auDA Domain Name News - Oct 23
23/Oct/2008
auDA Domain Name News is compiled by David Goldstein on auDA's behalf. The views expressed in the news items linked from auDA's website (Linked Documents), do not necessarily reflect the views of auDA. auDA does not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information contained in the Linked Documents, and assumes no liability to any person for any reliance placed upon any information contained in the Linked Documents.
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GOVERNANCE
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Big changes ahead for the Internet, says Vint Cerf [IDG]
The Internet will get support for IPv6, a more secure domain name system and international characters, during the next couple of years, according to Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google.
www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102108-big-changes-ahead-for-the.html
www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152534/big_changes_ahead_for_the_internet_says_vint_cerf.html
pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/3CF40A6D671EB7AACC2574E9007214CF
Warning over higher broadband bills for British internet users
Consumers have been warned that their broadband bills could soar after the EU opened the door to "net neutrality" — unrestricted, first-come-first-served access to the internet.
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/20/internet-europe
ICC: Regions prepare for Internet Governance Forum
Members of the International Chamber of Commerce and its Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) initiative participated in a meeting this week in Strasbourg convened to focus on European stakeholders’ perspectives on main themes of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGF is due to take place in Hyderabad, India in December.
finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22437&Itemid=8
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DOMAIN NAMES
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- ICANN
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Don't want .com? Alternatives could cost you US$200K [AP]
The Internet's key oversight agency issued preliminary guidelines Wednesday for the introduction of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of alternatives to ".com" in the first sweeping changes to the network's 25-year-old address system.
www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10539106
news.smh.com.au/technology/draft-rules-issued-for-new-net-suffixes--at-200k-20081023-56lb.html
news.theage.com.au/technology/draft-rules-issued-for-new-net-suffixes--at-200k-20081023-56lb.html
Bespoke top level domains 'to cost $200,000'
Internet overseer ICANN plans to reform the top level domain (TLD) naming system so anyone can set up a new registry, but it seems web plebs will have to make do with boring old .com and friends. According to a report, the price for a bespoke TLD will be announced this Friday at about $200,000.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/23/icann_tld_reform_charges/
".??" domain names to open for application next year
China has acquired the operation capabilities of ".??" ("Chinese for China") domain names, a leader at ICANN said in Beijing recently.
english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90881/6519500.html
Explanatory Memoranda Papers for New GTLDs Applicant Guidebook
In the lead up to ICANN's Cairo public meeting, the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) Applicant Guidebook, also called the “draft Request for Proposal (RFP)”, will be released for public comment. This document will provide information to applicants wanting to apply for a new gTLD.
icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-21oct08-en.htm
Bulk Transfer of Esoftwiz Domains to Name.com
As a result of the de-accreditation of registrar Esoftwiz Inc., ICANN initiated a process to identify a gaining registrar to receive Esoftwiz's gTLD names. In accordance with ICANN's Interim Terminated Registrar Transition Procedure, on 12 September 2008, ICANN initiated a Request for Statements of Interest (RFI) from registrars interested in receiving the names.
icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-21oct08-en.htm
Public Comment: AGP Limits Policy
ICANN is today opening a public comment period on the draft implementation plan for the AGP Limits Policy. This recently approved consensus policy is intended to limit the behavior known as domain tasting through modifications to the AGP. The Policy will affect gTLD Operators (hereinafter referred to as "Operators") and ICANN-accredited registrars (hereinafter referred to as "Registrars") and become effective following appropriate comment and notice periods on the implementation plan.
icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20oct08-en.htm
ICANN Releases Four Updates for New gTLDs
ICANN today published four draft papers about the introduction of new gTLDs.
domainnamewire.com/2008/10/22/icann-releases-four-updates-for-new-gtlds/
New Top Level Domain Names: Challenges and Opportunities
A look at the coming launch of new top level domain names and what it means for trademark holders, domainers, and the internet community. The overview of the new TLD (top level domain) process below is based on my research and a discussion last week with ICANN’s gTLD Program Director Karla Valente. Opinions are my own and not those of Valente or ICANN.
