RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] First stab at objectives and a definition of VI

[Milton L Mueller <mueller@xxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx]
 
> > So just to make sure I got this right, the definition that is being
> proposed at this stage is the following?
> >
> > Vertical integration is defined as a business structure in which there
> is no separation between the registry operator and the registrar; they are
> owned and operated by the same company and the domain name supplier is not
> required to provide access to independent firms to sell names under its
> TLD.

Yes, that's a perfectly fine definition. But the good news is that Avri's 
proposed definition really has very few, if any, substantive differences from a 
correct one:

> Vertical integration is defined as a business structure in which there is
> no separation between the registry operator and the registrar in relation
> to a particular gTLD; they are either owned and operated by the same
> company or have another contractual affiliation that covers the specific
> gTLD, and the domain name supplier is not required to provide full and
> equal access to independent firms to sell names under its TLD.

Other than the phrase " or have another contractual affiliation that covers the 
specific gTLD", which is a bit vague, I have no problem with this definition. 
This is in fact not what our difference was within NCUC. It is the equal access 
issue that didn't seem to be understood at the time, but this definition 
includes that. 

I still think it wise to include the economic reference and the official 
definition used therein, so that policy experts and real economists who observe 
our work at least know we did our homework. I do not consider Wikipedia to be 
an authoritative source on anything, and typically no subject matter expert 
does.

--MM