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Username: jandl
Date/Time: Sat, October 14, 2000 at 5:57 PM GMT (Sat, October 14, 2000 at 1:57 PM EDT)
Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer V5.0 using Windows 98
Score: 5
Subject: Fragmenting the net

Message:
 

 
               
There are several applications for TLDs which exist in other root systems and have been there since 1996. Some are later, but still have existed prior to this process.  Examples (biz, event, news, sex, inc, cool, home, etc).  The registries for these names are open and active.

If ICANN should accept any of these TLD's and assign them to the current applicants, ICANN will be attempting to fragment the net, since the other roots recognize "first use" or "prior use" claims and include the a-root TLD's as a subset of the roots.  The only other option would be to put these registries out of business.  I don't think this is an option for those that have been doing business in good faith. 

It is disturbing to see ICANN taking a position that it is the only game in town and that other root systems do not exist.  The a-root happens to be the most well known, but that does not mean it is the ONLY one.  The premise behind having multiple root server systems is a well distributed coalition of systems, all of which cooperate and include all NON COLLIDING TLDs, recognizing "prior use."   Without this type of agreement, the net is fragmented.

The above TLD's and others have registrants and active domains.  I sincerely hope that ICANN will not attempt to usurp them and disenfranchise those domain holders or fragment the net because of colliding TLD's.  This is exactly what we need to avoid.  ICANN needs to recognize that they are not the owners of the internet and have authority over com/net/org with no rights to take TLD's from existing registries.  The TLD applicants also need to check to see which TLD's are accepting registrations and have been doing so since prior to any ICANN applications.

It could turn out that the only option for the other roots is to exclude any TLD's that collide with their existing TLD's so that dn holders are not simply disenfranchised.  That is exactly how the net would become fragmented.

ICANN?


     

 

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