IP: DNRC Press Release for IP [life is getting complicated djf]

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

From: Judi Clark <judic () manymedia com>
Subject: DNRC Press Release for IP
To: farber () cis upenn edu
Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 07:44:12 -0700 (PDT)


Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 07:19:24 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: DNRC Press Release




Press Release
May 1, 1997
        
The Domain Name Rights Coalition
Opposes ITU Internet Action


    Today, rights on the Internet will be lost.  The International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), a handful of private companies, and the
Internet Society (a small, membership organization in Reston, VA), will sign
a Memorandum of Understanding in Geneva that closes the doors to open and
public governance of domain names.  The Domain Name Rights Coalition, a group
representing entrepreneurs, small businesses and individuals on the Internet,
opposes the action:


    "It is an international coup d'etat with the ITU seizing power over
Internet
domain names," says Kathryn A. Kleiman, President of the Domain Name Rights
Coalition and attorney with Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C. in Rosslyn,
VA.  "The Memorandum of Understanding is an attempt to make an unauthorized
and unapproved power grab seem legitimate and official."


    The Memorandum of Understanding codifies the recommendations of a small,
private group.  Calling themselves the "International Ad Hoc Committee," the
group represented small portions of the Internet community (mainly the ITU,
WIPO and large companies), met privately, circulated draft recommendations to
a small group, held private off-the-record meetings and created a final
report which differed significantly from original proposals.  The DNRC
submits that the IAHC's grant of authority to ITU and the World Intellectual
Property Organization:


 -   exceeds any authority from members of the Internet Society (organizer of
the IAHC) whose members never voted on the IAHC proposals or approved its
recommendations;
 -    ignores the great disagreement among the Internet community which
questioned and contested the IAHC recommendations; and
 -     bypasses the approval of ITU and WIPO member countries.


    To cope with growth, millions of new users, and new situations, the
Internet
needs new rules, but the process for creating them must be open,  public and
accountable.  The DNRC supports:
 -     selection of decision makers who represent all major groups on the
Internet, including individuals, small businesses and entrepreneurs,
political and community organizations, and large companies; 
  -    wide distribution of proposed rules; 
  -    adequate time to respond to new rules and to views of other
commenters; 
  -    timely issuance of new rules with reports outlining the reasons for
decisions and the reliance on comments; and
 -     an appeals process when participants feel new rules violate existing
rights.


    Created by a few companies and organizations, today's actions of the
ITU and
IAHC make entrepreneurs, Internet Service Providers, small businesses and
individuals and other domain name owners into second-class citizens of the
Internet.  


About the Domain Name Rights Coalition:


    The Domain Name Rights Coalition represents the interests and views of
entrepreneurs, small businesses and individuals on the Internet.  The DNRC
works for equitable, consistent and responsible domain name policies from the
National Science Foundation, Network Solutions, Inc., and all entities who
control portions of the Internet.  Its representatives served on the State
Department's Working Group on Domain Names.  
    Information about the DNRC and DNRC comments to the IAHC draft proposal
can
be found on its website at http://www.domain-name.org.




Contact:
Kathryn A. Kleiman, President, Domain Name Rights Coalition
c/o Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, 1300 North 17th Street, Floor 11
Rosslyn, VA 22209
(703) 812-0400,  Fax (703) 812-0486
Email:  kathryn () domain-name org