[ga] Re: VeriSign freezes SiteFinder

[George Kirikos <gkirikos@xxxxxxxxx>]

Oops, responding to my own email, but there was a very important point
at:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031003/sff057_1.html

"ICANN is using anecdotal and isolated issues to attempt to regulate
non-registry services, but in the interests of further working with the
technical community we will temporarily suspend Site Finder."

I think this is a brand new tactic on the part of VeriSign, to
categorize it as a "non-registry service".

That seems to escalate things to a new level, in that it seems to be an
admission of abusing their monopoly in the Registry for the provision
of a NON-REGISTRY SERVICE.

It had been my understanding that previously their position would have
been that it would have been categorized as a Registry service, but one
that didn't need approval due to it being "free" (i.e. needs no
contract amendment). However, giving advantage for the provision of a
non-registry service seems to be MUCH WORSE. Suppose that NON-REGISTRY
SERVICE was a REGISTRAR SERVICE, for example, and VeriSign abused its
monopoly to advantage one of their partners in that space?

Clearly, VeriSign's abusive and monopolistic business practises need to
be examined at the highest levels of government and by regulators.

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.kirikos.com/