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===Criticism===
===Criticism===
The independence of the ICANN Ombudsman has been questioned given the fact that is hired and fired by the [[ICANN Board]] and reports to the [[ICANN Chairman]]. There There were also complaints that Mr. Fowlie had an indefinite tenure and was not expected to re-apply or held to any form of term limits.<ref>[http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/3/9/4475973.html Archives, Blog.InternetGovernance.org]</ref>
The independence of the ICANN Ombudsman has been questioned given the fact that is hired and fired by the [[ICANN Board]] and reports to the [[ICANN Chairman]]. There There were also complaints that Mr. Fowlie had an indefinite tenure and was not expected to re-apply or held to any form of term limits.<ref>[http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/3/9/4475973.html Archives, Blog.InternetGovernance.org]</ref>
==Complaints Investigated==
There was a general disapproval of closed door meetings convened in November, 2012, by new ICANN CEO, [[Fadi Chehadé]], at the bequest of ICANN's [[IPC|Intellectual Property Constituency]] and [[Business Constituency]], and Ms. [[Maria Farrell]] of ICANN's [[NCUC|Non-Commercial User Constituency]] was the first to submit an official complaint to the [[ICANN Ombudsman]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11294-ombudsman-probing-secretive-trademark-clearinghouse-meetings Ombudsman Probing Secretive Trademark Clearinghouse Meetings, DomainIncite]Published December 12 2012, Retrieved 25 Jan 2013</ref> In a public post she went on the explain, "The complaint is not simply about lack of consultation of constituencies, but about secrecy of the process re. notice, transcripts and documentation, and how it undermines the existing processes whilst privileging a particular interest group." The complaint was brought up by the Ombudsman who asked for further input. However, ICANN CEO [[Fadi Chehadé]] admitted some 2 months later that convening the meetings and producing the [[Trademark Clearinghouse#Strawman Solution|Strawman Solution to the Trademark Clearinghouse]] was the biggest mistake of his first months as CEO.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11732-industry-man-chehade-admits-strawman-mistake Industry Man Chehade Admits Strawman Mistake, DomainIncite.com]Published and Retrieved 25 Jan 2013</ref>


==Previous Ombudsmen==
==Previous Ombudsmen==

Revision as of 20:02, 25 January 2013

Ombudsman is a term given to someone who is in charge of neutrally handling and replying to all the complaints about a particular organization.

The current ombudsman is Chris LaHatte; he assumed this position in July, 2011.[1] He can be contacted at ombudsman[at]icann.org.[2]

ICANN Ombudsman

Responsibilities of the ICANN ombudsman include dispute resolution, filing complaints and taking actions in response to ICANN staff, board or supporting organization decisions.[3] ICANN is required to have a fair and impartial ombudsman.[4] ICANN first filled the position of ombudsman in late 2004.[5][6] The Ombudsman can only be removed by a three-fourths vote of the entire board.[7]

Responsibilities

The ICANN ombudsman has the powers to access all documents and files. He can take action if there is any behavior by ICANN board members and staff that is perceived as unfair, inappropriate, or inconsistent with the organization's Articles and ICANN Bylaws. He is required to submit an annual report to the ICANN Board. The ICANN ombudsman must adhere to the standard rules of The Ombudsman Association.[8]

Criticism

The independence of the ICANN Ombudsman has been questioned given the fact that is hired and fired by the ICANN Board and reports to the ICANN Chairman. There There were also complaints that Mr. Fowlie had an indefinite tenure and was not expected to re-apply or held to any form of term limits.[9]

Complaints Investigated

There was a general disapproval of closed door meetings convened in November, 2012, by new ICANN CEO, Fadi Chehadé, at the bequest of ICANN's Intellectual Property Constituency and Business Constituency, and Ms. Maria Farrell of ICANN's Non-Commercial User Constituency was the first to submit an official complaint to the ICANN Ombudsman.[10] In a public post she went on the explain, "The complaint is not simply about lack of consultation of constituencies, but about secrecy of the process re. notice, transcripts and documentation, and how it undermines the existing processes whilst privileging a particular interest group." The complaint was brought up by the Ombudsman who asked for further input. However, ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé admitted some 2 months later that convening the meetings and producing the Strawman Solution to the Trademark Clearinghouse was the biggest mistake of his first months as CEO.[11]

Previous Ombudsmen

First Ombudsman

Frank Fowlie was selected to be the first ombudsman of ICANN in November, 2004. Mr. Fowlie is a native Canafian; he has over 20 years of experience as an ombudsman and conflict resolution officer for different companies in Canada and The USA.[12] After 6 years of service, Frank Fowlie resigned from his post in early 2011, he said that he was tired of the traveling requirements.[13]

Herb Waye served as the Interim Ombudsman following Mr. Fowlie's resignation.[14]

Second Ombudsman

On July 28th, 2011, ICANN appointed Chris LaHatte as its new ombudsman. Chris is a senior mediator and lawyer. He obtained his graduate degree in law from University of Auckland. He also studied dispute resolution from Massey University. He lives in New Zealand where he practices law. He is a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand and a mediator for the New Zealand Law Society. He is also a construction law adjudicator.[15]

When assuming the position of Ombudsman, Mr. LaHatte said that he hoped to help work on effective cross-cultural communication within ICANN, and was also noted that he was preparing for disputes related to the new gTLD program.[16]

Chris LaHatte was dealing with twice as many complaints as his predecessor as of January 2012, though many of these are issues that he must refer elsewhere as they fall outside his own jurisdiction.[17]

In December 2012, he called for community feedback related to investigations into closed-door discussions about Trademark Clearinghouse.[18]

External Links

References

  1. ↑ LinkedIn.com, Chris LaHatte
  2. ↑ Bio LaHatte, ICANN.org
  3. ↑ ICANN Ombudsman
  4. ↑ ICANN Ombudsman
  5. ↑ Corante CopyFight
  6. ↑ ICANNWatch
  7. ↑ InternetGovernance Blog
  8. ↑ ICANN Ombudsman
  9. ↑ Archives, Blog.InternetGovernance.org
  10. ↑ Ombudsman Probing Secretive Trademark Clearinghouse Meetings, DomainIncitePublished December 12 2012, Retrieved 25 Jan 2013
  11. ↑ Industry Man Chehade Admits Strawman Mistake, DomainIncite.comPublished and Retrieved 25 Jan 2013
  12. ↑ ICANN Announcements
  13. ↑ ICANN
  14. ↑ ICANN 40 Interview
  15. ↑ DomainNews
  16. ↑ New ICANN Ombudsman Promises Voice for Developing Countries, DomainNews.com
  17. ↑ Ombudsman Dealing With new gTLDs Complaint, DomainIncite.com
  18. ↑ http://domainincite.com/11294-ombudsman-probing-secretive-trademark-clearinghouse-meetings, DomainIncite.com. Published 12 December 2012.
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