Final Declaration

IN THE MATTER OF AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW PROCESS BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION ICDR Case No. 01-18-0004-2702 AFILIAS DOMAINS NO. 3 LIMITED, Claimant v. INTERNET CORPORATION FOR ASSIGNED NAMES AND NUMBERS, Respondent FINAL DECISION 20 May 2021 Members of the IRP Panel Catherine Kessedjian Richard Chernick Pierre Bienvenu Ad. E., Chair Administrative Secretary to the IRP Panel Virginie Blanchette-Séguin Table of Contents Page I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1 Overview .......................................................................................................................1 The Parties.....................................................................................................................4 The IRP Panel ...............................................................................................................5 The Amici ......................................................................................................................5 Place (Legal Seat) of the IRP ........................................................................................6 Language of the Proceedings ........................................................................................6 Jurisdiction of the Panel ................................................................................................6 Applicable Law .............................................................................................................7 Burden and Standard of Proof .......................................................................................8 Rules of Procedure ........................................................................................................8 II. HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS .....................................................................................8 Phase I ...........................................................................................................................8 Phase II ........................................................................................................................10 III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................24 IV. SUMMARY OF SUBMISSIONS AND RELIEF SOUGHT ................................................34 Claimant’s Amended Request for IRP ........................................................................35 Respondent’s Response...............................................................................................36 Claimant’s Reply ........................................................................................................39 Respondent’s Rejoinder ..............................................................................................43 The Amici’s Briefs ......................................................................................................47 NDC’s Brief .......................................................................................................47 Verisign’s Brief .................................................................................................49 Parties’ Responses to Amici’s Briefs ..........................................................................52 Afilias’ Response to Amici’s Briefs ..................................................................52 ICANN’s Response to the Amici’s Briefs .........................................................58 Post-Hearing Submissions ..........................................................................................59 Claimant’s Post-Hearing Brief ..........................................................................59 Respondent’s Post-Hearing Brief ......................................................................66 Amici’s Post-Hearing Brief ................................................................................70 Submissions Regarding the Donuts Transaction ........................................................72 V. ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................73 Introduction .................................................................................................................73 The Respondent’s Time Limitations Defence ............................................................76 Applicable Time Limitations Rule ....................................................................76 Merits of the Respondent’s Time Limitations Defence ....................................78 Standard of Review .....................................................................................................83 Merits of the Claimant’s Core Claims ........................................................................85 Relevant Provisions of the Articles and Bylaws ...............................................85 Pre-Auction Investigation ..................................................................................86 i Table of Contents Page Post-auction Actions or Inactions ......................................................................87 Overview ..................................................................................................87 The Claimant’s 8 August and 9 September 2016 Letters ........................88 The 16 September 2016 Questionnaire ....................................................90 The Respondent’s Letter of 30 September 2016 ......................................94 Findings as to the Seriousness of the Issues Raised by the Claimant, and the Respondent’s Representation that It Would Evaluate Them .......94 The November 2016 Board Workshop ....................................................97 The Respondent’s Decision to Proceed with Delegation of .WEB to NDC in June 2018 ..................................................................................100 Other Related Claims .............................................................................106 The Rule 7 Claim ......................................................................................................108 Determining the Proper Relief ..................................................................................109 Designating the Prevailing Party ...............................................................................111 VI. COSTS .................................................................................................................................113 Submissions on Costs ...............................................................................................113 Claimant’s Submissions on Costs ...................................................................113 Respondent’s Submissions on Costs ...............................................................115 Claimant’s Reply Submission on Costs ..........................................................115 Respondent’s Response Submission on Costs ................................................116 Analysis Regarding Costs .........................................................................................117 Applicable Provisions ......................................................................................117 Discussion ........................................................................................................118 VII. DISPOSITIF .........................................................................................................................125 ii GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS Afilias Claimant Afilias Domains No. 3 Limited. Afilias’ First DIDP Request Documentary Information Disclosure Policy request submitted by Afilias to ICANN on 23 February 2018. Afilias’ Response to the Afilias’ Response to the Amici Curiae Briefs dated 24 July 2020. Amici’s Brief Amended Request for IRP Afilias’s Amended Request for Independent Review dated 21 March 2019. Amici Collectively, Verisign, Inc. and Nu DotCo, LLC. Amici’s PHB Verisign, Inc. and Nu DotCo, LLC’s post-hearing brief dated 12 October 2020. Articles Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, as approved by the Board on 9 August 2016, and filed on 3 October 2016, Ex. C-2. Auction Rules Power Auctions LLC’s Auction Rules for New gTLDs: Indirect Contentions Edition, Ex. C-4. Board ICANN’s board of directors. Blackout Period Period associated with an ICANN auction extending from the deposit deadline until full payment has been received from the prevailing bidder, and during which discussions among members of a contention set are prohibited. Bylaws Bylaws for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, as amended 18 June 2018, Ex. C-1. CCWG The Cross-Community Working Group for Accountability created by ICANN’s supporting organizations and advisory committees to review and advise on ICANN’s accountability mechanisms. CEP ICANN’s Cooperative Engagement Process, as described in Article 4, Section 4.3(e) of the Bylaws, intended to help parties to a potential IRP resolve or narrow the issues that might need to be addressed in the IRP. iii CEP Rules Rules applicable to a Cooperative Engagement Process described in an ICANN document dated 11 April 2013, Ex. C-121. Claimant Afilias Domains No. 3 Limited. Claimant’s PHB Afilias’ post-hearing brief dated 12 October 2020. Claimant’s Reply Afilias’ Reply Memorial in Support

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