement]] (RAA). He instructed RegisterFly to correct all its violations and resolve all customer complaints. He also warned the company that ICANN will terminate its accreditation agreement if it does not with the RAA.<ref>

[[RegisterFly]] was a problematic registrar whose accreditation was terminated by ICANN in 2009. The company started its business as a reseller for [[eNom]]. In 2004, RegisterFly purchased Top Class Names, Inc., an ICANN accredited registrar. After the acquisition, the new owners of the company assumed the accreditation and role as a registrar and its name was changed to RegisterFly. In 2005, ICANN started receiving complaints of poor service from consumers. The number and substance of complaints escalated from being unresponsive and 30 minutes call hold time to overcharge credit cards, and domain names being deleted and stolen from registrants. In 2007, Kurt issued a Notice of Breach to the company for violating several provisions of the [[Registrar Accreditation Agreement]] (RAA). He instructed RegisterFly to correct all its violations and resolve all customer complaints. He also warned the company that ICANN will terminate its accreditation agreement if it does not with the RAA.<ref>

[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:P_P1ExgIsjIJ:www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/registerfly-notice-of-breach-21feb07-en.pdf+Top+Class+Names+Inc.+RAA&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgH57nVpMQiHXyZDoYjY7ReVFCednDh4z_9zSiMDnrZI2rF4UgZunZHxbA_t2PfjVFpHWmkmDpc40a4ZLKVMn2nJFj_7hZDfTW-NEqJhVro2lRnNCNn5mwIDJ6TOMC9BI6JgP0Z&sig=AHIEtbQRJEunaR5EDFvFw3JFjiIAbOiO4Q Notice of Breach of ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement]</ref> He also sent a Notice of Audit to the company that ICANN will require a complete copy of all registration data for inspection. Due to the company's non-compliance, Kurt requested his counsel to send a second Notice of Breach and eventually ICANN filed a lawsuit against the company. On March 28, 2007, Kurt submiited a detailed declaration to the court about RegisterFly's violations of the RAA, which affected thousand of customers.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/litigation/icann-v-registerfly/decla-pritz-iso-29mar07-en  Declaration of Kurt Pritz in Support of ICANN’s Application for TRO, 29 March 2007]</ref> ICANN terminated the company accreditation immediately after a court order.

[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:P_P1ExgIsjIJ:www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/registerfly-notice-of-breach-21feb07-en.pdf+Top+Class+Names+Inc.+RAA&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgH57nVpMQiHXyZDoYjY7ReVFCednDh4z_9zSiMDnrZI2rF4UgZunZHxbA_t2PfjVFpHWmkmDpc40a4ZLKVMn2nJFj_7hZDfTW-NEqJhVro2lRnNCNn5mwIDJ6TOMC9BI6JgP0Z&sig=AHIEtbQRJEunaR5EDFvFw3JFjiIAbOiO4Q Notice of Breach of ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement]</ref> He also sent a Notice of Audit to the company that ICANN will require a complete copy of all registration data for inspection. Due to the company's non-compliance, Kurt requested his counsel to send a second Notice of Breach and eventually ICANN filed a lawsuit against the company. On March 28, 2007, Kurt submitted a detailed declaration to the court about RegisterFly's violations of the RAA, which affected thousands of customers.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/litigation/icann-v-registerfly/decla-pritz-iso-29mar07-en  Declaration of Kurt Pritz in Support of ICANN’s Application for TRO, 29 March 2007]</ref> ICANN terminated the company accreditation immediately after a court order.

<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27apr07-en.htm Court Decision Allows Imminent Termination of RegisterFly | ICANN granted the right to act on transfers as soon as possible; plan in action]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27apr07-en.htm Court Decision Allows Imminent Termination of RegisterFly | ICANN granted the right to act on transfers as soon as possible; plan in action]</ref>

==Interview at [[ICANN 48]]==

==Interview at [[ICANN 48]]==

 

==Videos Related to New gTLDs==

==Videos Related to New gTLDs==

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== References ==

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:USA]]

[[Category:USA]]

[[Category:ICANN Staff]]

[[Category:Former ICANN Staff]]