Interesting People mailing list archives
ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:37:39 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Peter Bachman <peterb () cequs com> Date: October 29, 2008 2:40:29 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World Dave,Lauren has brought up some interesting issues here. We are looking at Internet standards from the lens of popular culture and it makes for great ludi scaenici of the Circus Maximus.
I used to register and create domain names for companies (often using Lauren's software because UUCP was the least expensive way to set up email before the current domain name semantic scam began). I still have a copy of the original "treasure map" sent out by Network Solutions from the day, and have spent some time de-constructing the entire idea, including a disclaimer regarding the next gen naming alternatives which I market.
What happened is that the process became monetized as expressed in the dot com boom, a process that we all have questioned in terms of viable handles in the going forward naming environment. If anything, it has managed to achieve ubiquity, if less than optimal design. When people rethink the process, they have to come to grips with the fact that DNS managed to penetrate popular consciousness to an amazing degree providing a link between a standards based process, and a populist tool.
Flight of the Conchords have put up a website on the internet. A spokesman from the band (Bret) said it there was a five year delay launching the website online due to a 'disagreement'. Apparently there was debate over how many times letter 'W' should appear in the 'WWW' part of the web address. While Bret wanted four making the domain name wwww.conchords.co.nz Jemaine was vying for seven with wwwwwww.conchords.co.nz. It turns out that you're only allowed three anyway.
So we are looking at a distortion of the process, a distortion which is in need of correction, and I'm not sure what the correction should be. Sometimes we just muddle on until the idea gels; like identity has done
currently.Jon Postel looked at the issue of multiple international TLD's and I gather that he sought to defuse the goldrush monetization process but failed to come to grips with the power of popular culture and greed in the delusions of crowds. If he had had more time the result might have been different. If people had listened to Brooksley Born things would have been different, but money can sometimes distort process.
It's a discussion worth having and the upside is that is got everyone networked, by making it out of the IETF and into our culture. If we can take heart with Tulipmania, it's that valid infrastructure that meets people's needs can in fact be built after the initial meme takes hold.
-pb peterb () cequs com David Farber wrote:
Begin forwarded message: ) From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com> Date: October 29, 2008 12:12:04 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Cc: lauren () vortex comSubject: Re: [IP] ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network WorldDave, The ultimate irony of "opening up" the TLD process is that it has become very clear that as more TLDs are assigned, the perceived and real value of the big three (dot-com, dot-org, dot-net) only zoom higher -- since they (especially dot-com) stand out ever more against the clutter of newer top-level domains. This isn't to say that there aren't big bucks to be made in bizarro TLDs, and not just by confusing Internet users. Businesses who can afford them will want to get dot-TheirName "just to be sure." And with any "luck" exploitive entrepreneurs who put up the nearly $200K for new TLDs can expect a tidy income from businesses who will feel it necessary to protectively register (did someone say "extortion"? Hush!) within most of these new spaces (and of course these businesses will then simply divert them to their regular dot-com addresses in most cases). The domain name system -- in particular TLD policy -- has turned into a wacky parody of its original purpose, and increasingly is failing to serve the best interests of the Internet community at large. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/lauren Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com - - -http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102808-icann-proposes-new-way-to.html?netht=ts_102908&nladname=102908dailynewsamal ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains By Grant Gross , IDG News Service , 10/28/2008 * Share/Email * Buzz up! * Comment * Print ICANN is seeking comments on a proposal that would open up the market for generic top-level domains (TLDs) on the Internet, basically allowing anyone with US$185,000 to buy a new TLD. The plan from Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers would allow third parties to object to proposed TLDs on several grounds, but the proposal is an attempt to open up a TLD process thathas been cumbersome in the past. ICANN would charge groups $185,000 toapply for a generic TLD, with most of the money going toward evaluation of the application. {what does the above mean -- $185000 to evaluate it -- first class travel .. ?? djf ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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Current thread:
- ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 29)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 29)
- ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 29)
- Re: ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 29)
- Re: ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 30)
- Re: ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World David Farber (Oct 31)