Lifting of price controls

["Matt Asher" <status@xxxxxxx>]

I am writing to strongly oppose the lifting of price controls on what
registries can charge. Clearly if registries are allowed to price
discriminate and charge without limit for premium or developed domains, they
will. This puts them in a position to extort large sums from owners of these
domains. 

 

In Latin America they have a term for this kind of extortion, usually done
by some governmental organization or local mafia: "socio sin capital". This
means, basically, "unfunded partner". Apparently the same thing is big in
Russia right now too.

 

Allowing the registrars to charge "market" rates for selling or renewing
domains basically makes them a partner in *any and all* web business,
without having to actually give you money in return for that stake. The more
your virtual property is worth, or becomes worth, the more they can extort. 

 

Beyond the "Putinization" of the namespace, this would warp the very nature
of the internet and open up huge unforeseen problems. For example, what
happens when an organization with a strong trademark refuses to pay a large
renewal fee the registry wants to charge? Will the registry sell it to
someone else? Would you want to invest in developing a domain name if you
knew the renewal fee could spike as a result of your actions? These are just
a couple of the tons of problems and aggravations that would result from
this policy. 

 

Best,


Matt