Changes

[[Debbie Garside]], Board Member

[[Debbie Garside]], Board Member

}}

}}

'''Multilingual Internet Names Consortium''' or [[MINC]] is pioneer organization for multilingual domain names. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organization working actively in internationalization of multilingual domain names since its conception. Being an international organization, it has its members from all of the world including people from academics, software companies, ISPs, [[TLD]] administrators, research institutions and governments.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/Default.aspx?&lang=en MINC]</ref>  

The '''Multilingual Internet Names Consortium''' or [[MINC]] is an advocate organization for the multilingual Internet and multilingual domain names. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organization working actively in the internationalization of the Internet and domain names since its conception. Being an international organization, it has members and from different professional sectors, including people from academics, software companies, ISPs, [[TLD]] administrators, research institutions and governments.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/Default.aspx?&lang=en MINC]</ref>  

[[MINC]] is a part of The [[Multilingual Internet Group]], which includes [[WebSynergys Inc.]], [[Ankabooot]], [[LIve Multilingual Translator]] and [[ArabicSSL]].<ref>[http://mligrp.com/5.html mligrp]</ref>

[[MINC]] is a part of The [[Multilingual Internet Group]], which includes [[WebSynergys Inc.]], [[Ankabooot]], [[LIve Multilingual Translator]] and [[ArabicSSL]].<ref>[http://mligrp.com/5.html mligrp]</ref>

==Development==

==Development==

[[MINC]] began around mid 2000. The idea of the consortium was turned into reality by combined efforts of the [[Asia Pacific Networking Group]] (APNG), the National University of Singapore, [[i-DNS.net]], the [[International Development Research Centre]] (IDRC) of Canada, and members of the Asia Pacific Internet academic, government and business communities.<ref>[http://www.i-dns.net/support_download/faq/faq.html i-dns]</ref>

[[MINC]] began around mid 2000. The idea of the consortium was turned into reality by the combined efforts of the [[Asia Pacific Networking Group]] (APNG), the National University of Singapore, [[i-DNS.net]], the [[International Development Research Centre]] (IDRC) of Canada, and members of the Asia Pacific Internet academic, government and business communities.<ref>[http://www.i-dns.net/support_download/faq/faq.html i-dns]</ref>

The Arabic charter of the consortium was established by [[Asaad Alnajjar]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/voex1 Asaad's LinkedIn]</ref>

The Arabic charter of the consortium was established by [[Asaad Alnajjar]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/voex1 Asaad's LinkedIn]</ref>

==Mission Statement==

==Mission Statement==

[[MINC]] aims for equalization of internet by providing ground to multilingual domain names, internet protocols, technical coordination with other international organizations.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/site_content.aspx?page_key=position_paper_for_multilingual_internet_names&lang=en MINC]</ref> MINC looks forward to a day when everyone around the globe will be able to communicate over the internet in their very own language. It is in close coordination with language centers of different countries like [[JDNA]] (Japanese), [[CDNA]] (Chinese), [[INFITT]] (Tamil), [[Euro-LINC]] (European Languages), [[CYINC]] (Cyrillic), [[GLWG]] (Georgian), [[RLWG]] (Russian ) as well as The Arabic language and scripts [[WG]] (Arabic) and [[ULWG]] (Urdu).<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=392&&lang=en MINC news]</ref>

[[MINC]] aims to democratize the global Internet by providing ground for multilingual domain names, Internet protocols, and technical coordination with other international organizations.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/site_content.aspx?page_key=position_paper_for_multilingual_internet_names&lang=en MINC]</ref> MINC hopes that someday everyone around the globe will be able to communicate over the Internet in their very own language. It is in close coordination with the language centers of different countries, such as [[JDNA]] (Japanese), [[CDNA]] (Chinese), [[INFITT]] (Tamil), [[Euro-LINC]] (European Languages), [[CYINC]] (Cyrillic), [[GLWG]] (Georgian), [[RLWG]] (Russian ) as well as The [[ASIWG|Arabic Language and Scripts]], and [[ULWG]] (Urdu).<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=392&&lang=en MINC news]</ref>

==MINC and ICANN==

==MINC and ICANN==

[[Khalid Fattal]], Chairman and CEO of the Consortium is an active member of [[ICANN]] and participates in its meetings. For the achievement of internationalizing the internet MINC works closely with [[ICANN]], [[IGF]], [[IANA]], [[IETF]] and other organizations. Since 2000, [[ICANN]] has been working with [[MINC]] to solve the problems arising in establishment of multilingual internet.<ref>[http://articles.cnn.com/keyword/icann/featured/2 CNN Articles]</ref> In 2010 [[ICANN]] approved [[.emarat]] [[TLD]] considering the aurguments given by Fattal.<ref>[http://blog.freedmaninternational.com/new-arab-domain-name-heralds-growth-in-sites-catering-to-middle-east/3496/ freedmaninternational blog]</ref>

