RE: [registrars] WLS - VOTING - Objection

[Jim Archer <jarcher@registrationtek.com>]

I hope that if this thing is rammed down our throat, it is done in such a 
way that registrars who elect not to participate can do so.  We still 
believe that WLS is illegal and will be found so, and we don't want to be 
forced into illegal activity.

Will the people forcing registrars to do this be required to indemnify us?

Jim

--On Monday, July 22, 2002 11:16 PM +0530 Bhavin Turakhia 
<bhavin.t@directi.com> wrote:

>> Claim? I can't imagine why anyone, other than AOL, would want
>> a WLS on AOL.COM. Even if the domain is somehow dropped no
>> one can really profit from it unless they somehow acquire the
>> trademark at the same time. So what does the WLS holder have
>> a "claim" on that would require shareholder notification? All
>> the notice is going to generate is a lot of customer support
>> calls for the Registrars.
>
> I agree with Tim on this one. As it is it presents enuf of an issue in
> terms of Customer support to explain the various changing rules in TLDs.
> I believe if every Registrant is notified when a WLS is purchased on a
> name, it would not only be self-defeating, but also drastically increase
> support costs of a Registrar where we would now need to explain this
> concept of a WLS to a Customer.
>
> And I can imagine nightmares for my support staff with a typical
> conversation being -
>
> Customer: Hey I just got this notice that sez someone has bought a WLS
> on my name and that if my name drops then this person gets it .... WHAT
> THE HELL IS THIS??? I PAID U GUYS FOR THIS NAME??
>
> Tech Support: Don't worry sir. WLS is this NEW SERVICE that has been
> brought out, where if someone wants your name and if you don't want it
> they can get it upon it expiring
>
> Customer: BUT I WANT MY NAME DAMMIT ... I don't want anyone else to take
> it
>
> Tech Support: Yea but don't worry the WLS will work only when the name
> DROPS....
>
> Customer: But I don't WANT MY NAME to DROP. I paid you for it DAMMIT.
> Its my name. Its your responsibility to make sure it does not drop. Why
> would you give someone else a chance to register it when I have paid you
> for it
>
> Tech Support: Yes Sir, and it wont drop if you renew it. Your name would
> go to the WLS Subscriber ONLY if it expires and you don't renew it. Its
> sort of like the WLS Subscriber is waiting in line for it
>
> Customer: I DON'T WANT THAT. This is MY name, not some queue for a turn
> in a fun-fair ride ....
>
> <snip>
>
> It does not make sense to unnecessarily scare customers beyond a certain
> limit. As it is the proposed 30 day Registry hold instead of 5 day
> should resolve the problem of customers not losing their names
> unknowingly
>
> Best Regards
> Bhavin Turakhia
> CEO
> Directi
> ----------------------------
> Tel: 91-22-6370256 (4 lines)
> Fax: 91-22-6370255
> http://www.directi.com
> ----------------------------