Study suggests some sort of accountability required before ICANN is set free. A new study, to be formally released Wednesday, suggests that ICANN must be reformed before its ties with the U.S. Department of Commerce are severed. The Joint Project ... Continue Reading5 Comments
Internet Commerce Association Has Busy Agenda
· Policy & LawDomainer's group has busy schedule fighting for domain owners' rights. Note: this story has been updated to remove links that are no longer active. Over the past month Internet Commerce Association (ICA) has stepped up efforts to inform the domain ... Continue ReadingLeave a Comment
New Rules Considered for Domain Name Registrars
· Domain RegistrarsGNSO approves motion for changes to registrar accreditation agreement. At the Mexico City ICANN meeting, Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) approved a motion to adopt changes to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) including new ... Continue Reading6 Comments
Community and Geo Rules Should be Nixed from New TLDs
· Policy & LawICANN's guidelines for community sponsors and location names should be removed from new TLD process. I've read the second version of the new TLD applicant guidebook from ICANN from cover to cover, and there's one (OK, more than that) thing I still ... Continue Reading3 Comments
ICANN Shouldn’t Regulate Morality
· Policy & LawICANN should strike moral objections from new TLD process. The new top level domain process includes a mechanism for TLD applications to be rejected on morality and public order grounds. This should be eliminated. ICANN doesn't exist to determine ... Continue Reading6 Comments
ICANN Releases Two “Whitewash” Reports to Defend its Positions on new gTLDs
· Policy & LawReports argue new gTLDs should move forward with no price caps. I've been duped. When ICANN announced it was commissioning a report on the effect of price caps on new TLDs, I assumed it would seek an unbiased report. Instead, ICANN used domain ... Continue Reading12 Comments
Yet Another Hurdle for New Top Level Domains
· Policy & LawGetting your TLD approved by ICANN doesn't mean it will go online. Section 1.2.3 of ICANN's Applicant Guidebook for new TLDs points out a stark reality for new TLDs: they may not work. Worse, they may work in some places and systems and not ... Continue Reading4 Comments
ICANN’s Registry Continuity Plan Has a Big Hole
· Policy & LawGuidelines for new registries doesn't make sense; but therein lies a business opportunity. If you want to apply for a new top level domain from ICANN, you need to provide lots of financial documentation about your ability to run the TLD. ICANN is mum ... Continue Reading1 Comment
How to Survive in Mexico City
· UncategorizedYour unofficial guide to staying safe en route to ICANN's meeting. Do as I say.I've written before about the dangerous situation in Mexico. But I realize a lot of people in the industry are still heading down to Mexico City next week for the ICANN ... Continue Reading29 Comments
ICANN to Study Price Caps on Domain Registrations
· Policy & LawAs part of new TLD process, ICANN commissions study on pricing restrictions for registries. After receiving a number of comments about lack of pricing limits in new TLD registry agreements, Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) ... Continue Reading20 Comments