Dear Mr. Medine:

I am writing to request consideration for appointment to the Federal Trade Commission Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security. I believe that my unique experience in the legal, technical and social issues involving the Internet and online systems would make a valuable addition to your committee.

Currently, I am heavily involved with the ICANN process as the secretariat of the Registrar Constituency and as Co-Chair of Working Group B; tasked with addressing the protection of Famous Trademarks in connection with the domain name system. Online privacy is something that directly impacts the business of all ICANN accredited registrars. Because of this, the Registrar Constituency has already begun to address the issue of consumer privacy in connection with the Whois data collected during the domain name registration process. Abuse of the Whois data in connection with bulk unsolicited e-mail is a concern for the entire online community.

As you can see from my attached resume I have a diverse professional background as an engineer, attorney and educator. I am familiar with the work that the FTC has done to date in this area and have frequently lectured on this and related matters. In addition, I am familiar with administrative proceedings, having testified before the United States Copyright Office last year in conjunction with the hearings on the Digital Copyright Millennium Act and its impact on distant learning education.

Should you desire personal references, two government officials that are familiar with my qualifications are Becky Burr at the Commerce Department and Eric Menge at the Small Business Administration.

Sincerely, 

Michael D. Palage
CIO InfoNetworks, Inc.

Enclosure: CV
Curriculum Vitae
Michael D. Palage, Esq.
mpalage@InfoNetworks.com

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

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* INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER FORUM (ISPF) - New Orleans, LA

"State Of The Names Address: What is going on with Namespace policy, politics and governance"

Panelist

* PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION - West Palm Beach, FL

"Establishing an Internet Presence: Practical, Technical and Ethical Issues to Consider"

Lecturer - CLE

* MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY - Millersville, PA

"The Digital Millennium Copyright Act and its Impact on Educators"

Guest Speaker - 2 day seminar

* PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT - Pleasant Valley, PA

"Online liability issues for students and educators."

Guest Speaker - 2 day presentation

* UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT OFFICE - Washington D.C.

Testified at public hearings on behalf of various educational instutions concerning the impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with respect to distant learning education.

* ITEC EXPO - PHILADELPHIA - November, 1998

"Online Liability: Legal Potholes on the Information Superhighway Update."

Guest Speaker

* UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON SCHOOL OF LAW - Dayton, OH

"Cybercrimes against Children on the Information Superhighway"

Guest Speaker

* DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY'S CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS - Philadelphia, PA

"Cyber-Rights, Legal Potholes on the Information Superhighway,"

Guest Speaker

* JUPITER, PALM BEACH & SINGER ISLAND ROTARY CLUBS - South Florida

"Internet Surfers Beware - Do Your Know Where You Have Gone Today?"

Guest Speaker

* DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF INFORMATION, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - Philadelphia, PA

"Online Liability - Legal Potholes on the Information Superhighway"

Guest Speaker

* DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY'S CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS - Philadelphia, PA

"Internet And Online Issues: Legal, Technological, And Social,"

Guest Speaker

* THE PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS, EDUCATION CONFERENCE - Philadelphia, PA

"The Internet - legal research and ethical concerns,"

Guest Speaker

* DREXEL UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - Philadelphia, PA

"Alternative Careers for Engineers,"

Guest Speaker

* BALCH INSTITUTE FOR ETHNIC STUDIES - Philadelphia, PA

"Civil Rights in Cyberspace,"

Guest Speaker

* WIDENER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SOCIETY

"Emerging Legal Issues Surrounding the Internet and Cyberspace,"

Guest Speaker

* WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM - West Chester, PA

"Conducting Commerce on the Internet,"

Guest Speaker

* WEST CHESTER CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CONNECTIVITY & DATABASES - WestChester, PA

Originator and Lecturer:

o "Legal Potholes on the Information Superhighway"

o "Safeguarding Children in Cyberspace"

o "Internet & Pornography - Concerns for Educators"

* PHILADELPHIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Philadelphia, PA

"Prior Art Searching on the Internet"

Guest Speaker

* LAW, EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPATION (LEAP), Temple University School of Law

Originator and Instructor

o "PULSE Summer Institute - Internet 101 for Educators"

o "2020 Vision Future Symposium"

o Internet Seminar for "Street Law" Clinical

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COURSES

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* DREXEL UNIVERSITY

"Critical Issues in Cyberspace,"

Course Developer and Instructor, (Summer Session 1996 and 1997)

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PUBLICATIONS

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* Employer Liability for Copyright Infringement of Computer Software,The Data Law Report, May 1995

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OTHER ACTIVITIES/ASSOCIATIONS

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* Secretariat of the ICANN DNSO Registrar Constituency.

* Co-Chair of ICANN Working Group B: Responsible for chairing and preparing the report evaluating the WIPO recommendation for safegaurding famous trademarks in connection with the Domain Name System.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

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* InfoNetworks, Inc. - Palm Beach, FL

Vice-President, Chief Information Officer

An international computer service and consulting company providing high-end information services to the legal and business community. Primary focus is business development as well as software design and enhancement.

* Contact Charter School (CCS) - Philadelphia, PA (Spring 1999 - Present)

Legal and Technical Consultant

Providing legal and technical assistance to a group of educators in the process of creating a vitural charter school recognized by the Commonwalth of Pennsylvania.

* IP Warehouse, Inc. - Philadelphia, PA

Vice-President

Technology law consulting and service company. Extensive experience in website and database design. Responsible for product and client development.

* Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA

Adjunct Professor

Created and continue to teach graduate information technology courses discussing legal, technological and social issues surrounding the Internet and online systems. Course utilizes an Internet site for all course material as a model for distant learning education.

* Seidel, Gonda, Lavorgna & Monaco - Philadelphia, PA

Clerk

Researched and prepared legal memoranda, briefs, and pleadings in patent, trademark, copyright and right of publicity litigation. Extensive trademark experience including prosecution, cancellation, opposition and litigation proceedings.

* Honorable Robert Gawthrop III - United States District Court, E.D.Pa.(Fall 1993)

Student Intern

Researched and drafted summary judgment opinion in a patent and trademark infringement case.

* Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, - Philadelphia, PA

Electrical Engineer

Designed and developed communication, radar and security systems.

Responsible for on-site inspection, plan design, procurement and engineering support. Required and extensive interaction and communication with multi-disciplinary trades.

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EDUCATION

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* Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, PA

Juris Doctor

* Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

B.S.E.E.

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

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Member:

* Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

* Bar of the State of Florida

* Member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association

* Philadelphia Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (1991-1997)