RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] Harms Project Draft - Registrant Harms

["Tim Ruiz" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jeff,

These are the harms that I believe are likely:

Higher prices - Each gTLD is a monopoly of that name space, competition
within that name space has been provided by registrars. Allowing a gTLD
to vertically integrate, operate both the TLD and the channel, relieves
pressure on the gTLD operator to keep prices low that typically come
from competing registrars.

Lower level of stability, security, and service for the same reasons
noted above.

Creation of complex structures and relationships will be difficult or
impossible to enforce. ICANN will have several new compliance issues to
deal with regarding dozens and likely hundreds of new gTLDs - IPv6,
DNSSEC, new IP protection mechanisms/tools, and possibly other new rules
regarding malicious conduct. Compliance is not merely a matter of money,
there is a practical limit to what ICANN the organization or community
can optimally keep up with. 

100% vertical integration - or anything goes - negates the justification
for registrar accreditation and for consensus policy. Only minimal
technical requirements on DNS provisioning and resolution services would
be needed.

Lack of innovation - vertical integration or high levels of co-ownership
only further entrench the incumbent registries and registrars, leaving
little incentive for new service providers (back end, registrars, etc.)
to be created.

Note that this is not a comprehensive list of the harms I believe are
likely.  

Tim
 
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] Harms Project Draft - Registrant Harms
From: Jeff Eckhaus <eckhaus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, August 02, 2010 1:56 pm
To: Kathy Kleiman <kKleiman@xxxxxxx>, "Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx"
<Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx>


Kathy ,

Thanks for adding to the list, would be great if you could add some
explanation on how these harms are a result of allowing VI or CO.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Kleiman [mailto:kKleiman@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 11:49 AM
To: Jeff Eckhaus; Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] Harms Project Draft - Registrant Harms

Hi All,
I appreciate Jeff E. taking the first crack at this difficult issue. I
am still reviewing his Summary of Harms, but wanted to note that one
category seems to be missing - and "Registrant Harms/Consumer
Protections." I realize that these issue may be implicit in other
points, but I think we should definitely make them explicit.

As a first stab under "Registrant Harms/Consumer Protections" I would
include:
- Reduced choice, access and availability of domain names
- Higher prices for domain names
- Reduced access to registrars (who might operate in registrants'
language, currency and customs)
- No clear avenue for compliance enforcement by those who are concerned
about violations

Best,

Kathy Kleiman
Director of Policy
.ORG The Public Interest Registry
Direct: +1 703 889-5756 Mobile: +1 703 371-6846

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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff Eckhaus
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 2:02 PM
To: 'Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx'
Subject: [gnso-vi-feb10] Harms Project Draft

All,

I have made my first pass at drafting the harms that have been
mentioned, discussed, presented, whispered since the beginning of the VI
discussions a few years ago. I believe I have captured most of the harms
but this list is not final or complete, just a draft and a start. I have
used ICANN presentations, DAG comments, and other GNSO lists as well as
one on one discussion. I have copied some of the main sources of the
harms list in the document itself and have the links if anybody cares to
read the complete source documents.

I specifically did not mention market power or list harms that are
exclusive to market power, but that was just a choice I made, if others
want to add on to the list, please feel free, remember this is
brainstorming mode.

The one harm I did specifically leave out is the strategy of auctions of
premium names or the initial holding back of reserved names. The
decision to hold back premium names and auctions is an action by the
Registry will occur regardless of VI/CO and is not a consequence or
result of VI/CO. You can read the recent TLD strategy put out by Afilias
(RACK supporter) here where they say this is an important strategy in
launching your TLD.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/new_tld_application_tip_launch_strategies/


If someone feels there is some way an auction can be influenced or
altered due to VI then please add that to the list, since that could be
a potential harm.

That being said, I would like to reiterate that this is brainstorming on
the harms and would like you to add to this list, if necessary, but
please no deletions. Once complete we can work on editing, ranking,
sorting, predicting and deciding if these are harms at all, harms
related to Vertical Integration, only in your own TLD and whatever other
mechanisms we choose.

Have great weekend everyone


Jeff Eckhaus




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