[icann-nominations] Acceptance by Jonathan Cohen of nomination for election to ICANN Board

[Jonathan Cohen <jcohen@shapirocohen.com>]

1. Full name:  Jonathan C. Cohen        

     2. E-mail address:  jcohen@shapirocohen.com


     3. Organization you work for (if apply):  Shapiro, Cohen Group of Intellectual Property Practices

     4. Snail-mail address (street, city, country): 112 Kent Street, Suite 2001, P.O. Box 3440, Station D.,Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6P1


     5. The region that includes the country of which you are a citizen:  North America, citizen of Canada

     6. The region that includes the country in which you reside:  North America, resident of Canada

     7. A clear statement of acceptance of the nomination:  I accept the nomination for election as a Director to the Board of ICANN.

     8. If you are a Member of the Names Council, state your intention (*)
        to resign from the Names Council if you are elected to the ICANN Board: 

I am a member of the Names Council.  If I am elected as an ICANN Board member, I will immediately resign from the Names Council.


     9. A Curriculum Vitae (no more than 500 words long):

Curriculum Vitae of Jonathan
C. Cohen

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology; Bachelor of Laws (Osgoode Hall,
Toronto).
Lawyer with the Shapiro, Cohen Group in Ottawa, Canada.
Senior, Managing partner since 1984.

I am a business person, a domain name holder, an intellectual property /
Internet lawyer and a private citizen.

I have three children; I play many sports; I have been involved in
community affairs;  I have worked with aboriginal people in Canada,
first with the Department of Indian Affairs, and then with the Inuit, on
Baffin Island, through the Department of Northern Affairs; I have
campaigned for several candidates in political elections in Canada, and
worked for various charitable organizations.

I have lectured, taught and written extensively on intellectual property
matters in many countries.  The nature of my occupation has
occasioned considerable travel and the need to work with people in
countries in every corner of the world, requiring a reasonable knowledge
of the differences between cultures, customs and language to interact
effectively internationally. 

I am a member of numerous intellectual property organizations including:
FICPI (Fédération des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle), its Executive
Branch -CET (Commission d’Études et de Travail) in charge of Internet /
domain name matters, INTA, MARQUES, ABA, AIPLA, AIPPI, LES, Inter-Pacific
Bar Association (IPBA), Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the
Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) and have participated in
the organization of, or in speaking at, their meetings many times. 

Since becoming involved in Internet governance reform, I have worked
actively in all of facets, including the following:

1) Panel of experts member advising the Canadian government on reform of
.ca;

2) Currently member of the CIRA Board (Canadian Internet Registration
Authority), which is similar in its duties and mandate to the ICANN Board
taking over the full management and governance of the .ca
TLD;

3) Chosen as a FICPI representative, participated at the WIPO-IAHC
Internet / domain name conferences in Geneva in May/September of
1997;

4) Reporting on and comment to FICPI, and WIPO on the Green and White
Papers;

5) Organization of one of the first DNSO formation meetings, in
Washington (September 1998), of a cross section of individuals from
diverse stakeholder backgrounds.  Subsequent participation in
teleconferences, and DNSO/ICANN meetings in Washington and
Singapore;

6) Following Singapore, answered the ICANN Board’s call for
self-formation of constituencies and initiated the Intellectual Property
Constituency (IPC) formation process by organizing a series of three
international meetings (Toronto, Wellington, New York) and working on
outreach;

7) Elected as president of the IPC, and provisional Names Council (NC)
member;

8) Participation at NC and IPC meetings in Berlin, San Jose and Santiago,
Washington, New York and London;

9) Testified by invitation in Washington D.C. at a Congressional hearing
on ICANN matters, in July, 1999;

10) Co-Chairperson of both NC WG-A (Dispute Resolution)  and B
(Famous Marks);

11)Work on the Registrar’s UDRP by attending initial meeting in
Washington at the invitation of WIPO, and subsequent drafting session
teleconferences;

12) Attendance at WIPO E-Commerce meeting in Geneva (September,
1999)


     10. A
statement indicating your ideas, intentions and/or the reason why
         you consider you should
be elected to serve in the ICANN Board
         (no more than 500
words):

Statement of Jonathan C.
Cohen

I originally became involved in the ICANN/DNSO process believing it to be
a unique opportunity to create international understanding and
cooperation.  People from every corner of the world share
information and ideas on the Internet, in a manner that should
accommodate the needs and hopes not only of the various stakeholders, but
of ordinary women and men around the world to whom this system may mean
more than just simple commerce or communication.  In particular, a
“uniform dispute resolution policy” which could settle differences
between parties around the world without the necessity of litigation and
jurisdictional battles seemed to me, an IP lawyer, to be a most exciting
goal.  If successful, a Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy could
become an effective, practical, international tool for settling Internet
domain name conflicts.  I am hopeful that in time, it will be
utilized to resolve a broader range of Internet disputes.  

Involvement in the NC/DNSO has significantly expanded my awareness of the
different needs and concerns of its various stakeholders and the reasons
why they are important to the respective constituents.

My profession has provided me with management experience, board
experience and public speaking experience.  I have operated on the
international stage throughout my career and it has been one of the most
enjoyable parts of my job that I have been able to travel to so many
countries and meet and work with people of very different
backgrounds.  I believe it is crucial that the ICANN Board becomes
an “international body”, responsive to the ideas and needs of the diverse
commercial and non-commercial interests that increasingly depend upon it
as an essential information system.  

The system must have Integrity, Reliability and Availability.  The
Board must focus on process-building even as it moves forward meeting its
management challenges on a day to day basis.  

A proper foundation built today will bring stability and reliability to
the Internet tomorrow.  

My work in DNSO and IP constituency formation, and service on the Names
Council has been relevant experience that would allow me to be an
effective DNSO/ICANN Board member.

If elected, I will not bring just “one” agenda to the Board.  

I would bring my experience as a NC member and my knowledge as an
intellectual property / Internet practitioner, my experience as a CIRA
Board member, as a small business owner, and as a private citizen
concerned about the issues of privacy, fairness and openness. 

If I am elected as Board member, I will represent the DNSO - all its
constituencies, regardless of whose votes I receive or do not
receive.  I believe that ICANN Board members must make themselves
aware of the needs and concerns of the General Assembly, all the
constituencies of the DNSO and other Supporting Organizations, and must
be capable of making fair, objective, practical and sometimes, tough
decisions.   I am capable of performing this task.  

I relish the possible opportunity to address the multi-faceted and
complex issues which will surely face this Board.