Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yoda]

This is an issue that will seem to many to be of no importance and will have many scratching their head as to why I would post it in current events. But I cannot emphasize enough how striking these proposed changes in contracts are and how devastating they will be to the Internet (possibly more so than the loss of net neutrality). This is what is about to happen:

ICANN is going to give the main registries the right to apply variable pricing to domain registrations.

(Many people are probably scratching about now: WTF? Huh? Who cares? How does that affect us? )

ICANN is the organization that governs the registries. For each extension .dom, .net, .biz, .info, .org etc. there is a single (read monopoly) registry that gets to control it and profits off of the registrations for those extensions. There are many registrars (the companies that register domain names for web developers) and they get a small cut of each registration, however there is only one REGISTRY.

Until now, all registrations cost the same fixed price. Now, the registries want the right to charge what they think a domain is worth to register it and RENEW it. This is going to allow registries (which are monopolies) to extort money out of web developers when the domain name renewal takes place, which will stifle much innovation on the Internet.

What can happen? Suppose you develop a new website from a domain name that nobody wants (which you register for $10.00 a year). You work your butt off for five years and start generating substantial income and massive traffic due to your hard work and content that you created. Now, it�s time to renew. The registry sees that you have a successful domain name and now says: you want to renew that domain? It�ll cost you $50,000 a year. The registries will have that right. The registry doesn�t like your political point of view? OK, it�ll cost you 1 million dollars to renew. I�m sure the Googles and MSNs will not have to worry too much as they wield too much political power. However, all of the small and medium businesses will have to worry over how much they will be extorted on renewal. This will lead to a lot of small web developers packing it in.

Domain name registration are handed out as a monopoly and this should be treated as public goods and regulated as such.

ICANN tried to sneak this proposal through during the height of summer vacation. You have two days to voice a protest then all public comments will be closed.

Public comments can be sent using the addresses at:

ICANN's Website

(be sure to send to all 3 email addresses for all 3 contracts, and also click the link in the email ICANN will send you to authenticate your email address, otherwise your comment doesn't get received)

[canuckistan]

It's already become a foreign policy tool.

[Milwaukiedave]

Thanks for the info about this. I emailed all three and did the verification. While I don't currently have a website address, I think this is rediculous.

[igotthisguitar]

I-CAN

or C I A ???

Anyone know exactly who claims to "own" our intellectual property?

The CBC's FIFTH ESTATE is one outlet i'm aware of having reported a number of years ago, Internic Domains etc is mostly run by "RETIRED" CIA

( Whoops, hehe ... sorry i almost forget ... they're the good guys ... right ? )

Thanks for the domain name idea(s) ... now give us your money too.