ICANN and Verisign .com deal

[Steve Phariss]

I Forgot about the Domain name thing.  I am fixing to send my Snail Mail
versions out and will add this to it.


On Wed, March 15, 2006 6:15 pm, Mike wrote:
> I'm surprised this didn't also mention their mail fraud advertising
> strategy. I remember getting an obfuscated  'Domain Name Expiration
> Notice,' where they ask for 'renewal' which ultimately ends up in you
> unknowingly transferring your domain to them. I knew it was a scam but I
> wonder how many people didn't.
>
> Here's an example of the letter
> http://www.proper.com/ICANN-notes/VeriSign-deception.html
>
> The only 'sweet deal' Verisign deserves is a fine and some time behind
> bars given their track record.
>
> -Mike
>
> Steve Phariss wrote:
>> I just learned that ICANN and verisign have penned a deal giving
>> verisign
>> a sweetheart deal for .com registrations.  This deal is still subject to
>> the Commerce department approval. Here is the letter I sent (hard copy
>> and
>> via the online forms) to my representatives:
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________________________
>>
>> Dear __________:
>>
>> I am amazed and disheartened about the recently approved .COM registry
>> agreement and settlement between ICANN and VeriSign. This agreement is
>> anti-competitive and bad for consumers, small business, and the Internet
>> community as a whole.
>>
>> The agreement provides VeriSign with the ability to increase prices by
>> 7%
>> annually in four of the next six years without cost justification.
>> Furthermore, under the agreement, VeriSign's monopoly would run in
>> perpetuity as the agreement would automatically renew without the
>> opportunity for competitive bidding. VeriSign and ICANN should not be
>> allowed to establish a perpetual monopoly without Congressional
>> oversight
>> and the opportunity for input from the Internet community.
>>
>> Verisign has also, in the past, proven that they do not care about the
>> well being of the internet.  In September of 2003, verisign
>> "commandeered"
>> all misspelled and non-existant URL's.  See this link to the original
>> advisory. http://www.icann.org/announcements/advisory-19sep03.htm
>>
>> Verisign was forced to back down, however they have made several
>> attempts
>> to reintroduce this "service".  My question is simple, should a monopoly
>> be allowed to be granted to a company with a proven track record of
>> disdain for the industry they purport to represent?
>>
>> As your constituent, I want to make you aware that the ICANN Board has
>> approved this anti-competitive agreement on February 28th, 2006. The
>> next
>> step is for the NTIA to approve the deal. I urge you to bring our
>> concerns
>> to the attention of the NTIA.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> --
>> Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "Those who would give up essential
>> Liberties
>> for a measure of Security, deserve neither Liberty nor Security!"
>>
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-- 
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "Those who would give up essential Liberties
for a measure of Security, deserve neither Liberty nor Security!"