Re: [ga] The facts about professional registrants (domainers)

["Prophet Partners Inc." <Domains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Eric,

We are flattered by your comments and comparison. However, we are just a small business voicing our opinion and looking out for our own best interests. As a privately held entity, we are not required by law to publicly disclose corporate bylaws, business contracts and other sensitive documents. With that being said, Prophet Partners Inc. is in the business of buying and selling domain names, as well as monetizing them through various advertising and merchant relationships. Feel free to learn more about us, by visiting our site, using the link in our signature.

Prophet Partners Inc. is not a legal representative for any other person or organization. You greatly overestimate our circle of influence. Our comments and opinions are of a general nature as we are not seeking any special treatment. It may appear from our comments and opinions that we are speaking out on behalf of another organization, but we assure you that is not the case.

Prophet Partners Inc. is the legal name of our company. It is not a fictitious name as you are implying. Since our first post on the ICANN forums, we have made no attempt to conceal our identity using an alter ego. Furthermore, the email address that we use for these forums has our company name and is not through some anonymous email service such as GMail, Yahoo or Hotmail.

Your belief that Prophet Partners Inc. is associated with either Michael Palage or Chuck Gomes is absolutely wrong. Nothing could be farther from the truth as most of our viewpoints have been diametrically opposed.

We appreciate your understanding of these matters and look forward to continued participation in these forums.

Sincerely,
Ted
Prophet Partners Inc.
http://www.ProphetPartners.com
http://www.Premium-Domain-Names.com
 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hugh Dierker 
  To: Prophet Partners Inc. 
  Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 4:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [ga] The facts about professional registrants (domainers)


  First of all could "Prophet Parnters" indicate a location to see your bylaws, statement of purpose, MOUs or contracts with others that is current etc, etc,. Just who does this Partner group represent and why do they write so sophisticatingly like Palage.

  Alter Egos are very much allowed here but so are requests for bona fides.

  Coming from my partial cowboy background I would hate to see Pee Pee on a brand. Coming from my Legal Secuities background I would hate to be listed as ProP.

  I outright accuse that they are being used as a strawman for whatever the Palage/Gomex groupo has in mind.

  e

  "Prophet Partners Inc." <Domains@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
    Hi Michael,

    We'd like to dispel some misperceptions and point out some facts using your
    analogy of launching a new TLD compared to building a city.

    1) Professional registrants (hereinafter referred to as domainers) do not
    TAKE all the prime real estate of a new TLD. Domainers PAY for it via annual
    registration and renewal fees.
    2) These annual registration and renewal fees are paid in advance. This
    means that the registry has access to and use of that money, before
    providing services to domainers for the money received. The registry earns
    interest off of that float from day 1 of the registration. Domainers provide
    the majority of the initial revenue base and operating capital for the
    registry to attract new registrants, allowing the registry to diversify the
    source of revenue and income. Most domains held by domainers are renewed
    year after year. As a result of domainers, the registry benefits from a
    RELIABLE source of RECURRING revenue and income.
    3) Domainers take on higher degrees of risk by being among the first to buy
    into an unproven investment. It's the same as when American pioneers settled
    into the wilderness. Many died along the way, but some also had great
    success. Similarly, not every domain registered by domainers is profitable
    and any seasoned domainer has their share of losers, for which they paid
    registration fees. The large sales that you hear about in the media are the
    exception, not the norm. It is estimated that large firms such as BuyDomains
    only turn over 1-2% of their inventory each year. The rest goes unsold while
    they continue to pay annual renewal fees. Using basic investment theory, the
    higher the risk, the higher the potential reward and vice versa. Think of
    domainers speculating in a new TLD as venture capitalists funding a new
    startup venture, in this case a new registry.
    4) Domainers POSITIVELY impact the ability to attract new registrants by
    creating the perception that there is demand and a bright future for the new
    TLD. Prospective registrants feel more confident in registering a domain in
    a new TLD knowing that others have already made a monetary commitment to the
    TLD. Would you open a grocery store in a neighborhood that had planned
    housing developments or in a deserted area with uncertain prospects? In the
    absence of the domains registered by domainers during a new TLD launch, the
    new TLD would look like a ghost town. We find it hard to believe that a
    deserted TLD would attract many new registrants. If you need proof, just
    look at the .pro TLD. There's plenty of available .pro domains with top
    quality keywords. Why aren't more non-domainers registering .pro domains?
    5) Domainers by putting up for sale signs of their domains increases
    exposure for the TLD. The registry freely benefits when people see and
    inquire about the empty land (unregistered domains) next to land that has
    already been claimed (registered domains with a for sale sign).
    6) Complaining that domainers PAYING registration fees on a registered
    domain is worse than having an unregistered domain WAITING for a new
    registrant is absolutely ludicrous. If we're landlords, we'd much rather
    have someone there paying rent, than having an empty space that generates
    zero revenue and income, in the hopes that someone will come along and pay
    the SAME amount.
    7) The bottom line is domainers do not COMPROMISE the launch of a new TLD,
    but instead STIMULATE its growth.

    Sincerely,
    Ted
    Prophet Partners Inc.
    http://www.ProphetPartners.com
    http://www.Premium-Domain-Names.com


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Michael D. Palage" 
    To: 
    Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:19 PM
    Subject: [ga] Combined Response - Tiered (Variable) Pricing



    >
    > Although I generally avoid using property analogies in connection with
    > domain names, launching a TLD is a lot like building a city where the
    > government needs some discretion with regard to zoning and planning. If
    > a registry launch is compromised by professional registrants that take
    > all the Class "A" office space and put for sale signs in the windows,
    > that negatively impacts the mayors ability to attract new inhabitants
    > into the city and build sustainable and diverse revenue base.
    >
    > Best regards,
    >
    > Michael D. Palage






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