Re: [bc-gnso] Registry/Registrar Separation

[Liz Williams <lizawilliams@xxxxxxx>]

Hello everyone

I agree with Mikey -- there is more nuance here and we certainly don't  
want to be making long term structural changes without rigourous  
understanding.
I suggested in the public forum today that, given that ownership  
arrangements are part of registry/registrar contracts and that those  
conditions are within the purview of the PDP process, that we should  
recommend a proper policy development exercise.
If we did it right, we would hear all points of view, have additional  
information from experts AND reach a set of recommendations to advise  
the Board.
Liz
On 29 Oct 2009, at 02:56, Mike O'Connor wrote:

> um...
>
> i think there's more nuance there.
>
> the reason i started registering domain names in 1993 was because i  
> wanted my own email domain.  i tried to get oconnor.com but it was  
> taken.  so i settled for haven.com instead.
> many years later, i finally got my name in a domain name --  
> oconnor.pro.  so i'm an example of a guy who hand-registered a name  
> in a new gTLD that i couldn't get in an existing one.   
> unfortunately, right after i got that name, i accidentally sold that  
> first domain (haven.com) for a boatload of money and wound up  
> retiring from the ".pro" world.  life's funny that way...
> sure, there's money to be made in premium name auctions and  
> monitization.  but a LOT of people will ALSO be able to get names  
> that they can't get otherwise.  there's room for both, methinks.  i  
> truly don't think the actors in this drama are evil, they're just  
> approaching the problem from a different point of view.  the  
> conversation that's visible by email during the Seoul meeting  
> convinces me that we're getting better at seeing those different  
> points of view and coming to constructive agreements that can meet  
> the needs of all.  we're not great at it yet, but we're getting  
> better.  let's keep working on that.
> mikey
>
>
> On Oct 28, 2009, at 9:37 PM, Steve DelBianco wrote:
>
> > (for those of you not here in Seoul)
> > Below is what I said (not on behalf of BC) today at the Public  
> > Forum, regarding Rr/Ry separation.
> > I Listened to debate over separation. inconclusive (both sides  
> > passionate and articulate)
> > > But I did learn about motivations for Registrars wanting to run  
> > > Registries
> > > I learned about innovative methods for monetizing premium names.
> > What I learned tells me ICANN should reset public expectations  
> > about benefits of new TLDs.
> > > Let’s start being more transparent about the way names will and  
> > > won’t be available to the public.
> > > Let’s limit disappointment when TLDs launch.
> > >
> > > And let’s make it less likely that the review team on  
> > > Competition , Consumer Trust, and Choice will give ICANN a failing  
> > > grade.
> > For years, the Rhetoric of expectations has been:  we need new TLDs  
> > to give registrants all those “good names that are unavailable in  
> > current TLDs.
> > That’s the rhetoric.  What’s the reality?
> > > Reality 1: new gTLD applicants will maximize profits on premium  
> > > names, whether by selling them at diff prices, or by having an  
> > > affiliate park the domain with advertising.  That name is never  
> > > going be available to a registrant that wants to use it for  
> > > content or commerce.
> > > Reality 2: will see Innovative ways to identify and control  
> > > premium names at launch, and then afterwards, when words and  
> > > phrases suddenly acquire premium value ( h1n1.whatever)
> > There’s Nothing illegal about that, and new Ry contracts allow  
> > uncapped and variable premium pricing.  And you don’t have to own a  
> > registrar to monetize your names – I’ve been educated about that.
> > But let’s stop kidding ourselves and the internet public about how  
> > new TLDs will let ordinary people register names they want but  
> > can’t get today.
> >
> > --
> > Steve DelBianco
> > Executive Director
> > NetChoice
> > http://www.NetChoice.org and http://blog.netchoice.org
> > +1.202.420.7482
> - - - - - - - - -
> phone   651-647-6109
> fax             866-280-2356
> web     www.haven2.com
> handle	OConnorStP (ID for public places like Twitter, Facebook,  
> Google, etc.)