Re: [alac] new gTLDs

[Esther Dyson <edyson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not sure we can resolve this all at once, but I don't really think new 
unrestricted gTLDs are that great of a way to resolve the so-called 
artificial scarcity. It is a *real* scarcity - the scarcity of space in 
people's minds.  (people want the same term in .com, not in 
.whatsit.)   Whereas sponsored TLDs *do* help, by creating extra space.  so 
how about a broad roll-out of more *sponsored* ones?

e.g.:  United.com -- only one
add .biz, info, .web, .info.... not much help.  United is still a pretty 
limited-use trademark.  [until you add so many that the whole thing becomes 
meaningless, which may well be the most desirable outcome.]

But if you add .aero, .law, .van, and restricted TLDs, you multiply the 
word United by a variety of specific uses.

So we should probably just listen, since like you I don't know of any 
surveys I would trust on user opinion on this topic.  (And opinion is not 
the only guide. Some good assessment  as to likely impact of various 
policies would also be helpful.)

Esther


At 10:20 AM 3/5/2003, Wendy Seltzer wrote:
> I'll be participating in a DNSO new gTLD committee call tomorrow. Their 
> immediate objective is to give a recommendation on how to structure the 
> namespace for new gTLDs.
>
> I'd like to get a sense of whether the ALAC wants to comment on either the 
> substantive issues of namespace structuring or the procedural issues of 
> how at-large should be involved with the substantive discussion going forward.
>
> To this point, the gTLD Committee has heard from the business constituency 
> and non-commercial.  The business constituency has recommended limited 
> rollout of sponsored, restricted TLDs; non-commercial has called for more 
> rapid expansion, including new generic, unrestricted names.
>
> Substantively, I lean toward more rapide expansion of the namespace, 
> without rigid structure imposed, because I think many current domain name 
> conflicts come from artificial scarcity.  There doesn't need to be any 
> technical shortage of domain names.  Procedurally, it would be good to 
> find a way to hear from the at-large public -- are we aware of any user 
> surveys or other means by which they've spoken already?
>
> For this call, I expect mostly to listen, and suggest that I prepare 
> comments after taking their ideas back to the ALAC.
>
> Thanks.
> --Wendy
>
> --
> Wendy Seltzer -- wendy@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation
> Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School
> http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html
> Chilling Effects: http://www.chillingeffects.org/



Esther Dyson                    Always make new mistakes!
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