Re: There is an alternative to ICANN - The TLDA (was Re: [ga] aquote from Lynn)

[Marc Schneiders <marc@schneiders.org>]

On Wed, 11 Jul 2001, at 12:48 [=GMT+1200], Joop Teernstra wrote:
> At 14:42 10/07/01 -0500, John Palmer wrote:
> 
> >2. TLDA is a democratic body. ALL officer positions are open for election by
> >TLDA members (exception: a few of the interim board members will be
> >retained for a few months to a year after the current election). TLDA is
> >currently holding
> >nominations for its officers and committees with the first election
> >scheduled for July 27 - 29.
> 
> John,
> 
> That's all very fine for TLD "holders", but how does the TLDA provide for a 
> structure that takes democratic input from registrants under your members' 
> TLD's?
> This is what ICANN is being lambasted for and what it has to try to rectify.
> 
> According to the website the TLDA is only a trade association for TLD 
> holders. As such it would seem to be an alternative for only one aspect of 
> ICANN.
> 
> Do your members have contracts with registrants?
> Could you point to a URL with a typical sample contract?

The big difference between ICANN and the TLDA is that users of domains
ruled by ICANN are forced to accept uniform rules (UDRP and a WHOIS
that leaves a lot to be wished for regarding privacy). They have no
choice and cannot influence the rules, except when they are
represented. Even then they can easily be outvoted. The TLDs united
under the umbrella of the TLDA are free to make their own policies.
Users have a choice. They can pick another TLD, if they don't like the
policies of com/net/org/biz/info/name.

I know there are at present ccTLDs with policies differing from those
of ICANN. These are hardly an alternative in most cases. In my country
only companies can register a domain. As an individual I would then
have to 'emigrate'. And many ccTLDs are hard underway to adopt ICANN
policies, like the UDRP. 

-- 
Marc@Schneiders.ORG

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