[discuss] FT: France lashes out at internet naming body Icann

Sun Jun 22 10:50:58 UTC 2014

June 22, 2014 10:38 am
France lashes out at internet naming body Icann

By Hugh Carnegy in Paris

France has launched a strong attack on the US-based international body that
governs internet addresses, calling its decision-making "totally opaque" and
saying a move to assign domain names for wine could threaten talks on a new
transatlantic trade deal.

Paris will demand a big shake-up of Icann - the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers - at a meeting of its government advisory
committee in London on Monday, calling for a bigger say for states in its
governance.

France's anger has been triggered by a decision this year by Icann to go
ahead with the launch of the two domain names .vin and .wine, which critics
say could undermine international agreements on so-called geographical
indicators that restrict the use of labels, such as champagne and other
area-specific wines and foods.

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