ICANN Comment

["Bob Martin" <bmartin@xxxxxxxxx>]

As CEO of Internet REIT, I strongly urge that language be included in the
ICANN registries agreements that expressly bars tiered pricing of
registrations of .biz, .info and .org.  There is an inherent conflict of
interest in having the registrar be able to set a price for renewal.  As
written, the current agreement gives registries an unfair advantage and
larger stake in the success of Web sites while asking business operators to
bear the cost of success.
 
Web sites are akin to trademarks. We don't ask companies with successful
trademarks to re-register their trademarks based on the value of their
trademark. Why do we leave the door open to a for-profit company to decide
what the prices are for Web sites? 
 
Registrars register Web sites. That should be it. They ought not be
responsible for establishing the pricing.  That is the responsibility of
ICANN, and a task that ICANN must not abdicate to for-profit companies.

Sincerely,
 
Bob Martin
 
 
 
Bob Martin, CEO
Internet REIT, Inc.
office: 713-628-7654 x 11  * cell: 512-576-9000
Fax: 713-583-9582
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas  77027
Acquisition & Development of Internet Real Estate
 
 
 
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