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Final ruling update
==Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on .Africa IRP:==
==Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on .Africa IRP:==
The IRP panel on 14 August 2014, issued a Thirty Three (33) Pages ruling<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DECLARATION-ON-THE-IRP-PROCEDURE-DCA-Trust-vs-ICANN-14-AUGUST-2014.pdf IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure]</ref> to accept DotConnectAfrica’s position on the procedural framework of the IRP proceedings. The Panel has ruled terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case are binding on ICANN. (ICANN wanted this to be “advisory” and not “binding”. DCA is represented by an international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP based in New York while ICANN is represented by a Los Angeles-based Law Firm Jones Day LLC, which has been working with ICANN nearly since its inception.<ref name="DCAPfCIO">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/panel-accepts-dca%E2%80%99s-position-on-procedural-framework-on-dotafrica-irp Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201409110194.html Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPftDm">[http://www.thedomains.com/2014/08/16/irp-panels-declaration-of-the-irp-procedure-in-the-case-of-dotconnect-africa-trust-vs-icann/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnect Africa Trust vs ICANN]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfdma">[http://domainingafrica.com/panel-interprets-declarations-as-binding-on-the-africa-irp-lectures-icann-on-core-accountability-implications/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications]</ref><ref name="DCAPfngt">[http://www.newsgtlds.com/2014/08/dotconnectafrica-update-irp-panel-rules.html DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework]</ref>
The IRP panel on 14 August 2014, issued a Thirty Three (33) Pages ruling<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DECLARATION-ON-THE-IRP-PROCEDURE-DCA-Trust-vs-ICANN-14-AUGUST-2014.pdf IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure]</ref> to accept DotConnectAfrica’s position on the procedural framework of the IRP proceedings. The Panel has ruled terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case are binding on ICANN. (ICANN wanted this to be “advisory” and not “binding”. DCA is represented by an international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP based in New York while ICANN is represented by a Los Angeles-based Law Firm Jones Day LLC, which has been working with ICANN nearly since its inception.<ref name="DCAPfCIO">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/panel-accepts-dca%E2%80%99s-position-on-procedural-framework-on-dotafrica-irp Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201409110194.html Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPftDm">[http://www.thedomains.com/2014/08/16/irp-panels-declaration-of-the-irp-procedure-in-the-case-of-dotconnect-africa-trust-vs-icann/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnectAfrica Trust vs ICANN]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfdma">[http://domainingafrica.com/panel-interprets-declarations-as-binding-on-the-africa-irp-lectures-icann-on-core-accountability-implications/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications]</ref><ref name="DCAPfngt">[http://www.newsgtlds.com/2014/08/dotconnectafrica-update-irp-panel-rules.html DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework]</ref>
The IRP Panel on March 24 2015 declined several other key requests by ICANN to roll back its August 2014 declarations under the newly constituted panel.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/icann-to-irp-26feb15-en.pdf Letter from ICANN to IRP Panel]</ref> <ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/irp-procedure-declaration-14aug14-en.pdf Panel Declaration on the IRP Procedure]</ref>
In the case of hearing witnesses<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/irp-procedure-declaration-20apr15-en.pdf Panel Third Panel Declaration of IRP Procedure]</ref>, the IRP Panel made a declaration to require all the witnesses to testify in final hearing <ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/dca-wins-again-dotafrica-irp-panel-declares-no-revisiting-the-2014-ruling-says-booking-com-final-declaration-is-of-no-consequence/ DCA Wins Again – .Africa IRP Panel declares No revisiting the 2014 ruling: Says Booking.com final declaration is of no consequence]</ref> <ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/04/28/internet_bylaws_dot_africa/ ICANN wants total control of DNS while breaking its own bylaws to block .africa probe]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/icann-must-produce-witnesses-insists-dca-vs-icann-africa-irp-tribunal/ ICANN Must Produce Witnesses, insists DCA vs ICANN .africa Tribunal]</ref> <ref>[http://www.domainmondo.com/2015/04/irp-panel-in-dca-trust-case-overrules.html IRP Panel in DCA Trust Case Overrules ICANN Bylaws Provision]</ref> <ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/dotafrica-irp-panel-decision-rules-unfairness-icann-bylaws-prevents-panel-questioning-icann-witnesses/ .Africa IRP Panel decision over-rules unfairness in #ICANN bylaws that prevents panel from questioning ICANN Witnesses]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsgtlds.com/2015/04/new-africa-gtld-icanns-witness-will-not.html New .AFRICA gTLD: ICANN’s witness will not testify!]</ref>
==DCA Trust Prevails in IRP Panel’s Final Declaration:==
On July 9 2015 The distinguished IRP panel made its final ruling which declared DotConnectAfrica as the prevailing party of the DCA Trust Vs ICANN IRP.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/final-declaration-09jul15-en.pdf IRP Panel’s Final Declaration]</ref>
The panel made the following concluding declarations
148 Based on the foregoing, after having carefully reviewed the Parties’ written submissions, listened to the testimony of the three witness, listened to the oral submissions of the Parties in various telephone conference calls and at the in-person hearing of this IRP in Washington, D.C. on 22 and 23 May 2015, and finally after much deliberation, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 11 (c) of ICANN’s Bylaws, the Panel declares that both the actions and inactions of the Board with respect to the application of DCA Trust relating to the .AFRICA gTLD were inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ICANN.
149 Furthermore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 11 (d) of ICANN’s Bylaws, the Panel recommends that ICANN continue to refrain from delegating the .AFRICA gTLD and permit DCA Trust’s application to proceed through the remainder of the new gTLD application process.
150 The Panel declares DCA Trust to be the prevailing party in this IRP and further declares that ICANN is to bear, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, Article 11 of Supplementary Procedures and Article 31 of the ICDR Rules, the totality of the costs of this IRP and the totality of the costs of the IRP Provider. <ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/15/icann_dot_africa_review/ Unredacted: ICANN's hidden role in fierce battle over .Africa rights]</ref><ref>[http://www.domainmondo.com/2015/07/dca-trust-irp-decision-icann-failed.html DCA Trust IRP Decision: ICANN Failed the Global Internet Community]</ref><ref>[http://ethioinfodesk.com/ethiopian-born-entrepreneur-sophia-bekele-wins-africa-domain-name-accountability-suit-against-icann/]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ipjustice.org/digital-rights/icann-loses-independent-review-panel-decision-for-unfairly-treating-tld-applicants-improper-deference-to-governments/ ICANN Loses Independent Review Panel Decision For Unfairly Treating TLD Applicant & Improper Deference to Governments]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/icann-loses-dotafrica-case-irp-panel-rules-favor-dca/ ICANN loses .Africa case: IRP panel rules in favor of DCA]</ref><ref>[http://cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/dca-trust-wins-.africa-irp,-icann-to-pay-over-kshs-60-million-in-costs DCA Trust wins .africa IRP, ICANN to pay over Kshs 60 million in costs]</ref><ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-trust-victorious-on-its-challenge-of-icann-board-over-dotafrica/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica Trust victorious on its challenge of ICANN Board over .africa]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201507141174.html East Africa: DCA Trust Wins .Africa IRP, ICANN to Pay Over Kshs 60 Million in Costs]</ref><ref>[http://www.bna.com/review-panel-chides-n17179933491/ Review Panel Chides ICANN Board, Government Reps]</ref>
==Media Coverages of the IRP==
==Media Coverages of the IRP==