domainnamewire.com/2008/10/21/new-top-level-domain-names-challenges-and-opportunities/
Domain Registrars Identified Web Addresses Referred in Spam
The Internet's main governing body, ICANN said on October 15, 2008 that a German organization, Joker.com and a Chinese organization, DNS.com.cn are selling domain addresses connected to spam mails.
www.spamfighter.com/News-11155-Domain-Registrars-Identified-Web-Addresses-Referred-in-Spam.htm
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- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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Linux.conf.au hits domain disaster
The website of Australia's annual Linux conference has become temporarily inaccessible scant months before the event because of policy confusion over whether or not it is allowed to use its long-standing domain name.
www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Linux-conf-au-hits-domain-disaster/0,130061791,339292792,00.htm
www.builderau.com.au/news/soa/Linux-conf-au-hits-domain-disaster/0,339028227,339292792,00.htm
nz: Policy Reviews: Disputes and Complaints Process, Investigations and Inquiries Process
The DNC is now reviewing the Disputes and Complaints Process (DCP) and the Investigations and Inquiries Process (IIP). These two policies interrelate and it is reasonable to review both at the same time.
dnc.org.nz/story/30325.html
How Telnic Will Revolutionize Dialing
Say you want to reach an old friend who's always on the move. Calling her at home using the number listed in the phone book (what a quaint notion!) probably won't work. But how else can you find the various other ways to reach her—via mobile, or at work, or perhaps e-mail, instant messaging, Skype (EBAY), Facebook, or Twitter addresses?
www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2008/gb20081022_946906.htm
'Dot-tel' names emerge as catch-all ID for Web contact
Asking a prospective date for a phone number is so last century. Starting soon, it will be "What's your dot-tel?" There's a new online gold rush gathering momentum as pre-registration ramps up for the Internet's new ".tel" domain that lets individuals, companies and organizations store all their contact information in a virtual phone book for life.
www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=9c99f2ea-249f-4ba0-add9-41fd16d715be
100 Registrars To Offer .tel
The registry operator for the new ".tel" top level domain, Telnic Limited has announced that 100 ICANN-accredited registrars have signed up to sell .tel domain names well in advance of its December 3 launch.
www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/102208_100_Registrars_To_Offer_tel.cfm
Telnic Woos Developers for Web-free Web Applications
Telnic invites developers to its .tel "Webless Web" platform with open source code and sample applications. .tel is a service that allows users to store and manage all their contact information and keywords directly in the Domain Name System without the need to build, host or manage a Web site.
www.publish.com/c/a/Online-Media/Telnic-Woos-Developers-for-Webfree-Web-Applications/
Flanders demands its own top-level domain
The detente between Belgium's fractious regions is under strain again after the Flemish parliament demanded its own top-level domain.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/22/flemish_toplevel_domain/
Belgian bun fight erupts over Flemish domain
The Flemish government is making a move towards unilateral online independence by demanding its own top level web domain extension.
www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/10/22/flemish-demand-own-seperate-web
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- DNS SECURITY
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How DNS cache poisoning works
This vendor-written tech primer has been edited to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitter's approach.
computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1298660999
www.techworld.com.au/article/264408/how_dns_cache_poisoning_works
pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1298660999
Report: Operatives Will Use Internet to Suppress the Vote
From carefully targeted denial-of-service attacks to fake websites with false polling place addresses, online voter-suppression tactics could wreak unprecedented havoc on the November election, according to a new report released Monday by a group of privacy and election protection organizations.
blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/new-report-warn.html
VeriSign Strengthens Critical Internet Infrastructure in Spain
Terremark Worldwide, Inc. ... announced that VeriSign, Inc. ... has expanded its Internet infrastructure by deploying additional infrastructure in Terremark's Madrid facility, NAP de las Americas Madrid. The deployment is part of VeriSign's Project Titan initiative to strengthen and secure its global Internet infrastructure. https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=444778&releasejsp=custom_97 https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=444778&releasejsp=custom_97
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- DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Domain Names that Use Translations of Known Trademarks are Confusingly Similar to such Trademarks
The administrative panel at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center has held on a number of occasions that domain name registrations that use translations of known trademarks are confusingly similar to the original trademarks. Where the registered domain names are confusingly similar to a known trademark, and where the domain name registrant is found to have registered such a domain name in bad faith and does not use it “legitimately,” the registrant will, most likely, be asked to relinquish the domain name in favor of the original trademark owner.
