STI - abuse

[Global Business <globalbiz@xxxxxxxxx>]

Establishing a clearinghouse for TMs sounds honorable.
But it will become another tool of the IP community to abuse the rights of
small businesses who can not afford to defend themselves against frivolous
attacks by multi-national corporations.

Icann continues to erode the rights of honest, hardworking business people
that were fortunate enough to register a generic domain many years ago.
Long before the corporate world saw any value in owning generic domains.
Now, they want another tool to legally steal domains.

The clearing house concept would be used by the IP community to slowly take
away any domain they desire.
For example, I could see it being used by companies like Costco
to eventually seize Cost.com as a trademark infringement.

Icann should be standing up for the millions of little guys worldwide and
not worry about protecting a few large corporations who can legally protect
themselves.

I'm not attempting to defend the few cybersquatters that exist.

However, is it right to erode the rights of 999,999 innocent domain owners
to punish 1 bad apple?
The IP community already have many tools available in their arsenal to
protect themselves.
Why give them more at the expense of millions of innocent domain owners?

The millions of small innocent business people can not afford to have a
voice at Icann.
Therefore, it appears the only voices heard by Icann are from the IP
community that has their own agenda.

Icann needs to protect the millions of innocent business people and not give
in to the severe pressure from the IP community.

small business person