Friedrich,OK, lets have a Swiss discussion...
Good, we agree that some good
restricted TLDs are needed.
You state "Is it fair to have a big company take away
the domain name from a smaller company, because the name "sounds similar"?"
Well
no, it is not fair. The internet is not inventing anything here. Company names and
trademarks have the same problem. And why do we have commercial registers that check
if your company name does not already exist? Why do we have trademark protection?
I
believe it is to protect both innovations and consumers - but it is not fair to everybody?
No, just to the majority...I hope!!!
It is the same thing with domain names. Without
naming rules, the risk is that the system is more unfair than if there are a few
rules.
How would you like me to set up a company called 'Friedrich Kisters SA'
if you already have one? I would really get mad...
Re "The .com gtld is partly
restricted" - I would rather say depleted rather than restricted. Let's use the term
'restricted' in the ICANN sense. Yes it is more and more difficalt to find good domain
names. Imagine the problems the pharmaceutical industry has to find good names for
new drugs... it is a nightmare and requires specialists.
However many TLDs we will
have, the problem will become more and more acute as time goes by. It is inevitable
- and again not unique to the internet domain name space.
Re "20'000 names were
registered in .web, mainly by private people.
This IS an added value to the internet
in my eyes."
Yes, it is an added value and I would hope that the experiment can
continue - and the .webs be put on a more level playing field with the .coms. ( 20'000
in 5 years is about a weeks worth of new .coms?).
Just as I hope the Global NameSpace
venture can continue. I do believe that internet users (the market) will be the ultimate
decider in all this.
However, that ICANN now authorises a few generic unrestricted
TLDs is another story. ICANN's goals have been made explicit : it has a responsibility
to ensure the stability of the DNS and the continuity of the internet in the interests
of the internet community at large. It MUST succeed in what it does and therefore
has to be more prudent than IOD or Global Name Space. They can fail, that is the
market. ICANN cannot afford to fail...they represent hundreds of millions of users.
Who knows, maybe one day the whole board will be elected.
Generic unrestricted
TLDs are HIGH RISK. The .com is perceived to be a mess (I quite like it) and adding
more of the same makes.... a bigger mess.
So, thinking about it again, Friedrich
, I am just as convinced that the opportunity is not right for ICANN. Well, they
will decide.
Best regards,
Hugues Du Bois
Switzerland.
PS. If you come
to Montreux, give me a call...we can have a Swiss beer.