www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=37FA1448-5B8C-4B92-B56D-AC0AD6800619
Domain Names Incorporating Trademarked Fictional Characters Found Infringing
The administrative panel at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center has held on multiple occasions that domain names that use the names of trademarked fictional characters infringe upon those trademarks. On such occasions, the panel has ordered that the infringing domain names be transferred to the respective trademark owners.
www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=FCC769A2-72E3-4734-80B5-3E1D619A1209
Kentucky judge OKs 141-site net casino land grab
A Kentucky judge has upheld that state's seizure of some of the world's most popular online casino domain names, ruling they constitute a "gambling device" that is subject to Kentucky's anti-gambling laws.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/20/kentucky_domain_name_seizure_upheld/
Kentucky vs. 141 Domain Names by Joseph Lorenzo Hall
Yes, that is a title of a real, current legal case and controversy. And, no, the links in this post are not spam... mostly gambling news sites seem to be reporting on this. The Governor of Kentucky, through his Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, has moved in court to have 141 gambling-related domain names transferred to the Kentucky state government, partially because other legal gambling operations in Kentucky, like horseracing, lose revenue to online gaming. Yes, you read that right: by allegedly violating KY law, the state can move to have property used in these unlawful acts transferred to the state. In this case, the "property" in question is the domain names themselves. This case is definitely novel in the realm of cyberlaw, but also is a bit controversial for how it originally proceeded.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081020_kentucky_141_domain_names/
Kentucky overstepping bounds: Recent lawsuit to seize Internet domains grossly violates citizens' rights
Kentucky is on the move - better watch your back. Recently, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear moved to seize 141 domain names registered to Internet gambling sites, filing suit in Franklin County Circuit Court. The move, which came with essentially no warning, targets some of the biggest firms. The governor claims the sites are unregulated and "are leeches on our communities."
media.www.dailygamecock.com/media/storage/paper247/news/2008/10/23/Viewpoints/Kentucky.Overstepping.Bounds-3500522.shtml
Kentucky Court Affirms Seizure of Poker Domain Names
A Kentucky Circuit Court judge has dismissed all objections brought by representatives of as many as 141 Internet domain names subject to seizure and forfeiture to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the result of an order issued by the same court late last month. Many of the domain names listed as being subject to seizure are connected with major US-facing poker sites, including PokerStars, Full Tilt, UltimateBet, Doyle's Room, Absolute Poker and others.
swisspoker.ch/newsflashartikel2.cfm?art=News&key=367798
Kentucky Online Gambling Domain Seizure Case: Judge Considers Stay
Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate has taken into advisement a Motion of Stay during a hearing today that would determine if 141 online gambling domain names are to be seized on November 17.
www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/kentucky-online-gambling-domain-seizure-case-judge-considers-stay-102208.html
Americans for Tax Reform on Kentucky Internet Gambling
Grover Norquist is the head of the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a Washington-based organization fighting for lower and more transparent taxes in the United States. The ATR has also been one of the leading organizations fighting for the rights of online poker players in Kentucky, where Governor Steve Beshear has seized 141 internet gambling domains. The ATR is also working for proper internet protection at a national level.
www.pokernewsdaily.com/americans-for-tax-reform-on-kentucky-internet-gambling-587/
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- IPv4/IPv6
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Vint Cerf warns on IPv6 uptake [IDG]
The Internet will get support for IPv6, a more secure domain name system and international characters, during the next couple of years, according to Vint Cerf, chief Internet evangelist at Google.
