[registrars] Verisign change to operation of the .com DNS lookup service

["Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All,

The .com lookup service implemented using the DNS protocol by Verisign
on behalf of Internet users of domain names ending in .com is a core
Internet service.  Only Verisign is able to offer this service through
its contract with ICANN.

It is very disappointing that:

(1) Verisign did not raise this with registrars at our meeting in Marina
Del Ray last week.

(2) Verisign gave no notice period to the change in the operation of the
service.  This will impact the installed base of software of many
organisations.

I would have thought that this would be treated as a "new" registry
service in the same way as WLS is considered a new registry service,
thus requiring approval from ICANN and the Dept of Commerce.

A fairer way of implementing the service would be to allow organisations
to register their own domain names that are mis-spellings of their own
names, and have these redirected to a search/directory page of their
choice - perhaps at a cheaper rate than the present $6.  Forcing all
traffic to a single page operated by Verisign seems like an extension of
their existing monopoly rights with respect to .com.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin