Note: This report refers to the information contained in the following document: Management of Internet Names and Addresses

Key Points

• A no-decision: a lot of fluff, but all difficult decisions passed on to an as yet unidentified future body.
• Meanwhile, out in the desert...: There will be no new top domains for a while.
• Apocalypse now: Competing interest groups from around the world must now gird themselves for the final battle.
• An end to the free lunch? New proposal suggests that domain names need to be paid for at purchase time.
• More like .us: an expanded role is envisaged for the ".us" top domain.

In Depth
The final report is a brilliant example of how to avoid responsibility. Essentially, although there are a few key proposals that remain untouched, the publication of this report now brings the domain name situation full circle to where it was about 18 months' ago before the US Govt got involved. What an excercise in pointlessness!

The other thing to note about the report is that in many cases Ira Magaziner have taken careful heed of all the evidence and commentary sent in to them, then said "Ho-hum, very interesting. But we're going to go our own way anyway. Thanks for the interest." This applies most noticeably to the section on competitive registries [not registrars (see the previous feature for more info)] in which a majority of people clearly indicated their doubts as to the feasibility of a competitive system, yet Magaziner passed the buck to a future committee with a strongly voiced opinion that competition is good.

The Substance of the Report (what little remains!)

The final report is about as substantial as a soap bubble. However, a few concrete proposals manage to heave themselves gasping and coughing out of the grey mass of indecisive verbiage.

No New Top Domains... for a while

The decision on whether to implement new top domains, which top domains to add and who would control the little beasties has been postponed until the formation of a new independent committee that can evaluate such proposals. Bottom line: you are unlikely to see any new top domains until Winter 1999 at the earliest.

Improved Trademark Accountability

The report contains a number of suggestions for improving the accountability of domain name holders to the holders of trademarks infringed by their domain names. For instance, it would require the domain name registries (currently only one, run by the NSA) to maintain publically searchable information relating to any current or ongoing trademark disputes. It also requires that a committee be set up under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to rule on trademark disputes on a global basis. This is a welcome change from NSA's current jingoistic system where in general trademarks filed in the US have more weight than those filed in other countries. Bottom line: any workable trademark enforcement system is infinitely preferrable to the current my-lawyer-is-bigger-than-yours situation.

A Looming Battle

Because the report does nothing to settle the basic disputes about top level domains, and about the registrars who would be authorised to register such domains, you can expect a lot of public mud-slinging and posturing as the various interest groups regroup to fight their battles under the eaves of the new committee that will oversee the transition to a new system. There will be a lot of confusing, and indeed conflicting information emanating from the various groups. Bottom line: don't trust the debate, trust the conclusion that emerges from the rubble at the end!

No Free Lunch

In a proposal that has my utmost support, the report suggests that domain name holders should be required to pay for the names at the time of purchase, rather than be given a 60-day grace period where they tie up the names for free -- the ultimate tool of domain name speculators looking for a quick sale. This would do more than any other part of the proposal to ease the demand for new domain names. Liberate all the domains currently on hold or awaiting payment and a whole world of new possibilities opens up in front of potential domain name purchasers. Bottom line: If you have bought a domain name with the intention to use it, this change will pass you by unnoticed. If on the other hand you're just trying to bag a bunch 'o names to make a quick buck, this will act as a well-placed speedbump to your ambitions.

Join .us

One excellent proposal in the report concerns the .us top domain, which currently is a shambles of conflicting registration policies and interests. It suggests that the .us domain should be developed along the lines of other top domains. Bottom line: Great stuff! If .us can be made to work, then .com will lose the last vestiges of US-centrism and become the truly global domain it was always supposed to be.

In Conclusion

There isn't one. A conclusion, that is. The most striking thing about the report is how inconclusive it is. Expect most of the same discussions to be rehashed ad-nauseam over the next year or two before a cohesive and coherent picture emerges of the future of the domain name system. It's going to be a long road ahead, but remember: you always get the straight story on igoldrush.com!

Edwin Hayward
WebMaster
Internet Gold-Rush : THE source of domain name information