[[Khaled Fattal]], Chairman and CEO of the Consortium, is an active member of [[ICANN]] and participates in its meetings; as of the 2010 [[ICANN 39]] meeting, he was a member of the [[ICANN]] 30-plus Meetings Group.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=430&lang=en News, MINC.org]</ref> He was a member of the [[IDN Working Group]] that helped create the reality of IDNs,<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/24/icann_idn_committee/ ICANN IDN Committee, TheRegister.co.uk]</ref> and a member of the President's Advisory Group on IDNs.<ref>[http://www.docstoc.com/docs/7145071/Khaled-Fattal-Chairman--CEO-MINC Khaled Fattal Chairman CEO MINC, docstoc.com]</ref> In its goal of internationalizing the Internet, MINC works closely with [[ICANN]], [[IGF]], [[IANA]], [[IETF]] and other organizations. Since 2000, ICANN has been working with [[MINC]] to solve the problems arising from the establishment of the multilingual Internet.<ref>[http://articles.cnn.com/keyword/icann/featured/2 CNN Articles]</ref>

 

In 2008, ICANN accepted Mr. Fattal's suggestion to appoint an independent entity for a review of the [[ICANN Board]]. ICANN issued a [[RFP|request for proposal]] (RFP) for interested parties in April, 2008. The responsibilities of this entity would be to comment on the performance of ICANN's Board of Directors and also to point out any improvements needed.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=396&lang=en MINC]</ref>

 

In October, 2009, Mr. Khaled Fattal wrote a letter to the chairmen of ICANN, [[GAC]] and [[ICANN Board]] of Directors proposing a new ICANN names [[SO|supporting organization]] for the management of [[IDN]]s. This body would be the [[IDNSO|Internationalized Domain Names Supporting Organization]] (IDNSO). Fattal said that, as is, ICANN was not fully addressing the implementation of IDNs, and hence there is a need to make a new organization that will handle solely IDN related issues.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=418&lang=en MINC]</ref> The full text of Mr. Fattal's letter can be viewed [http://minc.org/news.aspx?id=417&lang=en here].

 

In 2010, ICANN approved the [[.emarat]] [[TLD]], considering arguments given by Fattal.<ref>[http://blog.freedmaninternational.com/new-arab-domain-name-heralds-growth-in-sites-catering-to-middle-east/3496/ freedmaninternational blog]</ref>

Fattal is does not support [[ICANN]]'s policy of checking every [[gTLD]] application according to the laws of U.S Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This policy is published in 7th the final gTLD Applicant Guidebook discussed in [[ICANN41]] meeting held in Singapore in June 2011. Fattal is of the view that [[ICANN]] has took a serious risk in publishing this rule. Other countries may object [[ICANN]]'s partial behavior and may start thinking to create their own internet root which will be the end of a single globalized internet.<ref>[http://www.pressking.com/press-releases/US-Laws-Remain-Set-To-Govern-The-Coming-Multilingual-Internet-thru-ICANN-s-New-gTLDs--003708 pressking]</ref>

Prior to publishing the new [[gTLD]] Application Guidebook, ICANN formulated a Draft DAG4 in 2010. Commenting on the draft, Mr. Fattal said that he did not support the rule in which ICANN stated that every applicant would be screened for his involvement in terrorism. He requested that ICANN either clarify its use of the word 'terrorism' or omit it from the guidebook, as he believed that there were serious risks and implications involved in publishing this rule. Arabs and Muslims could interpret this as a racist act by ICANN, and it would thus be a violation of ICANN's mandate of being an international organization.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=425&lang=en MINC]</ref> ICANN seriously noted this point and changed the policy rule, which now states that every [[gTLD]] application will be screened according to the laws of U.S Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and SDN list. This policy is published in 7th and final [[gTLD Applicant Guidebook]], approved at the [[ICANN 41]] meeting held in Singapore in June, 2011.<ref>[http://www.minc.org/news.aspx?id=430&lang=en MINC]</ref> Mr. Fattal is still of the view that this further reinforces any US control over ICANN, and thus he has worried that other countries might start thinking about creating their own [[Root Zone|internet root]], which would be the end of a single, global Internet.<ref>[http://www.pressking.com/press-releases/US-Laws-Remain-Set-To-Govern-The-Coming-Multilingual-Internet-thru-ICANN-s-New-gTLDs--003708 pressking]</ref>

==References==

==References==