Re: [wg-c] S/K principles

["Philip Sheppard" <philip.sheppard@aim.be>]

The debate on the nature of competition and whether the differentiation
principle curtails competition is a key debate. The basic point of
disagreement seems to be as follows:

Is the strongest competitor to dot com a replica of dot com or something
that is different to dot com?

The replica argument is that dot com has a privileged position today and
needs a competitor with a similar position. But this answers just one aspect
of competition. Competition is dynamic and time is another aspect. Dot com
has first mover advantage. A replica will be always be weaker. The market
will consider it second best unless the competitor offers something more.

The differentiation argument recognises that strong competition comes from
the new entrant offering something better - "value added". Consider, any
off-line example. Do car manufacturers produce copies or do they try to make
better cars in the same category?
Do brands of soap powder claim to be the same or better than each other by
way of formulation?

The differentiation principle seeks to ensure competition to dot com will
add value to the name space not imitation. Dot com's key advantage is that
it is first mover. Its key weakness is that it lacks differentiation, it
leads to confusion, it is known as the home of the international bank but
also the pornographer. Different can be wide or narrow. That is the choice
of the registry. There is nothing in the latest Weinberg draft of the
principles to stop .web, .biz  or .naa so long as their proponents have an
idea about what they want to achieve with these names. We have the
opportunity to move away from the anarchy of dot com. Lets take it.
Philip