www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?NewsID=105980
computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9117640
computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;424225321
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- MISCELLANEOUS
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Internet Development –Governments as Catalysts For The Internet Protocol Address Challenge
The RIPE NCC recently held a Roundtable for European government representatives to discuss Internet addressing and the protection of best practice development of the Internet for the region. The author introduces issues surrounding the underlying infrastructure of the Internet and calls for governments to take a leading role in Internet development.
egovmonitor.com/node/21606
MarkMonitor Advises on New TLDs
Corporate identity protection provider MarkMonitor announced on Monday it has released its TLD Advisory Services to assist brandholders in developing customized brand strategies in response to ICANN's recent expansion of top level domains.
www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/102008_MarkMonitor_Advises_on_New_TLDs.cfm
Following Mobile Search: the dotMobi Way
Everyone is asking about the next big thing in mobile technology. Surely one of the next big things is mobile search, but that's just one part of the mobile web. Will Google gain a lock on that, or will it go in a different direction? Keep reading for a perspective on one possibility.
www.seochat.com/c/a/Search-Engine-News/Following-Mobile-Search-the-dotMobi-Way/
Risks Remain for IDN Investors
For years, domain names were only available in roman characters. Domain names in these characters don’t make a lot of sense to web users who’s primary languages don’t use these characters.
domainnamewire.com/2008/10/20/risks-remain-for-idn-investors/
Fleeing U.S. Registrars? Not so Fast.
A blog post over at Wall Street Journal today titled “Online Businesses Subject to Local Laws…Everywhere” discusses the Kentucky gambling domain seizure. It mentions that the businesses who have had domains seized don’t have any presence in Kentucky.
domainnamewire.com/2008/10/21/fleeing-us-registrars-not-so-fast/
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- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Without typo-squatters, how far would Google fall?
How much money is Google making from the world's typo-squatters? God only knows. Or rather: God, Eric Schmidt, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and a few Oompah Loompahs inside their Mountain View Chocolate Factory.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/23/google_and_typosquatting/
What Google Gains From The Crisis
Last year's question of whether Google might be invulnerable to a recession has officially been answered. Since the beginning of the year, investors have sliced the company's stock price nearly in half over fears that spending on online ads will slow or fall as the credit crunch freezes wallets.
www.forbes.com/technology/2008/10/21/google-downturn-monopolist-tech-enter-cx_ag_1022google.html
Professor: Google earns millions from ads on typosquatting sites
Google earns between $32m and $50m (£18.7m and £29m) from placing its AdSense text ads on 'typosquatting' sites, says a Harvard Business School professor.
www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=105957
Harvard Prof: Google earns "$32-$50 million" annually from typosquatting websites
Harvard Business School professor Benjamin G. Edelman estimates Google makes between $32 and $50 million in gross profit each year -- potentially much more -- from placing its AdSense text ads on so-called "typosquatting" sites.
www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/20/harvard-prof-google-earns-32-50-million-annually-typosquatting-websites
Harvard prof sues Google over ads on typosquatted domains
Google is accused once again of making money from typosquatters—those who register mistyped domains and throw ads on them to make money. This time, a Harvard law professor says he's looking out for trademark holders who are suffering from the actions of typosquatters.
arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081022-harvard-prof-sues-google-over-ads-on-typosquatted-domains.html
PR tries to sell 'afterthebailout.com' on eBay for $1m
Kudos to Annie Jennings for trying, but something tells me that she’s not going to sell the domain name ‘AfterTheBailout.com’ for more than a million bucks.
www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/366559/pr-tries-to-sell-afterthebailout-com-on-ebay-for-1m.html
AFTERTHEBAILOUT.com...can it get over $1mn?
Generally speaking, buyers usually wait until the last minute to bid for the auctioned item.
www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=82222
Are Domain Names Recession Proof? by Alex Tajirian
We'll only be able to tell whether domain names are recession proof by waiting for the performance of e-commerce sites during the holiday shopping season. Domain name owners and buyers have to remain in suspense a while longer. Some domainers are experiencing drops in sales and prices. However, it is not clear whether those drops are because of changes in valuations by buyers, sellers, or both.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081021_are_domain_names_recession_proof/
