Mar. 20, 2014 Nairobi, Kenya: On 12 March 2014, an Independent Review Panel has granted an Interim Relief for DotConnectAfrica by issuing a decision [PDF, 7.80 MB] that ICANN should hold off from further processing of ZA Central Registry’s (ZACR) application for the .AFRICA top-level domain (TLD) for the time being.
This will allow the Panel time to consider arguments from DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA Trust) and ICANN on DCA Trust’s claims regarding the .AFRICA TLD.This interim relief was granted after DCA Trust submitted an Amended Notice of Independent Review Process (“IRP”)on Jan. 10, 2014 to the International Center for Dispute Resolution (ICDR). DCA Trust sent its Notice of IRP in October 2013. This is a step towards resolution of the dispute between ICANN and DCA Trust over ICANN Board decisions and actions taken with regard to DCA Trust’s application for the .africa new gTLD.
The IRP is one of the accountability review processes set out in the ICANN Bylaws. For an understanding of how ICANN’s accountability review processes work, including the IRP refer here (http://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/bylaws#IV-3). The DCA Trust/ ICANN IRP will continue along the defined process. Documents related to the IRP are available at http://www.icann.org/en/news/irp/dca-v-icann.
DotConnectAfrica is confident that the requests and concerns on .africa will be brought to a respectable and amicable conclusion and hopes that its application will be given fair hearing.
Press Release: prlog.org/12325839