RE: [wg-c] S/K principles

["Rod Dixon, J.D., LL.M." <rod@cyberspaces.org>]

Your point is well-taken. I agree that adding value to the TLD namespace
should promote competition. I disagree that the nature of that competition
should be guided by ICANN rather than market forces. I think it is implicit
that potential SLD registrants will seek out preceived value in the
additional TLDs whether we call them replicas of *.com or something else. If
we are careful not to use language that could be interpreted as protecting
the *.com TLD, then the consumers of SLDs may continue to privilege *.com or
seek value elsewhwere; either way it is their choice, and we will not have
added confusion to that process. Jon's revision is a good example of clear
language that gets us to the point where we seem to agree we should be.

Rod Dixon, J.D., LL.M.
www.cyberspaces.org
rod@cyberspaces.org


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-wg-c@dnso.org [mailto:owner-wg-c@dnso.org]On Behalf Of
> Philip Sheppard
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 4:12 AM
> To: wg-c@dnso.org
> Subject: Re: [wg-c] S/K principles
>
>
> 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
>
>
>