Common use of Amendments and Waivers Clause in Contracts

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two-thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two-thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughsixty

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of the Applicable operations of Registry OperatorsOperator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, submits in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason registrants or result in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board denial of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared a direct benefit to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interestregistrants. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughWithin ninety

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) . Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) . If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) . If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) . If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) : the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) ; the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) ; to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) ; the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) and following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two-thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) : sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) ; addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) and compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial within the scope of ICANN’s mission and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along consistent with a written explanation balanced application of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out core values (as described in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”Bylaws). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (ai) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (bj) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (ck) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (dl) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (em) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (fn) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable * Final text will be posted on ICANN website; agreement reference to be replaced by hyperlink. Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of the Applicable operations of Registry OperatorsOperator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, submits in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason registrants or result in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board denial of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared a direct benefit to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interestregistrants. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughWithin ninety

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable A pplicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a ““ Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days d ays (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on w hich such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice f rom ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long-term financial condition or results of operations of Registry Operator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to registrants or result in the denial of a direct benefit to registrants. Within ninety (90) calendar days of ICANN’s receipt of an Exemption Request, ICANN shall either approve (which approval may be conditioned or consist of alternatives to or a variation of the Applicable Registry OperatorsApproved Amendment) or deny the Exemption Request in writing, submits to during which time the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to Approved Amendment will not amend this Agreement. If the Board Exemption Request is approved by ICANN, the Approved Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets will not amend this Agreement. If such Exemption Request is denied by ICANN, the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to Approved Amendment will amend this Agreement in lieu as of the Board Amendment; Amendment Effective Date (iior, if such date has passed, such Approved Amendment shall be deemed effective immediately on the date of such denial); provided, that Registry Operator may, within thirty (30) addresses calendar days following receipt of ICANN’s determination, appeal ICANN’s decision to deny the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared Exemption Request pursuant to the Board dispute resolution procedures set forth in Article 5. The Approved Amendment is: (awill be deemed not to have amended this Agreement during the pendency of the dispute resolution process. For avoidance of doubt, only Exemption Requests submitted by Registry Operator that are approved by ICANN pursuant to this Section 7.6(c) more narrowly tailored or through an arbitration decision pursuant to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public InterestArticle 5 shall exempt Registry Operator from any Approved Amendment, and no exemption request granted to any other Applicable Registry Operator (bwhether by ICANN or through arbitration) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits shall have any effect under this Agreement or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected exempt Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughOperator from any Approved Amendment.

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of operations of Registry Operator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to registrants or result in the denial of a direct benefit to registrants. Within ninety (90) calendar days of ICANN’s receipt of an Exemption Request, ICANN shall either approve (which approval may be conditioned or consist of alternatives to or a variation of the Applicable Registry OperatorsApproved Amendment) or deny the Exemption Request in writing, submits during which time the Approved Amendment will not amend this Agreement; provided, that any such conditions, alternatives or variations shall be effective and, to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to extent applicable, will amend this Agreement in lieu as of the Board Amendment Effective Date. If the Exemption Request is approved by ICANN, the Approved Amendment will not amend this Agreement. If such Exemption Request is denied by ICANN, the Approved Amendment will amend this Agreement as of the Amendment Effective Date (or, if such date has passed, such Approved Amendment shall be deemed effective immediately on the date of such denial), provided that Registry Operator may, within thirty (30) calendar days following receipt of ICANN’s determination, appeal ICANN’s decision to deny the Exemption Request pursuant to the dispute resolution procedures set forth in Article 5. The Approved Amendment will be deemed not to have amended this Agreement during the pendency of the dispute resolution process. For avoidance of doubt, only Exemption Requests submitted by Registry Operator that are approved by ICANN pursuant to this Section 7.6(c) or through an arbitration decision pursuant to Article 5 shall exempt Registry Operator from any Approved Amendment;, and no exemption request granted to any other Applicable Registry Operator (whether by ICANN or through arbitration) shall have any effect under this Agreement or exempt Registry Operator from any Approved Amendment. (iid) addresses Except as set forth in this Section 7.6, no amendment, supplement or modification of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be binding unless executed in writing by both parties, and nothing in this Section 7.6 shall restrict ICANN and Registry Operator from entering into bilateral amendments and modifications to this Agreement negotiated solely between the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified two parties. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be binding unless evidenced by a writing signed by the ICANN Board party waiving compliance with such provision. No waiver of Directors as any of the justification for provisions of this Agreement or failure to enforce any of the Board Amendment; andprovisions hereof shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof, nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 7.6 shall be deemed to limit Registry Operator’s obligation to comply with Section 2.2. (iiie) compared to For purposes of this AgreementSection 7.6, the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in following terms shall have the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughfollowing meanings:

