Excerpt from Reuters story about ICANN meeting:"Controversy over Afilias' ".info"
domain continued as well, as board member Robert Connelly resigned in protest over
the company's proposed remedy to widespread claim-jumping of many of the most desirable
names such as "finance.info" during a preregistration period.
Afilias, a consortium
of 18 domain-name firms, estimates that 10 percent of its 53,000 preregistered names
may be held by applicants who took advantage of a "sunrise period" for trademark
holders by claiming to hold bogus trademarks. Outside estimates range as high as
25 percent.
Chief marketing officer Roland LaPlante said the company was sticking
with its plan to challenge questionable trademark holders in December, and that Connelly
had been disgruntled with Afilias before the preregistration issue arose.
"I think
Bob's action reflects his frustration with his inability to personally control Afilas's
management," LaPlante said."