Did I type Farce instead of force. OOPs. But if the shoe
fits . . . When the WG-Review suggested in a proposal that an Individual Domain Name
Holders Constituency be formed they simply clouded the issue by claiming the Non-Commercial
Constituency was formed to represent Individual Domain Name Holders.
I wasn't
aware they were supposed to be representing us. If they are supposed to be then the
job they are doing is sorely lacking. I don't believe representing Domain name Holders
is their function although the Intellectual Property Constituency representing Trademark
Holders would like people to think so.Those lawyers state in their report for
the task farce that the focus of an Individual Domain Name Holders constituency would
be too narrow in focus. Do they mean like the constituency representing trademark
holders? Themselves?
Then if they believe that it would have a narrow focus then
let's abolish the Trademark Owners Constituency. It's focus is just as narrow as
that of Individual Domain Name Owners.
There is already a business constituency
which ARE the trademark interests. Why two sets of votes for one purpose?
Then
aren't the ISP's also a business therefore represented in no two but three constituencies?
Doesn't the same go for the registrars?
When Trademark Interests are this heavily
represented and Domain Name Holders have NO representation and you weigh in the fact
that over 80% of WIPO's decisions have been FOR the Trademark Owners doesn't it reek
of impropriety?
Also weigh in the fact that Trademarks have been given protection
online to a much greater degree than the law allows for offline.
The process is
being controlled entirely by Big Business Interests. There is no effective representation
of either the Individual Users on the Internet or the Individual Domain Name Owners
or the Small Businessman.
This attempt, successful thus far to control the Internet
must be addressed. Everyone needs to be involved. Everyone is not even aware of how
to get involved although ICANN claims it is seeking public opinion. Where is the
huge press releases to insure greater participation in the process?
They have engineered
it so the working groups stay small. That way if the WG finds solutions inconsistant
with their agenda they can simply dismiss it due to lack of participation.
It has
been planned this way. It's no accident.
Chris McElroy aka NameCritic