[registrars] Pricing issue ICANN - Verisign agreement

[Larry Erlich <erlich@domainregistry.com>]

I would like to bring to everyones attention (as an example)
the following paragraph which is in the
new .com agreement between Verisign and ICANN:

-- B. Registry Operator may, at its option and with thirty days
-- written notice to ICANN and to all ICANN-accredited registrars,
-- revise the prices charged to registrars under the Registrar License
-- and Agreement, provided that (i) the same price shall be charged
-- for services charged to all ICANN-Accredited Registrars
-- (provided that volume adjustments may be made if the same
-- opportunities to qualify for those adjustments is available to all
-- ICANN-Accredited Registrars) and (ii) the prices shall not exceed
-- those set forth in Appendix G.

(Note: There is no Appendix G that I could find).

I really don't think that ANY OF THIS
needs further discussion. It is quite obvious that
this would benefit the LARGEST registrars with
of course NSI being the largest. (Not to mention the
fact that pricing can be changed for anyone
even the largest registrars obviously.)

(NOTE2: NO SCHEDULE G IS ATTACHED, WHY?)

It is also obvious that Verisign remaining
a registry and registrar is detrimental to
other registrars even with their operational "firewall".

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CUSTOMER PERCEPTION. 

Returning .org to its roots doesn't make
any sense at this point either. We don't want
to explain this to customers after we've already
made representations that anyone can register
under .org for any reason (NSI wasn't enforcing this prior
to the deregulation as all of you know.)

And we are not interested in entering into new
contracts with a new registry operator or changing
business practices for the benefit of Verisign
(or for the money they are throwing at the Internet
community in order to make this deal happen).

Verisign and ICANN have been working on this
since the summer time. 

It has been widely reported in news stories that this is a done deal. 

I've also read that ICANN and Verisign want to have this approved by
April 1st, hoping of course to not give people enough
time to digest this.

Larry Erlich

http://www.DomainRegistry.com

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Larry Erlich - DomainRegistry.com, Inc.
215-244-6700 - FAX:215-244-6605 - Reply: erlich@DomainRegistry.com
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