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two-thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds twoLthirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of the Applicable operations of Registry OperatorsOperator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, submits in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason registrants or result in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board denial of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared a direct benefit to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interestregistrants. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughWithin ninety

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds twoMthirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public thepublic comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the followingthe expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (ieither(i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultationsuchconsultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject thesubject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds two-thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly morenarrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) through

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of the Applicable operations of Registry OperatorsOperator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, submits in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason registrants or result in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board denial of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared a direct benefit to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interestregistrants. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughWithin ninety

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications specificationsSpecifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt submit a Special Amendment for approval by the Applicable Registry Operators pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; , provided that a Special Amendment may is not be a Restricted Amendment. Amendment (b) as defined below). Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approvalsuch approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group (as defined below) regarding the form and substance of such a Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment by ICANN to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.97.8. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (cb) If, within one hundred eighty two (1802) calendar days following years of the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), (i) the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group ) and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60ii) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator ApprovalApproval (as defined below), such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, Operators (the last date on which such approvals are obtained is herein referred to as the “Amendment Approval Date”) and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is upon sixty (60) calendar days following the date notice from ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment is not approved by the ICANN Board of Directors or does not receive Registry Operator ApprovalApproval within the Approval Period, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendmenteffect. The policy development process undertaken procedure used by the GNSO pursuant ICANN to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for obtain Registry Operator Approval pursuant shall be designed to Section 7.6(c), document the subject matter written approval of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6electronic form. (fc) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during During the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors Amendment Approval Date, Registry Operator (so long as it did not vote in favor of the Board Approved Amendment) may apply in writing to ICANN for an exemption from the Approved Amendment (each such request submitted by Registry Operator hereunder, an “Exemption Request”). Each Exemption Request will set forth the basis for such request and provide detailed support for an exemption from the Approved Amendment. An Exemption Request may also include a detailed description and support for any alternatives to, or a variation of, the Working Group, Approved Amendment proposed by such Registry Operator. An Exemption Request may only be granted upon a clear and convincing showing by Registry Operator that compliance with the Approved Amendment conflicts with applicable laws or would have a material adverse effect on the behalf long- term financial condition or results of the Applicable operations of Registry OperatorsOperator. No Exemption Request will be granted if ICANN determines, submits in its reasonable discretion, that granting such Exemption Request would be materially harmful to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason registrants or result in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board denial of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared a direct benefit to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interestregistrants. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughWithin ninety

