Report of the Legal & Regulatory Affairs Committee 26/04/01

Immediately following the last council meeting the Chair of Legal & Regulatory Affairs attended a panel discussion on the Crimes Amendment Bill as a representative of the Society, to outline the Society's position on that bill and the submission on it made by the Society to the Select Committee.

The Legal & Regulatory Affairs Committee's main focus has been to launch the WG for consultation on a domain name dispute resolution process for dot nz. The terms of reference for this were published on the website on 6 April 2001

After calling for expressions of interest, the working group for this consultation was agreed on between the Chair of Legal & Regulatory Affairs and the Chair of the Society. The Working Group is:

• Rick Shera (convenor)
• Peter Dengate Thrush
• David Zanetti
• David Farrar
• Judge David Harvey
• Damian Broadley (AJ Park & Son partner)
• Sarah Mehrtens (inhouse counsel National Bank of NZ)

Expressions of interest were received from two others who have been notified of their non-inclusion, thanked for their interest and invited to take part by submitting their views on the mailing list.

A list of "trigger questions" has been advertised to the L, members, council and dndr-discuss lists (the latter being that specifically set up for the purpose).

The next step is to send out invitations to make submissions to organisations and individuals likely to be interested (as was done for the SRS consultation), however, this has been delayed because of the resource priorities of the office. It is hoped that this will be done once the Opening II has taken place. Once we have a gauge on the likely level of interest, we will be better placed to determine the need for public meetings etc and the budgeting requirements which flow from that. At present, as previously advised, a tentative budget of $15,000 has been allocated.

Councillors are encouraged to subscribe to and contribute on the dndr-discuss list and in particular to take a look at the trigger questions posted there.

Relevant dates to be aware of are:

• Publication of terms of reference April 6 2001
• First round consultation closes June1
• Working Group Green Paper published July 22
• Consultation on Green Paper closes September 21
• Working Group draft White Paper published September 28
• Final Comment period on draft White Paper closes October 19
• Final White Paper submitted to ISOCNZ Council for approval October 26
• Council decision November 2

Rick Shera
Chair
Legal & Regulatory Affairs Committee

© 2001 The Internet Society of New Zealand
Last updated 23 April 2001