Re: [icann-eu] ICANN Board's TLD resolution

[Marc Schneiders <marc@schneiders.org>]

On Sat, 18 Nov 2000, at 16:09 [=GMT+0100], Harald Alvestrand wrote:
> At 13:06 18/11/2000 +0100, Marc Schneiders wrote:
> > > There were other applicants for .web, including one (Neustar/JVTeam) that
> > > was removed from consideration because [...]
> >
> >There was also some discussion about another .web applicant, that took
> >the Board a little more time, IIRC. And I think I do.
> 
> IODesign. They currently run an alternate root, have registered some 
> thousands of names in .web, and have threatened to sue any and all 
> participants in anything that takes .web away from them.

[...]

> No hint in their application on how they would treat the existing set of 
> registered names, as far as I remember.

Those were for keep, except when challenged on trademark grounds.

> The board debated briefly whether experience with running an alternate root 
> should be counted in their favour or against them

Yes, there were those who would have liked to have IODesign in, and
those who wanted to avoid that at all cost, even in the future by
granting .web to Afilias. And they made a compromise. No IODesign, but
no .web for another.

> but seemed to dismiss
> the idea of assigning a monopoly open registry with a high price
> level.

I must try to see the show again. I cannot at all remember this to
have been a big issue. Not that it isn't important.

A registry that acts as sole registrar does not in itself constitute a
monopoly, of course, as long as there are more registries. I for one
cannot see, that this is a problem from now on. Why not have
'exclusive' domains at a higher price? 

-- 
Marc Schneiders (rest in header)