Changes

===Conflicts of Interest===

===Conflicts of Interest===

Dr. Tonkin has excused himself from multiple votes on ICANN's [[New gTLD Program|new gTLd program]] as per a conflicts of interest policy passed in 2011 and his employment with a company involved in new gTLD consultancy.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/seven-icann-directors-have-new-gtld-conflicts/ Seven ICANN Directors Have New gTLD Conflicts, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

Dr. Tonkin has excused himself from multiple votes on ICANN's [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]] as per a conflicts of interest policy passed in 2011 and his employment with a company involved in new gTLD consultancy.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/seven-icann-directors-have-new-gtld-conflicts/ Seven ICANN Directors Have New gTLD Conflicts, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

On September 19, 2012, ICANN President and CEO Fadi Chehadé sent a letter addressing criticisms from Senate and Congress regarding ICANN's approach to new gTLDs. Chehadé noted many ways in which ICANN's policies on trademark politics and the 60-day time window for protections offered through [[Trademark Clearinghouse]] were unlikely to change.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10538-new-icann-chief-pours-cold-water-on-new-gtld-trademark-protection-demands New ICANN chief pours cold water on new gTLD trademark protection demands]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 September 20.</ref> However, according to Tonkin, if groups pushing for stronger new gTLD trademark protection mechanisms could identify five areas of consensus, at least two could be made before new gTLDs go live in 2013. One area of agremeement cited by Domain Incite includes the extension of the mandated sixty days. Tonkin also says that a faster and cheaper [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] system could be implemented.<ref name="tonkin">[http://domainincite.com/10563-tonkin-says-better-new-gtld-trademark-protections-could-come-in-the-first-round http://domainincite.com/10563-tonkin-says-better-new-gtld-trademark-protections-could-come-in-the-first-round]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 September 24.</ref>

On September 19, 2012, ICANN President and CEO Fadi Chehadé sent a letter addressing criticisms from Senate and Congress regarding ICANN's approach to new gTLDs. Chehadé noted many ways in which ICANN's policies on trademark politics and the 60-day time window for protections offered through [[Trademark Clearinghouse]] were unlikely to change.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10538-new-icann-chief-pours-cold-water-on-new-gtld-trademark-protection-demands New ICANN chief pours cold water on new gTLD trademark protection demands]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 September 20.</ref> However, according to Tonkin, if groups pushing for stronger new gTLD trademark protection mechanisms could identify five areas of consensus, at least two could be made before new gTLDs go live in 2013. One area of agremeement cited by Domain Incite includes the extension of the mandated sixty days. Tonkin also says that a faster and cheaper [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] system could be implemented.<ref name="tonkin">[http://domainincite.com/10563-tonkin-says-better-new-gtld-trademark-protections-could-come-in-the-first-round http://domainincite.com/10563-tonkin-says-better-new-gtld-trademark-protections-could-come-in-the-first-round]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 September 24.</ref>