Re: [ga] OnlineNic's real address

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Eric,

Re:  Who cares and why... 

you may want to have a look at the cybersquatting case that resulted in a 
$33.15 million judgment.

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-candce/case_no-3:2008cv02832/case_id-204081/

As it turns out, OnlineNic in China is the equivalent of GoDaddy in the U.S. -- 
it is China's largest registrar.  OnlineNic has actively engaged in 
cybersquatting and it still awaits the results of additional lawsuits filed by 
Microsoft and Yahoo.  

More importantly, it has close to 1.2 million registrations under management, 
which means that registrants are at risk if the firm goes under.

Over the years we have seen numerous ICANN registrars build their own 
portfolios and involve themselves in typosquatting/cybersquatting activities -- 
see for example exhibit 4 at 
http://www.domainnamenews.com/images/dell_doc2.pdf.  

On occasion, the courts have locked down their ability to function as a 
registrar -- see for example http://www.domaindoorman.com/lawsuit.htm

The last thing that we need is ICANN tacitly endorsing cybersquatting by 
failing to yank the accredition of such firms, and it sure doesn't help when 
ICANN contributes to shenanigans that allow a registrar to conceal its primary 
place of business.

If ICANN really believed in transparency, it should publish registrar 
accreditation application details in full for public scrutiny.

Happy New Year to all.
Danny