Re[6]: [ga] FW: Urgent: questions for ICANN Board Candidates

[William X Walsh <william@userfriendly.com>]

Saturday, Saturday, September 08, 2001, 2:28:39 AM, DPF wrote:

> Actually .uk's position seems pretty close to not recognising ICANN's
> authority at all.  Their position IIRC is they have a contract with
> the estate of Jon Postel which ICANN can not terminate (DR Black
> correct me if mis-stating).

Jon Postel didn't own the namespace.  The argument wouldn't hold up
even if they did try and claim it.

> .uk would be one of the last not the first to sign a contract.
> Remember ICANN are not just wanting ccTLDs to accept re-delegations
> rights but also to give unlimited policy authority to ICANN.

I've seen no such thing.  I think the new .au contract will closely
resemble what they are asking for.

> ICANN
> could then start exempting words from registrations, impose the UDRP,
> levying a tax per name, imposing structural requirements for 2nd and
> 3rd level names etc etc.

Again, none of those things have been proposed.  However, the
registries do play a key role in the funding of ICANN, and it is from
ICANN that their delegation flows.  So I think it makes perfect sense
for their to be a per domain fee as a means of supporting ICANN, and I
think that should be negotiated as a part of the contracts.

>>> Don't think that ICANN would have a shit show in hell of surviving a
>>> war with the ccTLDs as long as the major ccTLDs had their Govt onside.
>>
>>You assume the ccTLDs would be unified, and that their governments
>>would oppose ICANN on their behalf.

> I assume the major ccTLDs would be unified and their Governments would
> back then if ICANN did what you suggested.  I can not speak for the NZ
> Government (well not anymore :-) but on the knowledge I do have of our
> local scene I would say it is a near certainty for us.

> And the ccTLDs have done an amazing job of keeping unity over the last
> couple of years.  

I disagree.  The only thing I've seen them unify behind is this
attempt to try and gain control of the board.

Honestly, I think they see the writing on the wall, that ICANN will
start cutting deals with their governments and practically forcing
them to sign new contracts.  I think this whole move may be nothing
more than an attempt by them to try and stop and/or slow that process
down.

I don't believe the ccTLDs are as unified as you think, or that their
governments are that willing to go to bat for them over ICANN.  I
think ICANN will make a much more attractive ally for them.

-- 
Best regards,
William X Walsh <william@userfriendly.com>
Userfriendly.com Domains
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