RE: [registrars] Verisign ownes every name that does not exist-millions for free!

["Bhavin Turakhia" <bhavin.t@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

This is absolutely disgusting and goes counter to all that ICANN and our
agreements stand for. There is already the WLS charade where our opinion
as Registrars DID NOT COUNT, though a majority Registrars were against
in it. I am beginning to wonder if we have ANY SAY at all in any matter
despite the fact that we fund ICANN.

Additionally I can think of multiple ways that this goes against the
agreements we signed -

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COUNT I
=======
* As someone mentioned on the list this can either be a Registrar
Service or a Registry Service. 

* If this is a REGISTRAR Service then it is a blatant violation of
contract since Network Solutions is getting FREE Domains

* If this is a Verisign Inc Service, it is yet a violation of their
contract that EVERY Registrar is supposed to get equal service. This is
because I notce that on every page that they serve there is a link to
Verisign Inc at the bottom. Any Customer clicking on that will be taken
to Verisign where the Customer can register domains through network
solutions. This means that Verisign Registry is using its REGISTRY
SERVICES to promote a SINGLE REGISTRAR's domain registratiobn services
namely Netsol. This goes against their contract.

I remember the fact that ICANN used to closely monitor every Registry's
marketing programs to make sure that they are not partial to any single
Registrar. This however contitutes as nothing but a marketing program.
And this marketing program is benefiting only ONE Registrar namely
Netsol since every page generated by Verisign registry allows the
Customer to goto Verisign.com from where they may register domain names

I read that VeriSign says it handles more than 20 million incorrect
queries every day. This means 20 million visitors are going to find
themselves on a page which links to Verisign.com and from there to
Netsol registrar. Think of the potential publicity it would generate for
netsol. This is all being given by Verisign Registry and thus is
distinctively against their contractual obligations.

I can think of one more aspect. Any customer who types in a misspelled
domain name and reaches verisign inc's page is gonna realise that
Verisign is the controller for domain names. The Customer will realise
that Verisign Inc. is probably the company that controls the worldwide
set of domain names. This will sort of create an image in the Customer's
mind that domains should be registered thru Verisign as opposed to other
Registrars. It almost gives an image that Verisign has better access and
is better equipped to register domainnames than other Registrars. Until
now the Registry always remained in the background. But from now on they
will start coming to the foreground 20 MILLION CUSTOMERS AT A TIME (IN A
DAY). They can easily leverage this registry induced awareness to
promote their Registrar unfairly.

========
COUNT II
========
As someone mentioned this definetly quantifies as a Registry Service.
>From my understanding of processes ANY new service of a Registry MUST be
approved by ICANN/DOC. If my understanding is incorrect than where does
the aspect of their being a level playing field and security come in at
all

=============
Other Aspects
=============

* Like people on this list have mentioned - the role of the DNS is to
give a negative response when a site does not exist. It is AGAINST THE
STABILITY OF THE INTERNET - to provide responses for EVERY DOMAIN NAME.
As rick rightly mentioned I am surprised that Verisign actually decided
to put a WILD CARDED entry for the COM/NET ZONE. 

* the implicatiobns of this are dramatic. Many applications will break.
For instance any applications which try to resolve a domain name and
based on a negative response throw an appropriate error to a user will
now break. The user experience across millions of domains will change.
HOW CAN ICANN POSSIBLY ALLOW a wild carded ROOT ZONE. This means
basically EVERY DOMAIN IN THE WORLD EXISTS. THE DNS ptrotocol now has no
meaning. To that extent for the sake of commercialisation there will now
be WIDESPREAD CHAOS with respect to domain names. Applications built
worldwide that talk to custoemrs stating this domain is not resolving
will all cease to function. A MASSIVE education process will have to be
carried out to educate custoemrs that we now live in a NEW DNS WORLD
where every domain name resolves

* I AM MOST SURPRISED that Verisign could pull this off without
consulting ANYONE. This scares me.

* The fact that we as registrars have been desperately trying to resolve
several issues for the benefit of Customers - such as trfers issue from
years withhout success, while Verisign in quck succession has managed to
launch this service and WLS without consulting us as Registrars shows me
that the system does not work and indeed DNS is doomed as a whole -
there exists no reason and logic behind any move. The very fact that
ICANN stands on about - maintaining stability of the DNS system - is
shaken at its very foundation. If this service is allowed to continue
the implications to DNS and End Customers will be catastrophic.

* offcourse there is the tiny aspect that verisign will now suddenly
have a website which gets abt 20 million visitors a day which is abt
1/5th of google.com. I am surprised that for this commercialisation sake
they are willing to risk the entire concept of DNS. This is an extremely
irresponsible step.


Best Regards
Bhavin Turakhia
Founder, CEO and Chairman
Directi
--------------------------------------
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Direct Line: +91 (22) 5679 7600
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--------------------------------------



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-registrars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:owner-registrars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Lampson
> Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:12 AM
> To: registrars@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [registrars] Verisign ownes every name that does 
> not exist-millions for free!
> 
> 
> The site stats are being gathered by Omniture, Inc. using 
> their SiteCatalyst software.  
> 
> If you search for "Domain Registrar" on this page, there is 
> more than 1 screen of sponsored links.  Maybe this will help 
> identify the pay-per-click company.
> 
> _Mike
> 
> 
> On 9/15/03 10:17 PM, Monte Cahn (monte@xxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
> 
> > And who is the pay per click company in the background on this - 
> > google, overture?
> > 
> > Monte Cahn
> > Founder / CEO
> > 
> > DomainSystems, Inc - Domain After Market Sales & Services Moniker 
> > Online Services LLC - ICANN Accredited Registrar & Corporate Domain 
> > Management CoolHandle.com - Website Hosting and Email Solutions
> > 954-984-8445 - Office
> > 954-969-9155 - Fax
> > Monte@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Monte@xxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> 
> 
>