Actually, Willie should be credited with proposing the concept of 'accountability frameworks' and the exchange of letters between a ccTLD registry and ICANN, as an alternative to the very heavyweight contracts that were being suggested back in 2004. I'm sure he will speak for himself, but I suspect he will recognise many of the elements in our letters from his original thoughts.

On the topic of the ccNSO, I recall being with Willie at ICANN Montreal, when the ccNSO bylaws were first drafted back in 2003. He had a number of concerns about the ccNSO bylaws that resulted in us deciding not to join. I took over the list from him and he will be probably be amused to hear that its taken 3 years for the bylaws to be amended in order to address those concerns.

btw., Willie's far from departed, he's still around and active in the internet and computing fields in the UK.

Thanks for the helpful background, Lesley. I intended the headline in jest, and I do think it speaks volumes about the fundamental change in relationship between ICANN and the ccTLDs that Nominet has exchanged letters with ICANN. Glad to see the lightweight relationships are working.

Bret

Willie's just up the road here in Oxford.

I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. He was due to become a member of Nominet's Public Advisory Board but he didn't take it up because of extra, non-technical, responsibilities.

I understand he still does a fair bit of consultancy in Oxford and London.


Kieren