Re: [council] Draft Agenda for Council meeting Thursday 13 January 2005

["Ross Wm. Rader" <ross@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Philip,

I believe that I understand the intent of this motion, and I don't think 
I disagree with it, but might I suggest that we instead look at this 
issue in the context of the stability of the DNS and the registration 
and management function instead of the market and operational slant that 
found in the current overview and motion?
In other words, let's look at this from a policy failure and remediation 
perspective instead of attempting to navigate business models and 
operational practices.
(happy new year everyone!)



On 1/5/2005 8:49 AM Philip Sheppard noted that:
> Bruce, would you be kind enough to table this resolution for the 13 January
> Council meeting on behalf of the BC?
>
> Issue - Re-selling of valuable deleted domain names in a secondary market
>
> The typical model for selling deleted TLDs is first-come first-served and
> this works well for ordinary names where the profit to registries and
> registrars is small and similar.  But it does not work for special names
> where the domain name equity is much higher, either because the name has
> perceived value, or there is a desirable level of associated traffic with
> the name. A secondary market has grown up to remarket the names. Some names
> are bought for speculative resell; others because they have traffic still
> active and are resold to redirect the traffic to other, sometimes
> undesirable, sites. This market has created a new business opportunity for
> registrars and a problem for the registries. Certain registrars are
> "slaming" the registries with automated requests for desirable names.
> Because the present system provides equal access to all registrars, some
> registrars have created new ICANN accredited daughter registrars whose sole
> purpose is to request deleted names - thus increasing the chance for the
> parent registrar to get desirable names.  This massive set of requests is
> affecting the ability of the registrars to manage their existing bona fide
> business efficiently. This impacts on stability. The implication of these
> new types of ICANN accredited registrars needs to be assessed.
>
> Proposal
> Council needs to investigate the issue fully and so should consider the need
> for a PDP with a request for ICANN staff to write an issues report.
>
> Draft resolution
> Whereas the re-selling of certain deleted or expiring names has lead to
> unforeseen strains on the ability of registries and registrars to manage
> their business efficiently,
> Whereas this affects the service level provided to users and the meaning of
> ICANN accredited as it applies to registrars,
>
> Council resolves,
> to request the ICANN staff manager to write an issues report (as specified
> in annex A to the ICANN by-laws) on the "Re-selling of valuable
> deleted/expiring domain names in a secondary market", so that Council can
> subsequently decide if a policy development process would be appropriate.
>
>
>
> Many thanks
> Philip
>
> PS I am open to friendly amendments to improve the wording of the resolution
> should this help clarity.

--
Regards,


        -rwr






"In the modern world the intelligence of public opinion is the one 
indispensable condition for social progress."
        - Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926)