ICANN releases new dotcom contract

[downloadfreak]

Internet overseeing body ICANN has released a revised contract for all dotcoms which it hopes will finally end a huge legal fight at the heart of the Internet.

Significant changes have been made to the deal - which will hand control of all dotcom domains to current owner VeriSign until 2012 - following widespread criticism from the Internet industry.

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Discuss!

 

[JMJ]

What a load of BS. Looks like I'll be spending the next few weeks on another Anti-ICANN and Verisign campaign.

 

[Wolfman]

ICANN Releases New .com Contract

"The Register is reporting that ICANN has released a revised contract for all dotcoms. The new revision hopes to bring an end to the huge legal fights surrounding the core of the Internet. From the article: 'Significant changes have been made to the deal - which will hand control of all dotcom domains to current owner VeriSign until 2012 - following widespread criticism from the Internet industry. Changes include limits on VeriSign's price-rising powers, reduced scope for VeriSign to sell personalized data to third-parties, and marginally increased control over VeriSign's ability to introduce changes to the existing dotcom business model.'" - Source Slashdot.com

Full story from TheRegister, here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/30/icann_verisign_new_contract/

Let's hope that price rising cap is relatively low.

Wolf

 

[AmD950]

That means Verisign owns .com for a few more years?
What the heck...

 

[Dannoth]

What a load of BS. Looks like I'll be spending the next few weeks on another Anti-ICANN and Verisign campaign.

Yep, that is unfair <_<

 

[JMJ]

Price cap is the least of the concerns. Imagine EVERY .com and .net being auctioned in one place and the entire world knows when and where to bid on it. Not only that imagine if those with $10,000 to spend can buy the traffic numbers on every domain there is. Also imagine if through this proposed auction service an owner can list their name for sale and auction during active status. All of that pretty much eliminates the need for us.

It would be like the MLS telling the entire real estate community to go find another job because they will be taking over the sales and auctions of all homes.

 

[Wolfman]

Yes NameMogul CLS is incredibly scary. Im certainly not looking forward to it.

 

[JMJ]

Not only scary but possibly the largest financial windfall a company has ever seen.

 

[Wolfman]

Every drop catcher will go straight out of business. I'm just glad I dont have much invested in traffic. After CLS there wont be anything for anybody without a major budget.

 

[JMJ]

That means Verisign owns .com for a few more years?
What the heck...

No it means Verisign will be putting you and I out of business along with essentially every other form of domain broker, buyer, seller. All .com's and .net's will be auctioned off to highest bidder. Everyone in the world becomes aware of when, how, and where to bid. This in turn creates much higher demand for drops rather than just the people you see in them now. Higher demand means even higher auction closing prices. Skyrocketing acquisition costs and in turn you will get 25% of names you let drop. See the math there? You pay maximum expendetures of 100% and get 25% or mabey even less when you drop.

In addition owners will be able to list there names through the service. So in a sense it eliminates the need for any type of brokerage including Afternic, and Sedo, and me since I do brokering aswell. Everyone here should be very concerned on this matter and not let the MINOR issues at hand cloud your thoughts.

 

[JMJ]

Dropcatchers, brokers, and most likely you and I. If you depend on domains as your living or plan to.

 

[kjmz]

I don't think they will get all that control. It doesn't really make sense to me because they said until 2012. Does that mean it has already begun? If so, nothing really has changed lol

 

[JMJ]

They will get that control. It's in the contract. Do you think they won't use it? You're fooling yourself if you think they won't take advantage of the hundreds of millions or mabey even billions of dollars they will make from the expired market.

And no until the contract is signed they cant implement it.

 

[fonzie_007]

It certainly looks like the current model of domaining will have to be changed. Instead of waiting for names to drop, domainers will have to gamble and contact the registrants directly otherwise feel the wrath of Verisign's right to take the domain after it expires.

 

[JMJ]

"Versign intends to allow the owners to list their domains in active status through the service." Game Over.

 

[Wolfman]

Stock up now, and keep track of your renewal dates, my only advice.

 

[Dave_Z]

B O H I C A

 

[RogueWriter]

That seems rather monopolistic, I imagine we'll be seeing some sabre rattling from affected parties pretty soon.....

Isn't it about time for Microsoft to gobble Verisign up??!

 

[gericsb]

Won't this be good for the holders of existing Domain Names? Now it will be MUCH BETTER for you to contact me (the owner) directly if you have any interest at all of obtaining one of my domain names? Otherwise, you will have to fight even more firecely through the drops?

Example: Lets say I have a decent domain, but you are not sure if you want it/may think my asking price is too high, etc. If you know that you will get it way cheaper by buying from me directly, wouldn't you now be much more apt to contact me/try to negotiate with me etc.? And wouldn't this create a much higher demand to buy from sellers like myself than from drop auctions?

 

[JMJ]

What would they want to sell for? If they get this deal through it sends their cash cow into the billions. There would be no reason to sell when you have that amount of guaranteed and do nothing for it income.

Won't this be good for the holders of existing Domain Names? Now it will be MUCH BETTER for you to contact me (the owner) directly if you have any interest at all of obtaining one of my domain names? Otherwise, you will have to fight even more firecely through the drops?

Example: Lets say I have a decent domain, but you are not sure if you want it/may think my asking price is too high, etc. If you know that you will get it way cheaper by buying from me directly, wouldn't you now be much more apt to contact me/try to negotiate with me etc.? And wouldn't this create a much higher demand to buy from sellers like myself than from drop auctions?

Would you as a regular domain owner wish to deal with 1 person emailing wanting your name or list it in service where the world can offer and bid on it? It cuts out all of the emailing the buyer and getting a good deal aswell if you don't see it. Verisign becomes the only broker, the only drop service.

On another note

"Without that issue to get angry about, much of the fire against the agreement will be quenched. VeriSign has clearly refused to budge on it being given lifetime control of the dotcom registry, but ICANN is willing to let this go because it believes the importance of dotcoms will diminish as it releases new top-level domains and the Internet becomes more search-engine led."

So more or less ICANN is going to go on a free for all releasing of extensions. In turn devaluing everyones inventory.