Proposed NCUC position on registry-registrar joint marketing on new TLDs

[Milton L Mueller]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jorge Amodio [mailto:jmamodio at gmail.com]
> Again as I read the document I understand that we support the
> functional separation but also we don't see problems for new 
> registries to conduct retail biz as registrars, isn't that a
> contradiction ?

No, it isn't. The registrar function would continue to be a separate contract with ICANN, and a technically separate function, subject to a distinct set of policies. The registry would continue to be required to offer equal access to ALL registrars, including ones that competed with its own. 

> Sounds to me like, we support keeping the fruits and veggies separate but
> we also support the celery and apple salad.

Simple metaphors can be both helpful and misleading. If I were to couch the argument in those terms, I would say that ALL registration services are a mixed salad that, by definition, includes both a fruit (registry) and a vegetable (registrar). All we are saying is that the owner of a fruit should also be able to promote a brand of mixed salad that features their own fruit. However, they will still have to allow all other vegetable producers to buy their fruit on equal terms and make their own mixed salads out of it. 

> Is the idea then for a new gTLD operator that wishes to also act as a
> registrar for a given new gTLD to execute two (2) contracts with ICANN?
> One as a
> registry and one as an accredited registrar ?

Yes, and this already happens, quite routinely. And will become more common because many of the new TLD applicants will be registrars.