[council] Collisions in Namespace

["babybows.com" <webmaster@babybows.com>]

To:  Philip Sheppard, Names Council Chair

There has been considerable discussion on the GA list regarding collisions
in namespace.  Arguments have been put forth that the ICANN Board action to
accept the .biz application constitutes a policy decision which may fragment
the net irrevocably.  Without commenting on the merits of this claim, it is
sufficient to note that domain name policy is the purview of the DNSO, and
that "Constituencies or GA participants may propose that the NC consider
domain name policies or recommendations."

As two principles addressed by the White Paper, stability and competition,
have been raised in the course of this debate, and whereas the Department of
Commerce has previously expressed concern regarding any actions which may
lead to the possibility of consumer "confusion", I now ask that the NC
consider the ICANN domain name policy with respect to collision with names
in the alternate root community.

As the consequences of such NC consideration may have serious monetary
repercussions for those directly impacted by any such consensus-based policy
recommendation, and as such consideration may well come to also impact users
of the Internet worldwide, I ask that a formal working group be convened to
allow for the full and unfiltered expression of all views on this topic.

Best regards,
Danny Younger