ICANN Puts Off Decision On .Vin And .Wine

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has decided to take more time to review applications to grant two internet domains related to delicate political subject of … wine.

ICANN, the internet domain name technical oversight body, on 4 April took on board international concerns about granting the domains .vin and .wine. Wine has a history of requiring careful negotiations in international trade, which apparently carries over to the internet.

ICANN is considering applications for hundreds of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The ICANN New gTLD Program Committee (NGPC) said in its 4 April statement on resolutions:

“Resolved (2014.04.04.NG04), the NGPC recommends that the full Board consider the larger implications of legally complex and politically sensitive issues such as those raised by GAC members, including whether ICANN is the proper venue in which to resolve these issues, or whether there are venues or forums better suited to address concerns such as those raised by GAC members in relation to the .WINE and .VIN applications.” The GAC is multistakeholder ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee.

The delay appears to have been driven largely by European stakeholders, based on letters sent to ICANN from European Union agencies and wine producers. There also are some letters from US-based wine groups. Of particular concern is the possibility of weakening wine geographical indications, a carefully negotiated component of the 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

The Eur0pean Commission issued a statement welcoming ICANN’s decision to put off the decision and its encouragement that applicants negotiate.