Interesting Article on VeriSign Auctioning Deleted Domains

[IAmAllanShore]

From http://www.icannwatch.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/21/2330229

Ramifications?

VeriSign is now working with Bruce Tonkin, one of the Registrar Constituency's representatives to the GNSO Council, to facilitate the process of developing a solution for an industry-wide com/net deleted names handling process, which facilitates an open auction during the pending delete period.

-Allan

 

[mole]

Nothing wrong with that :imho: I'm sure Verisign gives sufficient warning to the registrant prior to the expiry date.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

It just seems like they're putting their fingers in a lot of pies so to speak.
That and it does create somewhat of a conflict of interest on the "renewal" front... they could want people not to renew popular names so it has to go to auction.
Just my cynical take on it
-Allan

 

[mole]

Rumor has it on the other forum that there may be some insider trading going on...

Domains that were on auction suddenly disappeared and appeared in eNom with whois protection before any auction could take place.

Ahhh... rumors... please post any sightings of this.

 

[Grrilla]

At some point, it is going to become imperative that the ten's of thousands of independent domain marketers have a central lobbying force to counteract the activity of the big boys, if we are to be a factor. Large companies, like Verisign, are using their clout, which is already considerable, to gain control over the industry, for their own gain, (of course) through the consolidation of services and legislation of practices. Simply put, this is what corporations do. Consolidation, as evidenced by the post 80's business model of merger-control-streamline, cost thousands their jobs, and is one reason why small business enterprises are such a large part of today's business landscape. It goes w/o saying that the losers in Verisign's scenario, and others similar to it, are you and I, the independent domain marketers.

It may be a romantic notion to view domain marketing as the modern day equivalent of the land/gold/oil rushes that have occurred over the past 150 years. I happen to take this perspective, because, much like the "claim stakers" of the 19th century American wild west, I equate the newness of the internet with wide open spaces, where properties, filled w/ potential and promise, are still available to be staked and claimed. Today, the internet is one of the few places where the individual, the little guy, still has the oppurtunity to explore, discover and, if enterprising enough, turn a profit, while remaining relatively unimpeded by government and/or big business meddling. If we allow the "Verisign's" of our industry to take have their way, the rights and business practices that we now enjoy, will be methodically, a step at a time, removed from our control.

Today, we have instant communication and sources for detailed information- advantages that the ranchers and farmers from yesteryear, didn't have. If we allow big business interests to "railroad" us, we have no one to blame, but ourselves.

There are some current discussions going on that are exploring this issue and how best to organize our forces, which, when taken at as a whole, would have considerable impact. Stay tuned for more. :talk: