Electronic Security Association: Opposition to Closed gTLDs

[ESA Communications <communications@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Good afternoon:

The Electronic Security Association (ESA), which represents more than 2,500 
member companies involved in the electronic life safety and security industry, 
would like to register our collective opposition to the practice of closed 
gTLDs, including the domain name ".security."

We strongly disagree with the concept of any single registrant claiming 
exclusive rights to generic terms that should be available for common use by 
companies or entities involved in a given industry. We believe this practice is 
restrictive and anti-competitive, and would create an Internet "land grab" that 
benefits companies with large amounts of resources.

To allow these entities to "purchase" common terms for which they do not 
possess intellectual property rights allows them to circumvent well established 
processes for obtaining legitimate and recognized domain names and trademark 
protections.

Any new TLDs which are created should be available for open registration on a 
non-discriminatory basis, with no exclusive-use restrictions or control over 
domain names.

Regards,

Electronic Security Association
6333 N. State Highway 161
Suite 350
Irving, TX 75038
www.ESAweb.org