| Paul DeRienzo (by way of [email protected] (MediaFilter)) on Sat, 1 Mar 97 00:23 MET |
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| nettime: Network Solutions responds to Internet domain name proposal |
http://mediafilter.org/pdr/network.htm Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii; name="network.htm" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="network.htm" Content-Base: "http://mediafilter.org/pdr/network.htm" <BASE HREF="http://mediafilter.org/pdr/network.htm"> <HTML><Title>Network Solutions responds to Internet domain name proposal</title> <H3><center>Names on the Net</h3><P> <B>Interview with Christopher Clough of Network Solutions</B><p> <a href="www.dorsai.org/~wbai/derienzo"><B>by Paul DeRienzo</B> </a></center><P> In February the International Ad Hoc Committee released its plan to dramatically increase the number of available addresses in cyberspace. The plan is also aimed at quelling disputes over the use of trademarks in computer addresses. The plan introduces seven new top level domains, the block of letters at the end of every Internet address. Currently most end in com, edu, org, mil, gov and net as well as two letter codes for various countries like us for United States and ca for Canada. If adopted the new plan would add web, store, info, firm, arts, rec and nom.<P> The plan also includes provisions to resolve disputes arising over the use of trademark names as Internet addresses. Disputes would be resolved through mediation by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The plan calls for establishing up to 28 competing registration firms to dole out new addresses, currently one firm, Network Solutions based in Virginia, hands out addresses in the most popular domains.<P> Christopher Clough is a spokesperson for Network Solutions. He says the company is concerned with the effect the new plan might have on the Internet.<P> <HR> <B>Clough:</B> Network Solutions has under the authority of the National Science Foundation won a competitive bid to administer the registration of domain names. Network Solutions has been in that role since 1992 and has, up to this point, registered some 900,000 different domain names.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> Is Network Solutions the only company that registers domain names?<P> <B>Clough:</B> There are over 180 registries around the world, many ending in what we call country codes. For example, in England it would be uk, in Canada ca, designating the origin of the registration. The registrations that we control here are in com, org, and net, which are the most popular and are globally recognized. <P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How was your company chosen?<P> <B>Clough:</B> In 1992 the National Science Foundation issued a request for companies to administer the registration process. When Network Solutions won this competitive bid it began the registration process and handled all of the domain name registrations.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> What do you think of the new proposal that the International Ad Hoc Committee and the Internet Society have come up with to add these new top level domains and increase the number of companies that would be handling registries?<P> <B>Clough:</B> We think the important points to consider is that the Internet has grown exponentially and has been very efficient in the way that names have been registered to allow for that growth. Our concern is for the stability and the integrity of the registration process. We are also concerned that there be uninterrupted service for the existing domain names registered.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> Do you fear that somehow by bringing in these new domain names there might by a confusion or muddying up of the Internet.<P> <B>Clough:</B> There certainly is a possibility of confusion in the market about these new domain names, but it is clear that in the future there will be competitive domain name registrants. It's a universal concern to keep any sort of new proposed system from impeding the growth of the Internet.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How could this proposal go wrong and impede the growth of the Internet?<P> <B>Clough:</B> there are significant technical, policy and regulation challenges with the current proposal that, at this point, are unclear. Technical, having to do with sharing data bases around the world, policy, in terms of fee structure and how people would be charged and what countries would have authority, and regulatory issues about what countries would take precedent over the enforcement of the current domain name registration.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> Are you referring to the copyright problems may arise as more names are given out?<P> <B>Clough:</B> Certainly copyright problems are an issue and they also would be, under the current proposal, subject to a bureaucracy that would be established, causing a great deal of concern over the way that bureaucracy would slow the entire registration process.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How do you handle disputes now? When somebody comes and says 'McDonalds.com' is being used and we're the real McDonald's. How do you handle that?<P> <B>Clough:</B> The current policy is based on a first come, first served basis. There is a dispute policy when there is a challenge to the existing domain name. We are strictly neutral as a registrant and we ask that the parties to the dispute, essentially, settle the dispute between themselves for the right to the domain name. The new proposal calls for some sort of advisory committee that would oversee and attempt to negotiate these disputes.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How about the pricing? Is there any idea how much of a fee will be required under the new proposal?<P> <B>Clough:</B> There's no clear indication yet on pricing for end users that would register names. There is some suggested pricing for companies that would become registries of the domain names, but it unclear how that would be rolled out.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How much does Network Solutions charge for someone who wants to register a domain name?<P> <B>Clough:</B> Current domain name registration process calls for a $100 for two years and then subsequently $50 per year for updating and maintenance.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> How much does Network Solutions make a year?<P> <B>Clough:</B> We do not have those figures publicly available for what we have taken in, but it costs approximately $40 million to administer the program that is currently registering over 90,000 domain names per month.<P> <B>DeRienzo:</B> Anything you'd like to add?<P> <B>Clough:</B> We would hope that as these proposals come forth that end users know that the current system will continue and we expect that there would be no effective change in the current registration process and use of domain names.<P> <BR> Contact <A HREF="mailto: [email protected]"><I>Paul DeRienzo</I></A> <Center><A href="network.htm"><I>Back</I></A></Center> -- * distributed via nettime-l : no commercial use without permission * <nettime> is a closed moderated mailinglist for net criticism, * collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets * more info: [email protected] and "info nettime" in the msg body * URL: http://www.desk.nl/~nettime/ contact: [email protected]