Re: [ga] Re: iCANN's protection

[Thomas Roessler <roessler@does-not-exist.org>]

On 2001-04-18 15:15:25 -0700, Dave Crocker wrote:

> Let's just check a question about the use of the term "monopoly".

> There is a type of oversight body, sometimes called a "public
> utilities commission".  It does not provide direct service;
> rather it oversees the work and pricing of those organizations
> that DO provide service.  I have never heard anyone refer to such
> a commission as a monopoly.

First of all, the C in ICANN stands for corporation, not for
commission.  I'll quote Kent on that importance of that distinction
(<20010408082523.A15420@songbird.com>; the quoted text in the
beginning is from Siegfried Langenbach):

| >  Making representatives ( elected boards ) responsible to those
| >  who elected them is a fundamental issue IMO ( otherwise they are
| >  not representatives in the words meaning ).
| 
| In fact, they are not "representatives", and they cannot legally be
| so. That is a crucial difference between a government and a
| corporation; ICANN is a corporation, and its directors, by law, have
| a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its purposes, and not to the
| people who (s)elected them.  This is an absolutely fundamental
| distinction.

Second, I'd like to recommend
<http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?monopoly> to you:

| Etymology: Latin monopolium, from Greek monopOlion, from mon- +
| 	pOlein to sell
| 
| 
| 1 : exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply,
| 	or concerted action
| 2 : exclusive possession or control
| 3 : a commodity controlled by one party
| 4 : one that has a monopoly

Third, you may wish to have a look at the California PUC's web
pages, where their legal basis, their organization, and public
representation in the process are at least roughly described.
You'll note that ICANN looks vastly different.

-- 
Thomas Roessler			    <roessler@does-not-exist.org>
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