Why should we pay for domains?

[Laonick]

I'm new here and my question to all is why?
Who owns a name before it's registered?
Why do we have to pay for a name that nobody owns?
How can I get a business started where people who want to register domain names have to come to me to buy them, even though I don't own that name?
Why can't we register domain names at a central registry which is in control and is a non-profit organisation?
I know to register a business it costs money, but that is done through the governments of all countries. Domain names are different, no country really owns any of them and why do I have to pay private companies to do it?
Really interesed to hear some reason on this.
Please educate me!!!

 

[Morph]

Why do we have to pay for a name that nobody owns?
Why not.
How can I get a business started where people who want to register domain names have to come to me to buy them, even though I don't own that name?
Name reseller, www.godaddy.com for example go to reseller
Why can't we register domain names at a central registry which is in control and is a non-profit organisation?
Domaining is a profitable industry.
I know to register a business it costs money, but that is done through the governments of all countries. Domain names are different, no country really owns any of them and why do I have to pay private companies to do it?
yes, some countries own there own CCTLD.

 

[Gene]

Tens of thousands of domains are registered every day. Managing accurate records takes many, many man hours, servers, bandwidth, and accountability. Whether it's a non-profit organization or not, somebody has to pay for all the labor and hardware involved. Unless, of course, you're willing to volunteer to do all this for free

 

[tk]

nobody owns the domain before it is registered. ONly when you register it is assinged to your name.

Registering domain is controlled by central registry... depending upon the TLD different bodies control it.

 

[cache]

someone need to pay for the infrastructure.

 

[danBoT]

you are paying for a service

just taking a domain thats like saying why do we pay for food when its just sitting there why don't we just take it.

 

[Fleege]

Love it - Some deep thoughts!

Its kinda like the new frontier - the new continent. Stake your claim. The reg fee is just a formality & taxes etc. The claimed land can be worth millions.

Hint. Get ocean front property.

Great philosophical thoughts. Rep added!


Just like a child can ask eye opening questions - so can a newbie!

welcome to NP!

 

[Zeeble]

I think the questions should not be "why should we pay?" But rather; "why should we pay so much"

I see no reason to pay more than $6 to verisign just to keep records, when they don't even provide support?

 

[Laonick]

Thanks for the timely replies. Much appreciated guys. I guess what I didn't say b4 was 'If' I have my own server and whatever else I need to set up a www. then why should I pay a co. who sells sth that I might own anyway?.....eg... intellectual property rights are becoming a big question now. Another eg... How can somebody else own a name that I made? The new frontier......... I love it. A baby with a new outlook is exactly how we should be looking at the new technology. It will give us far greater room for advancement than being stuck in a bundle of red tape or cornered into private monopolies.
I will persist until I get some solid answers here. Does anybody know their govts. policies with this? I have read a little but there is so much on it. BTW I'm from Australa living in China and wanting to do sth here.
Cheers.

 

[Gene]

'If' I have my own server and whatever else I need to set up a www. then why should I pay a co. who sells sth that I might own anyway?

Because there has to be a central database that prevents others from using the name you selected.

 

[Laonick]

Forgot to say "Cheers Fleege" for the optimism. Thanks for the welcome and the rep.

 

[Fleege]

A domain is a new creation. like a invention. Some are good. Some are not so good but a novelty at least.

Does a domain exist if nobody visit it?

Does a domain exist if it isnt at least parked. Imo. NO it's a nuisance. At least a parked page will give some nice options for the person to continue. + some nice revenue for domainer and end client.

 

[Laonick]

Because there has to be a central database that prevents others from using the name you selected.

Is there a central database and if so....where is it....(Country)?

 

[Grrilla]

Why do we have to pay for electricity? It is a natural process that occurs when electrons and protons interact in a particular way. No one owns electrons or protons so why should we have to pay for them when they coillide in a way that causes electricity to occur?

When we pay the electric bill, we are not paying for the electricity, per se. What we are paying for is the R&D that went into making the electricity useable, the materials that are used to harness it and deliver it to us and the service and upkeep of those materials. We are paying for the container, or as cache stated, the infrastructure. The question regarding how much we pay, how our payments are being disbursed- how much and to whom, is always worthy of examination.

 

[Toolbox123]

Good point but everyone needs a living.

 

[fonzie_007]

I like to think of domain names an intangible or online real estate. There is a price to be paid for anything that you use or that can turn you a profit.

 

[AmD950]

Some of us like me will just love to collect domains for fun like collecting stamps...
for showing off purposes.

 

[Halobitt]

Does a domain exist if nobody visit it?

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no-one around to hear it did it actually fall?:hehe:

No, a domain doesn't really exist until you think of it and check it out to see if it is free or not, but odds are it has probably existed in the heads of at least 5 other people who didn't register it.
If it is a good one register it there and then, because it's not very nice to come back and find the name you have had in your head for weeks, suddenly taken.

 

[Ben]

I think the questions should not be "why should we pay?" But rather; "why should we pay so much"

I see no reason to pay more than $6 to verisign just to keep records, when they don't even provide support?

Agreed.

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no-one around to hear it did it actually fall?

Of course it did.

 

[Grrilla]

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no-one around to hear it did it actually fall?

The correct zen on that one is more like, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" :p

Some of us like me will just love to collect domains for fun like collecting stamps...
for showing off purposes.

Sometimes, even if it is not our primary or original intention. :blink: