[At-Large] [NA-Discuss] Budget provisions relating to DomainTasting

[Roberto Gaetano]

First of all, I am sure that Alan knows about the details of Domain Tasting,
since in the ALAC mailing lists this problem has been rased since months, an
issue report has been requested by ALAC, and Alan is in the GNSO team who is
in charge for further fact finding.

This said, the fact that domain tasting bring an increase in "regular"
registrations is exactly the evidence brought by domainers and domain
tasters/kiters to justify the practice. It is at least odd that the same
phenomenon is brought up in this discussion. Being paranoiac by nature, I
tend to pay attention to coincidences.

Last but not least, the price increase is orthogonal to this issue, as it
comes from the 7% increase that registries (not ICANN!) will apply. This
increase accounts for a grand total of .42 USD, "autrement dit" 42 cents of
US$. It is again odd that a raise of full $2.00 can be justified in this
way, and it is at least suspicious that a long time militant omits to remark
that the issues are separated and that a raise of such extent is not
justified.

Incidentally, relevant ICANN staff in copy to craft appropriate follow up to
AIT Domains, thanks Danny for pointing out media clip.

Regards,
Roberto



> -----Original Message-----
> From: alac-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org 
> [mailto:alac-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of 
> Danny Younger
> Sent: 08 July 2007 21:27
> To: Michael Maranda; At-Large Worldwide; 
> na-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> Subject: Re: [At-Large] [NA-Discuss] Budget provisions 
> relating to DomainTasting
> 
> Re:  The small increase may seem trivial, but the principle 
> is more important.
> 
> The price increase (which won't go into effect until October 
> 15) is not trivial -- registrars are already raising their 
> prices in anticipation of the price
> increase:
> 
> "AIT Domains says that under the promotion all domain names 
> will cost $6.49 until July 6. However, due to recently 
> announced price increases from ICANN, AIT Domains says it's 
> being forced to raise its prices.
> Rates are currently scheduled to go up to $8.49 per 
> registration year on July 9."  
> 
> http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/070307_AIT_Holds_Fourth_of_
July_Special.cfm
> 
> What's more important than all of this is the issue of bad 
> decision-making on the part of the unaccountable ICANN Board. 
>  The Internet community has no way of "throwing the bums out" 
> because ICANN remains accountable to no one.
> 
> Until this problem is solved it really doesn't much matter 
> what the community consensus is on the AGP or anything 
> else... ICANN remains free to ignore the voice of the people.  
> 
> Presently, ICANN profits from the consequences of domain 
> tasting... the more names that are tasted, the more names 
> that will eventually be registered as some of these names can 
> successfully be monetized.  Profits for the registries, 
> profits for the registrars, profits for ICANN... there were 
> about 16 million new registrations last year (a good chunk of 
> them the direct result of tasting activities).  
> 
> Don't expect to prevail on this issue without putting up a 
> spectacular fight and screaming for action at every 
> opportunity -- convincing a corporation to kill a lucrative 
> cash cow can only be an uphill battle.
> 
> 
> 
>        
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