Re: [wg-b] famous names

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

Philip Sheppard wrote:
>However, list or no list, the issue of trademarks and charter gTLDs is of
>more interest. Linking trademarks to charters is an on-line parallel to how
>trademarks operate in the real world. TMs have classes of goods which allow
>co-existence. Lotus for software and Lotus for cars are happy in the
>off-line world. Thus Lotus.auto and Lotus.software should co-exist happily
>on-line from different owners. Equally, a non-comm site on flowers should be
>able to register and defend Lotus.flowers.

> But, the moment we believe that creating a poor imitation of dotcom such as
> dotbiz is a good idea then Lotus Lotus and Lotus will all clash. The
> solution to future name disputes is charter domains.

    I think that Philip's comment was very good.  However, it would seem
to me that there will be both differentiated domains and domains with
restrictive charters.  These are similar but somewhat different ideas. 
Both should expand the name space in ways that will benefit consumers.

   Differentiated domains, like lotus.autos and lotus.software, need not
be restricted in registration, beyond standard rules applying to .com.  
But a domain like .fdicinsured should be restricted to banks that are in
fact fdic insured.   

  I think of the restricted charters as TLDs that "mean something," like
.edu, .gov, .int, because not everyone can get it.  But the open but
differentiated domains, like .autos, .software, etc, will be very
important for both consumers and businesses, it seems to me, because it
will be easier (less confusing) to find a firm that you are looking
for.   I think this is more useful than a famous name list, and it
certainly doesn't impose a new global law making body via ICANN, like a
famous/name blocking on all TLDs proposal would.  

 Jamie


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James Love, Director           | http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology | mailto:love@cptech.org 
P.O. Box 19367                 | voice: 1.202.387.8030
Washington, DC 20036           | fax:   1.202.234.5176
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