[comments-deletes] Comment about 20020714.TFtransfer-WLS-report - ICANN Condition D

["Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond" <ocl@gih.com>]

I have a comment about ICANN's condition D, namely:

>D. The WLS include a requirement that notice be provided by the
>Registry (through the registrar) to the existing registrant of a
>domain name when a WLS option is taken out against that
>registrant's domain name. {Notice} [Service not included in
>VS WLS proposal. The TF seeks comment on this].

Verisign's position as Registry and Registrar is dangerous,
and will be made even more dangerous by approval of the WLS
even with this condition added. Indeed, Verisign has been
notoriously weak at advising domain name holders of important
changes related to their domain name.

- by post (a.k.a. snail mail)
The Verisign database has been re-processed on several
occasions, and although the details included in the database
are correct, the mailing program used to issue notices seems
to make a mess of the address - with several instances of post
lost due to:
a. inappropriate postage on the letter sent by Verisign
b. inaccurate address after post-processing by Verisign postal
mailing printing of paper invoices

- by e-mail
While in the past, notices were sent from a standard machine,
Verisign sends e-mail out through a variety of mail-servers,
including using sub-domains which bear little resemblance to
the Verisign domain. The use of a different address to the
message's actual path, with no valid return e-mail address, and
non strict conformance to relevant RFCs makes the messages
appear like SPAM. Filters such as SpamAssassin and SpamCop
end-up classifying Verisign e-mail as SPAM, some of them with
uncaracteristically high SPAM rating as defined by landmark
rules set by these anti-spam programs. Whilst I would not venture
to say that this is purposely done by Verisign, I am extremely
concerned about this development, especially in light of the fact
that a larger proportion of e-mails today are spam and that anti-
spam filters are being increasingly used and by a broader segment
of the Internet's populace.

Without prejudice, and in my humble opinion, I do not believe that
Verisign makes every possible attempt at reaching a domain name
holder when important messages implying the termination of a
domain are to be sent out. The termination of a domain is a very
serious matter indeed, and the hasty transfer of that domain to a
Waiting List Service (WLS), one run by Verisign themselves no
less, is a serious threat to the integrity of the Internet as a serious
and stable business tool.

- end of comment on ICANN condition D.

Background to my own stance *against* WLS:

What is wrong with the expired domain name falling into obscurity?

Why is "expiry" information published and openly accessed by the rest of the
world in the WHOIS database ? Does this help anybody apart from domain
name hoarders/pirates/speculators ?

Let me explain my proposed solution clearly:

1. removal of the "expires" info in the publicly accessed WHOIS database
2. before expiry, the registrar sends out usual renewal notices, as it is
done now.
3. at expiry, the registrar notifies the domain name holder that the domain
has expired, and keeps it "on ice" for 30 days during which time the domain
is
completely removed from the WHOIS database - ie. it falls in obscurity
4. if the domain name holder then renews the domain, it re-appears in the
WHOISdatabase, and all is fine
5. if the domain name holder prefers not to renew the domain, the domain's
details are erased from the database altogether, and the domain falls into
obscurity. Anybody could re-register it again, but they first need to find
out if it exists, and that involves a lot of work. Remember that automatic
data
mining of the WHOIS database contradicts the AUP of the registrar.

How much more difficult can it be than this ?
It is the fairest way to run the DNS.

The addition of a WLS effectively gives a seal of approval to the theory
that domain names are worth more than their standard registration fee's
worth.
Should ICANN grant the establishment of the WLS, it will be a green light
against everything the DNS has every stood for, that is a reliable
addressing
scheme to translate IP numbers into more humanly-consumable names.
It will really mean that the official word out there is: domain names have
a high value, resell them, hoard them, make money fast.

Best regards,

- --
Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond, Ph.D. |--> Global Information Highway Limited
E-mail:<ocl@gih.com> | Tel:+44 (0)7956 84 1113 | Fax:+44 (0)20 7937 7666
Web: http://www.gih.com/ & http://www.nsrc.org/codes/country-codes.html