IP: You really don't want to hear my comments on this, do you : Good Morning Silicon Valley Mon May 21 12:15:11 EDT 2001

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Extended VeriSign monopoly just one more important step forward for the 
> Internet: The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday 
> <http://www2.osec.doc.gov/public.nsf/docs/icann-verisign-0518>approved a 
> proposal that 
> <http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/opinion/gmsv/archive01/morn05182001.htm>extends 
> VeriSign's monopoly control over the ".com" domain registry. Under the 
> terms of the proposal VeriSign will operate the registry of ".com" 
> addresses through 2007, but must open up the registry for ".net" addresses 
> to competition in 2005 -- a year earlier than stipulated in a previous 
> version of the proposal. While the DOC's approval of the deal specifically 
> does not provide the company with antitrust immunity, its view of the 
> arrangement as one that is beneficial to consumers suggests VeriSign has 
> little to worry about in this regard. "Our goal throughout the negotiating 
> process was to make sure consumers reap the benefits of an open, stable 
> and competitive Internet. These agreements achieve that goal," 
> <http://www2.osec.doc.gov/public.nsf/docs/icann-verisign-0518>said DOC 
> General Counsel Ted Kassinger. "We sought changes to promote competition, 
> preserve stability and protect consumers. We believe that our objectives 
> have been met." While it's difficult to understand just how a proposal 
> that favors an existing monopoly achieves the end of which Mr. Kassinger 
> speaks, we can do little but to take him at his word. Stratton Sclavos, 
> VeriSign president and CEO, lauded the decision to ratify the registry 
> agreements as 
> <http://corporate.verisign.com/news/2001/pr_20010518.html>"an important 
> step forward" for the Internet. "We fully appreciate the Department of 
> Commerce's effort to promote stability and competitiveness in the Internet 
> infrastructure," he said.



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