Interesting People mailing list archives
more on labeling and NN
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:31:02 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: "Faulhaber, Gerald" <faulhabe () wharton upenn edu> Date: June 19, 2006 2:40:06 PM EDT To: David Farber <dave () farber net> I don't like the idea that someone or some body can now adopt the term "internet" as their proprietary label, and refuse to let others use it. Way too late for that, and I am certainly not in favor of a group of "experts" deciding what is and is not the Internet. Bad idea (but see last para). A somewhat better idea is that government agencies do in fact set labelling standards where they have determined this is in the public interest, and the standard for determining if mandated labeling is required are rather high. For example, the DoA sets standards for the labeling of various food products, including meat: what is "steak"? what is "chicken"? Etc. These are often highly rancorous commercial debates. I believe both the FDA and the FTC are also engaged in labeling stuff, altho this is not an area with which I have much familiarity. I know these agencies often work with both consumer groups and industry groups to develop the labeling schemes. Maybe these guys should try to interest the FTC in engaging in this sort of exercise. But this needs to be much more thoroughly thought through. While these guys think it is really, really important that what is the Internet is only stuff that has been vetting through the IETF, etc., etc., my guess is that most consumers don't give a rat's ass about that: they are much more concerned about features important to them that their Internet may or may not have, and that this is perspective the FTC (or any agency) is likely to take. But in response to the question: interesting idea, needs lots of work to frame it as other labeling schemes are, and the appropriate route is the FTC, not Congress. Another approach is that of Appellation Controllee in France, whereby wines must be from a specific area in order to carry a name like Champagne, Burgundy, etc. In this case, a cartel (French wine growers) established the protocol and convinced the French government to back it up with the power of the law. Professor Gerald Faulhaber Business and Public Policy Dept. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104 Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- more on labeling and NN David Farber (Jun 20)