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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) met its target date of May 22, 2012, for reopening its TLD Application System (TAS), the on-line platform through which entities must file applications for new Top Level Domains (TLDs). The system will remain open for eight days and will close on May 30, 2012.
ICANN shut down TAS on April 12, 2012, just 12 hours before the close of the application period. The shutdown was prompted when ICANN discovered a "technical glitch" had allowed some users to view other applicants' information. After a month of investigation, ICANN recently said it had identified about 455 instances in which applicants may have been able to view file names and associated user names of other applicants. ICANN claims it has no evidence that users were able to see any file content or other information, or that any data was lost or corrupted. According to ICANN, at the time it took TAS offline, the system contained 1,275 registered users and held 2,091 applications. Applicants for an additional 214 potential applications were registered, but ICANN had not yet received or reconciled payment.
In a statement announcing the reopening, ICANN advised registrants that it intends to keep the system open until 11:59 pm GMT May 30, 2012. During this time, registered users who had not previously submitted their applications may review, complete and submit their applications, as well as submit wire transfers to pay the application fee. All applicants may review their applications - including previously submitted applications - and all attachments. Since the period to register as a TAS user closed on March 29, no new applicants or registrations are being accepted.
While ICANN has not stated that applicants may amend previously submitted applications and it has stated that it does not believe data was lost or corrupted, it is advising applicants to "double-check" their applications and submit any questions through the ICANN customer service portal. In its most recent statement on the topic, ICANN also stated that users will be able to use TAS to see how the "public" portion of their applications (questions 1 through 30a) will be displayed when ICANN posts the information after the May 30 deadline. ICANN has also posted Top Things Users Should Know When TAS Reopens.
As to the effects of the technical "glitch," ICANN says it notified all registered TAS users as to whether they may have been affected, sending an email asking users to log into the notification system and view a message directed to their situation. Affected recipients fell into three categories:
As part of an effort to mollify users (and likely the broader internet community), ICANN has also confirmed it will refund the full $185,000 application fee to any applicant that wishes to withdraw its application before ICANN's publication of the list of applied-for TLDs. ICANN has also acknowledged, however, that this represents only $5,000 more than withdrawing applicants otherwise would have received prior to the TAS interruption.
In addition, the TAS interruption will delay some, if not all milestones in the evaluation, dispute resolution, string contention and delegation processes. For example, ICANN has not yet committed to a date to post the list of applicants and applied-for domain names (the "big reveal"), originally scheduled for April 30. Despite its repeated statements that it has no evidence that any data was lost or corrupted, ICANN is clearly being cautious in advising applicants to review their applications now that TAS has reopened. ICANN likely has not begun the administrative review process, even for submitted applications unaffected by the glitch. Thus, while ICANN has not announced any specific changes to the broad schedule outlined in the January 12, 2012, edition of the Applicant Guide, applicants can expect at least a 30 - 45 day delay in the process. Additional changes and delays may also result from ICANN's announced batching of the applications.
The parameters and implications of ICANN's batching will be covered in an upcoming alert.
This client alert is a publication of Loeb & Loeb LLP and is intended to provide information on recent legal developments. This client alert does not create or continue an attorney client relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice or an opinion on specific situations.
Circular 230 Disclosure: To assure compliance with Treasury Department rules governing tax practice, we inform you that any advice (including in any attachment) (1) was not written and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty that may be imposed on the taxpayer, and (2) may not be used in connection with promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed herein.
ICANN shut down TAS on April 12, 2012, just 12 hours before the close of the application period. The shutdown was prompted when ICANN discovered a "technical glitch" had allowed some users to view other applicants' information. After a month of investigation, ICANN recently said it had identified about 455 instances in which applicants may have been able to view file names and associated user names of other applicants. ICANN claims it has no evidence that users were able to see any file content or other information, or that any data was lost or corrupted. According to ICANN, at the time it took TAS offline, the system contained 1,275 registered users and held 2,091 applications. Applicants for an additional 214 potential applications were registered, but ICANN had not yet received or reconciled payment.
In a statement announcing the reopening, ICANN advised registrants that it intends to keep the system open until 11:59 pm GMT May 30, 2012. During this time, registered users who had not previously submitted their applications may review, complete and submit their applications, as well as submit wire transfers to pay the application fee. All applicants may review their applications - including previously submitted applications - and all attachments. Since the period to register as a TAS user closed on March 29, no new applicants or registrations are being accepted.
While ICANN has not stated that applicants may amend previously submitted applications and it has stated that it does not believe data was lost or corrupted, it is advising applicants to "double-check" their applications and submit any questions through the ICANN customer service portal. In its most recent statement on the topic, ICANN also stated that users will be able to use TAS to see how the "public" portion of their applications (questions 1 through 30a) will be displayed when ICANN posts the information after the May 30 deadline. ICANN has also posted Top Things Users Should Know When TAS Reopens.
As to the effects of the technical "glitch," ICANN says it notified all registered TAS users as to whether they may have been affected, sending an email asking users to log into the notification system and view a message directed to their situation. Affected recipients fell into three categories:
- 72 users were advised that one or more of their file names and/or user names may have been viewed but that "after an extensive review, [ICANN had] no evidence that any unauthorized users were able to download or view the contents of these attachments."
- 30 users were advised that they may have been able to see other users' file names and user names. The notification also stated, however, that ICANN has "no evidence that any user intentionally did anything wrong in order to be able to see other users' information," and that "to the best of [ICANN's] knowledge no users were able to download or view the contents of other users' attachments." The notification also advised that, to the extent that users were able to see other users' information, they should treat the information as confidential and not act on it.
- 10 users were advised that they fell into both of the above categories and provided both sets of information.
As part of an effort to mollify users (and likely the broader internet community), ICANN has also confirmed it will refund the full $185,000 application fee to any applicant that wishes to withdraw its application before ICANN's publication of the list of applied-for TLDs. ICANN has also acknowledged, however, that this represents only $5,000 more than withdrawing applicants otherwise would have received prior to the TAS interruption.
In addition, the TAS interruption will delay some, if not all milestones in the evaluation, dispute resolution, string contention and delegation processes. For example, ICANN has not yet committed to a date to post the list of applicants and applied-for domain names (the "big reveal"), originally scheduled for April 30. Despite its repeated statements that it has no evidence that any data was lost or corrupted, ICANN is clearly being cautious in advising applicants to review their applications now that TAS has reopened. ICANN likely has not begun the administrative review process, even for submitted applications unaffected by the glitch. Thus, while ICANN has not announced any specific changes to the broad schedule outlined in the January 12, 2012, edition of the Applicant Guide, applicants can expect at least a 30 - 45 day delay in the process. Additional changes and delays may also result from ICANN's announced batching of the applications.
The parameters and implications of ICANN's batching will be covered in an upcoming alert.
This client alert is a publication of Loeb & Loeb LLP and is intended to provide information on recent legal developments. This client alert does not create or continue an attorney client relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice or an opinion on specific situations.
Circular 230 Disclosure: To assure compliance with Treasury Department rules governing tax practice, we inform you that any advice (including in any attachment) (1) was not written and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty that may be imposed on the taxpayer, and (2) may not be used in connection with promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed herein.