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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=FR link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22dec12-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22dec12-en.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.CAT Cross-Ownership Removal Request<o:p></o:p></span></h1><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Comment/Reply Periods <sup>(*)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=3 rowspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Important Information Links<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Comment Open:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>22 December 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Comment Close:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>21 January 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Close Time (UTC):</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>23:59 UTC<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22dec12-en.htm">Public Comment Announcement</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Reply Open:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>22 January 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:comments-cat-xo-removal@icann.org"><span lang=EN-US>To Submit Your Comments (Forum)</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Reply Close:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>11 February 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-cat-xo-removal/">View Comments Submitted</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Close Time (UTC):</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>23:59 UTC<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=3 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Report of Public Comments<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Brief Overview<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Originating Organization:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=4 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fundació puntCAT<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Categories/Tags:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=4 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contracted Party Agreements<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Purpose (Brief):</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=4 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fundació puntCAT requests the removal of the cross-ownership restrictions reflected on the 23 September 2005 contract signed between ICANN and Fundació puntCAT. (</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This request is submitted according to the "Process for Handling Requests for Removal of Cross-Ownership Restrictions on Operators of Existing gTLDs" adopeted by the Board on 18 October 2012. See: </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>According to the approved process, in order to lift cross-ownership restrictions, existing gTLD registry operators could either request an amendment to their existing Registry Agreement to remove the cross-ownership restrictions or request to transition to the new form of Registry Agreement for new gTLDs. Any proposed material amendments to gTLD registry agreements would be subject to public comment prior to ICANN approval.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The proposed Fundació puntCAT amendment to can be found </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat/proposed-amendment-22dec12-en.pdf"><span lang=EN-US>here</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> [PDF, 178 KB]. </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The redlined agreement can be downloaded <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat/agreement-redline-22dec12-en.pdf">here</a> [PDF, 66 KB].<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Current Status:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=4 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ICANN conducted a competition review in accordance to the process and has determined that the request does not raise significant competition issues. Furthermore, Fundació puntCAT argues that the removal of the cross ownership restrictions would allow its entity to be on a level playing field with the new gTLD Registry Operators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This is the first cross-ownership removal request submitted under the Board-approved process.<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Next Steps:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=4 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Following the public comment period, a summary and analysis will be posted, the request will be considered by ICANN and the result will be made public.<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Staff Contact:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td colspan=2 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Karla Valente<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Email:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:karla.valente@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20.CAT%20Cross-Ownership%20Removal%20Request%20public%20comment%20period">karla.valente@icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Detailed Information<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose</span></strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ICANN seeks public comment on the Fundació puntCAT's request to amend its 23 September 2005 agreement to remove the current cross-ownership restriction. This would allow Fundació puntCAT to own or control a registrar that sells .cat domains. Per current agreement, .cat domain names are sold only through Fundació puntCAT accredited registrars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ICANN conducted a competition review in accordance to the process and has determined that the request does not raise significant competition issues. Furthermore, Fundació puntCAT argues that the removal of the cross ownership restrictions would allow its entity to be on a level playing field with the new gTLD Registry Operators.<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Section II: Background</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>On 18 October 2012, ICANN Board approved a process, by which existing gTLD registries could request relief from cross-ownership restrictions on registrars to sell domain names in new gTLDs (see </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registries/removal-cross-ownership</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>. This Board action was based on extensive independent analysis and community discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The gTLD registry agreements that are currently in place, including .CAT, have cross-ownership restrictions, which means that the existing gTLD registries are not allow to own or control a registrar that sells domains in their own existing registries. The current .CAT agreement with all appendices is available here: </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat"><span lang=EN-US>http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Section III: Document and Resource Links</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The proposed contract amendment can be found </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat/proposed-amendment-22dec12-en.pdf"><span lang=EN-US>here</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> [PDF, 178 KB]. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The redlined agreement can be downloaded <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/cat/agreement-redline-22dec12-en.pdf">here</a> [PDF, 66 KB].<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Section IV: Additional Information</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=5 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>none<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=170 style='width:102.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width=179 style='width:107.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width=3 style='width:1.8pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width=87 style='width:52.2pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width=309 style='width:185.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><em><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.</span></em><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:FR'>Glen de Saint Géry <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:FR'>GNSO Secretariat <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:FR'><a href="mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org">gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:FR'><a href="http://gnso.icann.org">http://gnso.icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>