[ga] ICANN approves widespread new domain cybersquatting

["Patrick Corliss" <patrick@quad.net.au>]

ICANN approves widespread new domain cybersquatting
By Kieren McCarthy
Posted: 21/08/2001 at 15:10 GMT
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/21179.html

ICANN has officially approved widespread corporate cybersquatting for new
domain name registry operators.

It is not a well-known aspect of the new domain operators' contract, but
they are entitled to register up to 10,000 domains for themselves before
allowing anyone else access. ICANN argues that a registry operator will need
a wide range of addresses on that registry in order to work effectively, and
it is impossible to disagree with that.

However, a registrar is given free rein to select up to 10,000 domains that
they wish to possess - something that to our minds is a little excessive. Of
these, only half need have anything to do with the registry business. Under
the ICANN contract: "Registry Operator may register the domain names listed
on Appendix X (PartA) for its own use in operating the registry and
providing Registry Services under this Agreement, provided the total number
of domain names listed on Appendix X at any time does not exceed 5000". A
further 5,000 are allowed "for its own use".

This excessive generosity came to light after one member of Yahoo's domain
policy newsgroup queried why Afilias was entitled to the "search.info"
domain. A scan of Afilias' contract revealed the situation. As far as
publicly available information goes, Afilias has only registered 150
domains, although that was back in May this year so the situation may now be
very different.

This revelation comes on top of widespread criticism of how ICANN chose the
seven new top-level domains and how it decided which company was most suited
to running that TLD. ICANN appears to have been over generous to the
companies that have donated the majority of the independent, not-for-profit
organisation's money in recent years. ®

Related Link
The ICANN contract - look at clauses 3.6.1 and 3.6.2


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