Update from the Domain Name Owners Associaion (DNOA)
 

In 2006 I helped found, along with 200 fellow members from the domaining community, a non-profit trade association called the Domain Name Owners Association (or simply known as the DNOA.)

If you are unfamiliar with the DNOA, our primary purpose is to present domain owners as legitimate businesspeople who are able to self-regulate as a group and create the necessary infrastructure for sound, reliable and trustworthy business transactions that differ in total regard from what has become a common stereotype of Domain Name Owners as cyber squatters, outlaws, and extortionists.

Our Code of Ethics is the cornerstone of our organization. All members who join agree to operate within these practices when doing business.

While it feels like our organization has been largely inactive over the last year, I have an update about DNOA that I wanted to share here, and give everyone a re-introduction and re-invitation to check us out again.

Our big news is that we are enjoying a renewed sense of drive and purpose as we welcome Sally Letzer, Barry Letzer, and Donna Mahony to the Board of Directors, joining myself, Brad Evers, Mark Beatty and M.W. Teaster.

Sally Letzer has also been elected as the Association's new Chairman, replacing me in that position. I will be staying on a Director. Sally is sure to provide the much needed leadership we need at the top. She has my full support in this, as well as the other Directors.

In our Board Meeting earlier this week, we have endorsed the Domain Registrant’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities and a plan of action to respond to Senate Bill s.2661 (a.k.a. the Snowe Bill.) We also approved the formation of an Advisory Board which we hope to fill with dynamic individuals from within our global industry.

Please have a look at us again. If you share our vision, we'd love to have you join the DNOA. Check it out at www.dnoa.org

Thanks!

- RJ

Fantastic! :tu:

Thanks to you, the Founders and Board ... and all the members who have put in so much time and positive energy to make the DNOA such a success for the entire industry (in a professional, concerted effort to add legitimacy to the profession)! :music: :talk:

Appreciate all your hard work and the update, RJ!
Link: http://www.dnoa.org

-Jeff :cool:

Great News!!!!

:tu: :tu:
Great

Great news RJ, look forward to getting over there more often.

Just a thought, maybe fill up that empty top banner spot with a nice dnoa.org banner ;)

pls correct me if I'm wrong I think RickLatona.com is paying for it.

Originally Posted by Broker

Great news RJ, look forward to getting over there more often. Just a thought, maybe fill up that empty top banner spot with a nice dnoa.org banner ;)

Rick has the header I believe, normally the banner spot is somewhere underneath no?

there's supposed to be a 728x90 banner in the middle before that was taken out to give way to ricklatona.com (as I've seen)

Originally Posted by Broker

Rick has the header I believe, normally the banner spot is somewhere underneath no?

This is fantastic news RJ. I'm glad to here it and I encourage anyone to who is a domainer to join the DNOA.

Welcome to the DNOA Sally, Barry, and Donna I'm eager to see the new changes and developments as they happen:)


Maybe the DNOA should be the next organization to sponsor NamePros ;)

Nothing like a threat on the horizon to spark interest. The Snowe bill is a genuine threat, although it is small compared to what may follow. Phil Corwin wrote in Modern Domainer (issue 4) about debating in front of a group of trademark lawyers. His impression was that they were like hungry sharks. His debate opponent had no compunction about bringing in the most extreme and disgusting examples to make her points. That is one of the problems, domainers must promote the highest level of ethics while the other side does not.

As Rick says, these guys want our domains and they do not intend to pay for them. Clear logical and reasonable voices in the halls of power are the best response.

Thats wonderful news. Im glad to hear there will be a new spark for DNOA!

to show the domain industry as a professional , respectable and informed can only be a good thing .. cheers

The more people the better
 

Thanks for the update. I'll be joining up because its important that the group has a large membership so when it speaks people know that it has some muscle behind it.

I hate it when groups say they represent a community and you later find out its a one or two person show behind the scenes (oh politics).

looks like you cant beat the price...

namepros should have a membership rally...

80,000 members x $20 :)



.

EDIT
wrong thread..lol

I agree. The membership fee for the DNOA is a good buy if you are a domainer who activly sells names. Being a member of the DNOA does add buyer confidence and seller credibility.

Some great people joined DNOA. I hope DNOA will work to fight some shady practices in the domain industry in the future.

I see it as a viable organization to promote the interests of all domainers, not just the elite.

Originally Posted by Alex

I see it as a viable organization to promote the interests of all domainers, not just the elite.

Yes, that's precisely our purpose here. :tu:

Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer. One of the goals of the org is to run it as open and transparently as possible.

Thanks for the update and all the hard work RJ and the rest at DNOA.

very nice news :)

Originally Posted by Domainer' Bill of Rights

TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT: Domain registrants have the responsibility to avoid registering domains in bad faith that infringe on trademarks.

Does this apply if the name was "bought" or "won via auction?" Is that the same as "registering?"

i have a DNOA account but havent been utilising it for ages.

Originally Posted by bobdigital

Does this apply if the name was "bought" or "won via auction?" Is that the same as "registering?"

In this context, yes.

Originally Posted by Malaysia

i have a DNOA account but havent been utilising it for ages.

Time you logged in and enjoyed the benefits then. Assistance is free and freely provided at the DNOA forum.

Congrats -RJ-, about time this started rolling. I really like the Registrant's Rights, maybe we should allow people to sign up to show their support? Congrats to the new board members.

Very good to hear that the DNOA is still alive and kickin'..
But how do I get my membership seal back? it seems to have gone AWOL.. :)

Quote:

You can display your DNOA seal on your posts at NamePros.com. The seal will link to a profile page where viewers can see your DNOA membership status. To activate this feature, make sure your NamePros username is recorded on your DNOA profile here: http://www.dnoa.org/members/profile.php?do=editprofile (very bottom) Then, when logged into NamePros, click this link: http://www.namepros.com/dnoaseal.php You only need to do this once, and the seal will be displayed immediately. As an added bonus, you can further identify yourself as a DNOA member by selecting the DNOA membergroup at NamePros here, which will give you a gold colored username and a DNOA user title : http://www.namepros.com/profile.php?do=editusergroups

http://www.dnoa.org/members/showpos...891&postcount=1

Originally Posted by Redleg

Very good to hear that the DNOA is still alive and kickin'.. But how do I get my membership seal back? it seems to have gone AWOL.. :)

Yikes, it worked! :D
Thanks a lot. :)