Amendments and Waivers. (a) If the ICANN Board of Directors determines that an amendment to this Agreement (including to the Specifications referred to herein) and all other registry agreements between ICANN and the Applicable Registry Operators (the “Applicable Registry Agreements”) is desirable (each, a “Special Amendment”), ICANN may adopt a Special Amendment pursuant to the requirements of and process set forth in this Section 7.6; provided that a Special Amendment may not be a Restricted Amendment. (b) Prior to submitting a Special Amendment for Registry Operator Approval, ICANN shall first consult in good faith with the Working Group regarding the form and substance of such Special Amendment. The duration of such consultation shall be reasonably determined by ICANN based on the substance of the Special Amendment. Following such consultation, ICANN may propose the adoption of a Special Amendment by publicly posting such amendment on its website for no less than thirty (30) calendar days (the “Posting Period”) and providing notice of such proposed amendment to the Applicable Registry Operators in accordance with Section 7.9. ICANN will consider the public comments submitted on a Special Amendment during the Posting Period (including comments submitted by the Applicable Registry Operators). (c) If, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following the expiration of the Posting Period (the “Approval Period”), the ICANN Board of Directors approves a Special Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for public comment, but must address the subject matter of the Special Amendment posted for public comment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments), ICANN shall provide notice of, and submit, such Special Amendment for approval or disapproval by the Applicable Registry Operators. If, during the sixty (60) calendar day period following the date ICANN provides such notice to the Applicable Registry Operators, such Special Amendment receives Registry Operator Approval, such Special Amendment shall be deemed approved (an “Approved Amendment”) by the Applicable Registry Operators, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Approved Amendment to Registry Operator (the “Amendment Effective Date”). In the event that a Special Amendment does not receive Registry Operator Approval, the Special Amendment shall be deemed not approved by the Applicable Registry Operators (a “Rejected Amendment”). A Rejected Amendment will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as set forth below. (d) If the ICANN Board of Directors reasonably determines that a Rejected Amendment falls within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, the ICANN Board of Directors may adopt a resolution (the date such resolution is adopted is referred to herein as the “Resolution Adoption Date”) requesting an Issue Report (as such term is defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (the “GNSO”) regarding the substance of such Rejected Amendment. The policy development process undertaken by the GNSO pursuant to such requested Issue Report is referred to herein as a “PDP.” If such PDP results in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority (as defined in ICANN’s Bylaws) that either (i) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (ii) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy, and, in the case of (i) above, the Board adopts such Consensus Policy, Registry Operator shall comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. In either case, ICANN will abandon the Rejected Amendment and it will have no effect on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6(d), the ICANN Board of Directors shall not be required to initiate a PDP with respect to a Rejected Amendment if, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject matter of such Rejected Amendment was the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation. (e) If (a) a Rejected Amendment does not fall within the subject matter categories set forth in Section 1.2 of Specification 1, (b) the subject matter of a Rejected Amendment was, at any time in the twelve (12) month period preceding the submission of such Rejected Amendment for Registry Operator Approval pursuant to Section 7.6(c), the subject of a concluded or otherwise abandoned or terminated PDP that did not result in a GNSO Supermajority recommendation, or (c) a PDP does not result in a Final Report supported by a GNSO Supermajority that either (A) recommends adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy or (B) recommends against adoption of the Rejected Amendment as Consensus Policy (or such PDP has otherwise been abandoned or terminated for any reason), then, in any such case, such Rejected Amendment may still be adopted and become effective in the manner described below. In order for the Rejected Amendment to be adopted, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment must be within the scope of ICANN’s mission and consistent with a balanced application of its core values (as described in ICANN’s Bylaws); (ii) the Rejected Amendment must be justified by a Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, must be likely to promote such interest, taking into account competing public and private interests that are likely to be affected by the Rejected Amendment, and must be narrowly tailored and no broader than reasonably necessary to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iii) to the extent the Rejected Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on the Applicable Registry Operators, and/or materially reduces public access to domain name services, the Rejected Amendment must be the least restrictive means reasonably available to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest; (iv) the ICANN Board of Directors must submit the Rejected Amendment, along with a written explanation of the reasoning related to its determination that the Rejected Amendment meets the requirements set out in subclauses (i) through (iii) above, for public comment for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days; and (v) following such public comment period, the ICANN Board of Directors must (a) engage in consultation (or direct ICANN management to engage in consultation) with the Working Group, subject matter experts, members of the GNSO, relevant advisory committees and other interested stakeholders with respect to such Rejected Amendment for a period of no less than sixty (60) calendar days; and (b) following such consultation, reapprove the Rejected Amendment (which may be in a form different than submitted for Registry Operator Approval, but must address the subject matter of the Rejected Amendment, as modified to reflect and/or address input from the Working Group and public comments) by the affirmative vote of at least two-­‐thirds of the members of the ICANN Board of Directors eligible to vote on such matter, taking into account any ICANN policy affecting such eligibility, including ICANN’s Conflict of Interest Policy (a “Board Amendment”). Such Board Amendment shall, subject to Section 7.6(f), be deemed an Approved Amendment, and shall be effective and deemed an amendment to this Agreement on the date that is sixty (60) calendar days following the date ICANN provided notice of the approval of such Board Amendment to Registry Operator (which effective date shall be deemed the Amendment Effective Date hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Board Amendment may not amend the registry fees charged by ICANN hereunder, or amend this Section 7.6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.6(e), a Board Amendment shall not be deemed an Approved Amendment if, during the thirty (30) calendar day period following the approval by the ICANN Board of Directors of the Board Amendment, the Working Group, on the behalf of the Applicable Registry Operators, submits to the ICANN Board of Directors an alternative to the Board Amendment (an “Alternative Amendment”) that meets the following requirements: (i) sets forth the precise text proposed by the Working Group to amend this Agreement in lieu of the Board Amendment; (ii) addresses the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest identified by the ICANN Board of Directors as the justification for the Board Amendment; and (iii) compared to the Board Amendment is: (a) more narrowly tailored to address such Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest, and (b) to the extent the Alternative Amendment prohibits or requires conduct or activities, imposes material costs on Affected Registry Operators, or materially reduces access to domain name services, is a less restrictive means to address the Substantial and Compelling Reason in the Public Interest. Any proposed amendment that does not meet the requirements of subclauses (i) throughSection