ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains - Network World

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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 com
> Subject: Re: [IP] ICANN proposes new way to buy top-level domains -  
> Network World
>
>
> Dave,
>
> 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 that
> > has been cumbersome in the past. ICANN would charge groups $185,000  
> > to
> > apply 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




-------------------------------------------
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