Re: [ga] At-Large Resolution

[Sotiris Sotiropoulos <sotiris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Danny Younger wrote:

> Having read Karl Auerbach's "ICANN and Its Fairy Tale 
> <http://www.cavebear.com/cbblog-archives/000156.html>", I have taken the 
> liberty of re-drafting his eloquent comments as a Resolution to be 
> submitted through the WSIS process:
>
> We recognize ICANN as an industrial cartel in a mutual assistance pact 
> with the intellectual property industry that has as its goal the 
> management of the domain name industry by defining the products offered 
> by that industry, setting prices of those products, and selecting who 
> may and who may not participate in that industry.


'Tis a sad day, indeed, when established intellectual property Interests
are granted (via fiat) priority rights to usage of natural LANGUAGE in a
medium most of them had no real hand in developing, and who for the most
part are quite literally, johnny-come-latelys in every sense.

The ontological problem here is a veritable 12 tonne elephant in our midst.

What is a domain name?  The closest thing I have found to a 'codified'
ICANN definition can be viewed at:
http://www.internic.net/faqs/domain-names.html

Interestingly, while there is no strict definition of what a domain name
actually is, in the 1st paragraph on the DNS, it states: "The DNS makes
using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the
"domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead
of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a
"mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember."

So, a domain name is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to
remember.  Thus, it appears that the actual source of any information
presented on, by or through a domain name is the IP address and *not*
the domain name itself. An interesting bifurcation, to be sure...

> We do not recognize ICANN as responsible for ensuring the stable and 
> secure operation of the Internet’s unique identifier systems as ICANN 
> does nothing about IP addresses, as ICANN engages in no DNS technical 
> matters, as ICANN does nothing about DNS security and as ICANN has no 
> role in service standards or over DNS root operations which are operated 
> by an entirely indepe! ndent group over which ICANN has no authority. 
> IANA, not ICANN, records internet protocol numbers, and the IETF 
> instructs IANA what to write.
>
> We believe that ICANN's abandonment of its role of technical oversight 
> and its assumption of the role of business regulator has weakened the 
> internet and made the internet more vulnerable to failure and attack.

Especially since 'attacks' can take a myriad of forms.  Not the least of 
which is the outright assault on collective human memory.

> We therefore resolve to recognize the comment 
> <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/agreements/docstatement_09192002.htm> 
> of the U.S. Department of Commerce that “if ICANN does not make 
> significant progress on the transition tasks, alternatives will be 
> identified and considered”, and we call upon all parties to initiate 
> such a search for alternatives.

Sadly, I do not think a search for any alternatives will be forthcoming
any time soon.  Especially since the ICANN domain name *tax* was blessed
and implemented without so much as a peep out of anyone anywhere in any
halls of power.

Danny, our best route to effect any kind of change in the status quo is 
to gain political power in our respective national assemblies, either 
through direct involvement or otherwise.  Anything less is destined to 
fail as the deck is stacked.

Sotiris Sotiropoulos

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