I don't want to rehash the past, but clearly Dr. Jon Postel's wisdom for uploading
new TLDs was something that should not be overlooked (and should be seriously considered
in the next TLD round):1. He wanted potential registries to prove they had
running code. (IOD) has done that.
2. He wanted potential registries
to show there was support for their requested TLD. (IOD has enough supporters
from around the globe to qualify as legitimate support). IF this were a critiera
used last November this certainly would have eliminated dot pro, and dot museum,
and dot aero.
3. He wanted registries to show they were "fit" for
the job (IOD has maintained a registry going on 5 1/2 years!!! In Internet time that
is hard to even imagine)
4. He wanted registries to show they had the financial
wherewithal to run a registry (IOD has shown they are financially stable in that
they have operating cash, and the necessary backing if approved. Also I think
any accountant in the world could see that IOD’s application was responsible when
it came to fee structures...compared to the other applications)
One thing that
Dr. Jon Postel could not have foreseen is the "TM" protection aspect of domain names.
In fact he flat out didn’t think domain names should be trademarked. Nonetheless
things change, and commerce changes therefore ICANN asked the respective applications
to show them a plan to protect TM holder’s rights. Image Online Design did,
and if their plan were used with the dot info upload I venture to guess it would
have worked like clock-work. With Image Online Design’s plan, Microsoft (for
example) would have been able to request a "hold" be put on Microsoft.web once proper
documents could show they held the TM. The legitimate TM holders would have
been satisfied, as well I suspect the non-TM holders alike would have. This
method is what I call a visionary!!!
Gregory W. Krajewski
President
VisitBlackHills.com