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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">From those who know better, I will like to know whether the present new set of new tlds is of unrestricted gtlds like .com etc, which I understand should be open for anyone to register
a web space under, and no discrimination can be made (other then clear criteria of trademark etc) or are they all private tlds that the owner can decide to do whatever about. If the latter, such wholesale privatisation of language that CW speaks about is an
extremely serious issue.<br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">No it isn't.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">First of all, there is no privatization of "language." There is an exclusive registration of a domain name identifier at the top level. IGP has registered "internetgovernance"
under .org, that does not permit us to prevent anyone from uttering those words, or from registering them in another context (e.g., under another TLD or as a TLD or as a company name or as part of their organization name, etc.)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Or to make it a bit more pointed, your registration of ITforchange under the .net domain is not different in status and exclusivity than if someone registered
ITforchange as a TLD. Youre registration of that domain doesn’t prevent anyone from using that language anywhere else. But it does give you an exclusive assignment in the .net domain, because that is how DNS works. Each string much be uniquely assigned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Whether registrants of these names operate as an open domain or not is simply a business model choice, which ICANN wisely refrained from trying to dictate.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">In fact, the view that you and Wilkinson are putting forward is the most restrictive and inimical to freedom of expression, because it assumes that some central
authority has to decide who has the exclusive right to determine how particular names can be used in the DNS. This is the reason it has taken nearly 15 years to make the simple decision to add new TLDs to the Internet. Everyone assumes that we must determine
who has the God-given right to claim a certain character string, when the simple fact is that millions of people have the same right to claim it, and it is simply a matter of who gets there first or who values it the most. Barring trademark violations, which
involves infringing uses and not simple registration, anyone should be able to register anything.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The opposite view mistakenly assumes that a domain name registration has intrinsic value based on the meaning of the label
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(it doesn't, as a bunch of investors are about to find out).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><br>
No one can be given a gtld with a word/name for private use unless one at least has an international trademark right to that word/name</span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Factually and legally wrong.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Someone can be and will be assigned .music, for example.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">No one should be able to trademark that term as a generic, blanket exclusivity of course.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Even Apple Computer's strong trademark doesn’t prevent someone else from registering .apple if they are willing to enter into an expensive bidding war and don't
use it in a way that runs afoul of trademark law. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Even while allocating generic tlds open for anyone to register, competition policy may require to exclude such companies that have clear vested interest in that particular bit of digital
real estate (and thus are more likely to indulgence in anti-competitive activities)</span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Not unless there is market power and no competitive alternatives.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">When WILL you learn the basics of competition law/policy?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">The present list of applicants mostly consists of companies seeking gtlds with names that clearly denote their core areas of business. Doesnt look like promoting a competitive domain name
space</span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I would like to see an articulation of what you mean by a competitive domain name space.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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