VeriSign/NSI and "typosquatting" (was: "Profits in Mixed Exits...")

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 08:31:32 -0700
> From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Subject: VeriSign/NSI and "typosquatting" (was: "Profits in Mixed Exits...")
> To: dave () farber net
> Cc: lauren () pfir org, neumann () pfir org
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> > From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk () gsp org>
> > Subject: Re: [IP] Profits in Missed Exits on Information Highway
> > ...
> > This is, of course, the despicable practice known as "typosquatting",
> > several particularly egregious examples of which are documented here:
> > ...
> > Given Network Solutions' very long history of sleazy behavior, it's not at
> > all surprising that they want to engage in this on an unprecedented scale.
>
> Dave,
>
> On its face, this would appear to be outside the bounds of the intended
> operating rights with which VeriSign/NSI (or other domain registration
> entities) have been vested.  To extract revenue from typos in this manner
> means that they must effectively register each of the misspellings of
> interest to point at their servers, presumably in vast numbers and at what
> amounts to zero internal cost in real dollars (regardless of their internal
> accounting).
>
> I am unable to find an interpretation of any enabling agreements that would
> validate such activities as a revenue stream.  Their actions in this regard
> appear to be taking inappropriate advantage of their position in a manner
> that even the phone companies haven't had the guts to try (yet!)
>
> This looks like a clear case for reevaluation of VeriSign/NSI's
> operating authority.
>
> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
> Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
>                      Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
> Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy

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