Changes

<blockquote>[T]he Corporation shall, except as limited by Article 5 hereof, pursue the charitable and public purposes of lessening the burdens of government and promoting the global public interest in the operational stability of the Internet by (i) coordinating the assignment of Internet technical parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity on the Internet; (ii) performing and overseeing functions related to the coordination of the Internet Protocol ("IP") address space; (iii) performing and overseeing functions related to the coordination of the Internet domain name system ("DNS"), including the development of policies for determining the circumstances under which new top-level domains are added to the DNS root system; (iv) overseeing operation of the authoritative Internet DNS root server system; and (v) engaging in any other related lawful activity in furtherance of items (i) through (iv).<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/articles-2012-02-25-en ICANN.org - Articles of Incorporation], effective as of November 1998</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>[T]he Corporation shall, except as limited by Article 5 hereof, pursue the charitable and public purposes of lessening the burdens of government and promoting the global public interest in the operational stability of the Internet by (i) coordinating the assignment of Internet technical parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity on the Internet; (ii) performing and overseeing functions related to the coordination of the Internet Protocol ("IP") address space; (iii) performing and overseeing functions related to the coordination of the Internet domain name system ("DNS"), including the development of policies for determining the circumstances under which new top-level domains are added to the DNS root system; (iv) overseeing operation of the authoritative Internet DNS root server system; and (v) engaging in any other related lawful activity in furtherance of items (i) through (iv).<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/articles-2012-02-25-en ICANN.org - Articles of Incorporation], effective as of November 1998</ref></blockquote>

During the [[2002 Evolution and Reform Process]], the Evo & Reform Committee recommended the establishment of a mission statement and enumerated core values within the [[ICANN Bylaws]]. The bylaws as amended in December 2002 reflected the value of "[s]eeking and supporting broad, informed participation reflecting the functional, geographic, and cultural diversity of the Internet at all levels of policy development and decision-making."<ref name="02bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-2002-12-15-en#I ICANN Bylaws, Article I], as amended December 2002</ref> The call to engage all corners of the globe is one aspect of service to a global public interest. However, the adopted core values name the "public interest" in another context: "Introducing and promoting competition in the registration of domain names where practicable and beneficial in the public interest."<ref name="02bylaws" /> These two values - [[Global Inclusion Initiatives|global inclusion]] and [[First Competition and Consumer Choice Review|competition & consumer choice]] - form a pair of values that could be seen to comprise the "global public interest." The values can be in competition, as one presumes participation by all who wish to engage, and the other defines its constituency as "consumers" - individuals who are entering the commercial sphere of domain ownership, management, or administration. As enshrined in ICANN's Articles of Incorporation, ICANN's technical obligations - to maintain a [[ICANN Initiatives|secure, stable, and resilient DNS]] - is also considered a protection of a global commons.

During the [[2002 Evolution and Reform Process]], the Evo & Reform Committee recommended the establishment of a mission statement and enumerated core values within the [[ICANN Bylaws]]. The bylaws as amended in December 2002 reflected the value of "[s]eeking and supporting broad, informed participation reflecting the functional, geographic, and cultural diversity of the Internet at all levels of policy development and decision-making."<ref name="02bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-2002-12-15-en#I ICANN Bylaws, Article I], as amended December 2002</ref> The call to engage all corners of the globe is one aspect of service to a global public interest. However, the adopted core values name the "public interest" in another context: "Introducing and promoting competition in the registration of domain names where practicable and beneficial in the public interest."<ref name="02bylaws" /> These two values - [[Global Inclusion Initiatives|global inclusion]] and [[First Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review|competition & consumer choice]] - form a pair of values that could be seen to comprise the "global public interest." The values can be in competition, as one presumes participation by all who wish to engage, and the other defines its constituency as "consumers" - individuals who are entering the commercial sphere of domain ownership, management, or administration. As enshrined in ICANN's Articles of Incorporation, ICANN's technical obligations - to maintain a [[ICANN Initiatives|secure, stable, and resilient DNS]] - is also considered a protection of a global commons.

The 2009 [[Affirmation of Commitments]] further cemented these values. Section 9 lists the three commitments described above:

The 2009 [[Affirmation of Commitments]] further cemented these values. Section 9 lists the three commitments described above: