[ga] Re: Verisign proceeds with WLS, despite opposition

[Joseph McDonald <joe@vpop.net>]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this little fact:

verisign can register every single possible domain (left hand pays the
right hand) and get 35 bux or whatever they say they're gonna charge
for WLS. Now you may say to yourself: they can do that right now, well
kinda sorta, but not as easily:  The WLS gives them a clear and easy
avenue to the money that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Their action may be a little more subtle, but that is what they will
do in effect. That is what the can do. Basically they can (will)
eliminate competition in the *registrar* arena.

If WLS goes through, it spells demise for competing registrars.  vrsn
will own the namespace.

George, set up a paypal site for the legal fund, I will contribute.  I
think many others will as well.  It's so sad that it has to come to
this.

thanks,
-joe

Saturday, March 23, 2002, 3:34:49 PM, you wrote:

GK> Hello,

GK> As most know, the DNSO GA and the RC (registrars) were overwhelmingly
GK> against the WLS proposal. 

GK> Not surprisingly given Verisign's history, they've ignored this
GK> opposition, and have proceeded to request pricing approval from ICANN.
GK> See:

GK> http://www.verisign-grs.com/wls_comment_analysis.pdf

GK> for their "spin" on things. Their conclusion:

GK> "VGRS has submitted a request to ICANN for an amendment to Appendix G
GK> of the .com and .net registry agreements to add pricing for the WLS for
GK> a 12-month trial period."

GK> Prior documents are at: http://www.verisign-grs.com/wls.html

GK> The official registrar community's position is at:
GK> http://www.dnso.org/clubpublic/registrars/Arc01/msg02213.html

GK> It's quite an exercise in faulty logic to read Verisign's attempts to
GK> massage the numbers. I don't know how they can, with a straight face,
GK> conclude that "consumers are better off". I never knew VGRS dealt with
GK> consumers -- I thought the Chinese wall meant VGRS only dealt with
GK> registrars... The only parties better off are Verisign and its
GK> partners, to the detriment of consumers and competing registrars. No
GK> attempt to quantify consumers' demands are made, yet all the visible
GK> opposition is dismissed as being "unrepresentative". 

GK> Oh well, we knew this was going to happen -- it's Verisign, remember.
GK> The arrogance of this monopoly makes Microsoft pale in comparison.

GK> What's the appropriate procedure to submit comments now that ICANN is
GK> officially being made this request?

GK> Sincerely,

GK> George Kirikos
GK> http://www.kirikos.com/


GK> __________________________________________________
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-- 
Best regards,
 Joseph                            mailto:joe@vpop.net

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