[ga] New gTLDs Evaluation Report finally published by ICANN

["Richard Henderson" <richardhenderson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A day after ICANNWatch published the article on the missing New gTLDs Evaluation Report... it has finally (after 45 days in ICANN's hands) been published here:

http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-gtld-eval-31aug04.pdf";>http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-gtld-eval-31aug04.pdf 

This report merits very close reading, and draws attention to some (but not all) the misjudgements and mistakes made by ICANN, the Registries, and certain registrars.

It supports the views of many, that the launch of the New gTLDs was poorly handled in various areas, and that much more could have been done both by ICANN and certain Registries to address the problems which impacted on ordinary consumers.

I'm extremely unimpressed by Louis Touton's reported view that 'the introduction of competition to the market' was more important than responding to individual's problems and dealing with those.

This re-inforces my view that ICANN's "laissez-faire" philosophy was the result of politics and dogma - regardless of the rights of individual registrants, and regardless of the fact that ICANN's MoU with DOC states ICANN's responsibility to ensure the "fair distribution" of the DNS.

It seems, in retrospect, that Registries and Registrars were allowed to get away with much too much, because ICANN was pursuing a political and dogma-driven goal, and just wanted it to roll, even if consumers concerns had to be sidelined in the process.

Dan Halloran's refusal to respond to specific consumer concerns, or even to acknowledge mail, over a period in excess of 2 years, could be interpreted as fitting into this ICANN outlook.

Miriam Sapiro and her team make some clear observations on how things could have been done better, and *should* be done better in future.

That's why it is imperative that this report is published, read and discussed.

There are lessons to be learned.

Richard Henderson