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ICANN Closes Most Popular Comment Forum
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Some of the typical content of the ICANN forums:
1) Garry Anderson's canned spiel about how trademark protection of domain names doesn't work, and the only rational solution is to create a special namespace just for trademark owners and don't give them special rights anywhere else. I mostly agree (though not necessarily quite to his degree of radicality), but reading it for the 123rd time doesn't really add much.
2) Jim Fleming's recitations about how we all need to switch to IPv8, a protocol which Jim Fleming seems to be the only person who actually understands, but which seems to involve name resolution via subdomains of in-addr.TLD (for various values of "TLD"). Conveniently, Mr. Fleming owns some of the in-addr.* domains in various TLDs. Supposedly, all domain owners (whether in ICANN's root or alternative roots) need to rush to re-register their names under IPv8 and the in-addr sites or they'll be left behind in the Next Generation Internet. To demonstrate the widespread interest in IPv8, Fleming normally cites URLs which always turn out to go either to one of his own Web sites or to his postings in other forums, which in turn cite his other Web sites and postings in other forums... you never do manage to find another person besides him who has even heard of IPv8, let alone knows why anybody ought to use it.
3) The Speculator Brigade: a whole gang of folk whose plans to get rich quick on domain names have been cruelly foiled by the evil criminal acts of ICANN, the registrars, and/or the registries. Their purpose for hanging out on the forum is to commiserate with one another about how noble they are and how evil the companies and organizations running the system are. To this end, they make a whole volley of postings in response to every real or imagined action or inaction on the part of the Guilty Parties, saying how this proves they're all a bunch of criminals and they must be about to get their comeuppance just about now. Sometimes interesting information comes out in these exchanges, like when one of them posts copies of email correspondence with a registrar or registry, or points the forum members to a relevant Web site or news article. Other times it's just rumor-mongering nearly empty of true facts (and anybody who pours cold water on them by pointing out actual facts that contradict the pet theory of the day gets flamed and accused of being part of the evil conspiracy). The one certainty is that anything done by ICANN, the registries, or the registrars, will be interpreted as an evil plot -- case in point: right after September 11th, both Afilias and Neulevel were roundly criticized on the forums for their insensitivity in not postponing their launches to accommodate those affected by the tragic attacks -- then, after both registries did move their deadlines accordingly, they got attacked on the forums for changing their rules in the middle of the game.
4) The Me-Too Crowd: People with nothing particularly meaningful to say, but who clutter up the forum with one-liner replies to whatever else is posted, treating the forum like a chat room.
5) Flamers and Bickerers: They must be accessing the forum from a kindergarten recess yard; their "contribution" is to make silly, petty, off-topic attacks on one another. It takes two to argue, but only two arguers can drown out all other conversation in a forum -- it's even more effective if one or more of the others start taking sides too. The argument needn't have anything whatsoever to do with domain policy; it can start with one person playing a childish prank on another (e.g., signing in using a username resembling another participant's and posting drivel even more idiotic than usual for the forum, hoping the other participant will be blamed), and if a second member takes the bait (e.g., posting scads of whiny posts about how evil the first prankster was to imitate the second one's username, and how the forum moderator had better ban the first guy immediately or else...) then the entire forum is taken up with this war.
Like I said, some useful and interesting stuff is there, but it's hard to find in all the mess.
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I agree with you almost completely Dan, as usual, though I also can't disagree with Richard Henderson's posts elsewhere on this thread. Look on the good side. By having these forums, other forums like the ALSC and GA lists, for example, probably have a slightly lower noise level. Some of the regulars have now suggested that they take it over to Usenet. I'm sure they'll fit right in. -g
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[ Reply to This | Parent
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Hello folks - Garry here.
Quote:
1) Garry Anderson's canned spiel about how trademark protection of domain names doesn't work, and the only rational solution is to create a special namespace just for trademark owners and don't give them special rights anywhere else. I mostly agree (though not necessarily quite to his degree of radicality), but reading it for the 123rd time doesn't really add much.
123 times? Thanks Dan - did not know you were keeping count ;-)
You misrepresent me slightly - saying I don't give trademarks special rights anywhere else. Obviously they have legal protection against passing off, libel etc.
Trademarks are a good thing - for people as well as business.
It is fact: I am just stating the TRUTH - that authorities know how to allow ALL trademarks to use their mark.
That they can do this without any of the problems of 'consumer confusion', 'trademark conflict' and 'passing off'.
I think you miss the point. The main problems are due to Big Business trying to take over the Internet and claim all name-space.
Paul Mockapetris created the DNS to provide a mechanism for naming resources - not as a replacement trademark system.
He was asked, what do you wish you had invented? His reply, "A directory system for the Internet that wouldn’t be controlled by the politicians, lawyers and bureaucrats."
P.S. You left out yourself from that list - but I will not stereotype your postings. Just to say some useful and interesting stuff is there ;-)
To others - If you want the truth about trademarks and domain names - please visit WIPO.org.uk - nothing to do with United Nations WIPO.org !
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