auDA Domain Name News - Nov 17
17/Nov/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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Internet self-administration forum faces scrutiny
At the preparatory summit for the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Berlin, representatives from governments, business, and civil society stepped forward in defence of preserving the platform for global debate about internet policy decisions.
www.heise-online.co.uk/networks/Internet-self-administration-forum-faces-scrutiny--/news/111951
East Africa seeks to raise awareness on Internet governance [IDG]
East Africa ICT stakeholders have launched an Internet governance course targeting policy makers to address gaps exposed at this week's regional meeting.
www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/11/13/east-africa-seeks-raise-awareness-internet-governance
www.networkworld.com/news/2008/111308-east-africa-seeks-to-raise.html
Africa discusses Internet governance
Representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda gathered in Nairobi to discuss common issues regarding Internet governance in preparation for next month's global Internet Governance Forum, reports Networkworld.
www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2008/0811130908.asp?S=All%20Africa%20News&A=AFN&O=FRGN
Funds hitch hampers ICT development in East Africa
Lack of funds for implementing key Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes has been identified as a key factor hampering the setting up of digital villages and access to internet services across East Africa.
waltainfo.com/walnew/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4569&Itemid=47
www.afriquenligne.fr/news/africa-news/funds-hitch-hampers-ict-development-in-east-africa-2008111215849.html
Hyderabad to host Internet Governance Forum
The third edition of the Internet Governance Forum will be held in Hyderabad from December 3 to December 6, 2008.
sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14797012
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DOMAIN NAMES
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- ICANN
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AGP Deletes Down by 84%
In June 2008, the ICANN Board approved the FY09 Budget that contained a provision on AGP deletes. The provision is that domain names deleted during the AGP will be included as transactions if they exceed the maximum of (i) 10% of that registrar's net new registrations in that month, or (ii) fifty (50) domain names, whichever is greater. Therefore the per-transaction fee, currently US$0.20, will be assessed on all AGP deletes that exceed the defined threshold.
icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-13nov08-en.htm
ICANN drops bad domain registrar, but on technicality [IDG]
An Estonian company that registers domain names will have its accreditation revoked in about two weeks, the Internet's addressing authority said Wednesday.
www.itworld.com/internet/57767/icann-drops-bad-domain-registrar-technicality
computerworld.com.au/article/267316/
pcworld.idg.com.au/article/267316/
www.arnnet.com.au/article/267316/
www.arnnet.com.au/article/267316/
ICANN Shutting Down EstDomains Nov. 24
Widely regarded as a haven for spammers and cybercriminals, EstDomains must now designate a recipient for the 281,000 domain registrations it manages.
www.informationweek.com/news/services/data/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212002478
Execution date set for EstDomains
ICANN has decided to go ahead with its plan to shut down EstDomains.
www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2230516/execution-date-set-estdomains
www.itnews.com.au/News/NewsStory.aspx?story=89011
ICANN: Termination of Registrar EstDomains to Go Ahead
The termination of ICANN-accredited registrar EstDomains is to go ahead, effective 24 November 2008.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081113_icann_terminates_domain_registrar_estdomains/
ICANN Puts EstDomains Registrar Back on Chopping Block
After initially staying the execution of embattled registrar EstDomains, ICANN has decided to shut it down Nov. 24. EstDomains has long been linked to cyber-criminals by security researchers.
www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/ICANN-Puts-EstDomains-Registrar-Back-on-Chopping-Block/
ICANN Pulls Over Crooked Estonian Registrar
ICANN will revoke the credentials of EstDomains, an Estonian domain name registrar on November 24. The final decision was made based on the recent ruling of an Estonian court: EstDomains President Vladimir Tsastsin has been found guilty of credit card fraud, money laundering and document forgery. Or, according to ICANN's book of rules:
news.portalit.net/fullnews_icann-pulls-over-crooked-estonian-registrar_1796.html
ICANN cries wolf again with EstDomains
It seems ICANN is once again threatening to de-accredit EstDomains, a URL registrar and hosting service, according to a letter posted on ICANN's site on Wednesday.
thestandard.com/news/2008/11/13/icann-cries-wolf-again-estdomains
Malware, mayhem, and the McColo takedown
... The Internet's allegedly governing bodies haven't been any better at framing the problem and figuring out how to address it. ICANN has been, Sergeant says ruefully, "glacially slow" at clamping down on bad registrars, and though some security folk are rejoicing that ICANN will finally deliver on its death sentence for notorious registry EstDomains.com, it's mainly of interest as another vector of address, rather than as a strong measure to shut off the spam tap.
www.betanews.com/article/Malware_mayhem_and_the_McColo_takedown/1226622403
ICANN Cuts EstDomains, Spam Down 75%
ICANN moves forward with de-accreditation of EstDomains, related spam host cut off.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/14/icann-cuts-estdomains-spam-down-75/
Finally, EstDomains to be Terminated by ICANN
After an on-again, off-again saga, EstDomains has been advised of irrevocable termination of their status of ICANN-accredited registrar.
www.itwire.com/content/view/21712/53/
The Harsh Reality of Spam and Online Security... Should I Stay or Should I Go?
... He has shone the spotlight of national media on some real embarrassments, situations like ICANN dragging their feet regarding the decertification of rogue registrar EstDomains, a service much-favoured by malware authors and spammers (they are now offline), Atrivo, a California-based ISP which played a pivotal role in sustaining the Storm botnet (they are now offline) and Krebs played a part in the latest victory for us good guys on the net, with his piece on McColo, a host for botnet command-and-control technologies (yes, they too are now offline!)
www.circleid.com/posts/20081113_reality_of_spam_online_security/
My Spammers Didn't Get the Memo That They Were Toast
It has been a week that seemed like the good guys might finally be winning -- something -- in the cybercrime war. First, there were reports of a 65-plus percent drop in spam volume after a Web hosting firm known for hosting botnets, spammers, and child pornography was taken down. Then ICANN on Wednesday finally terminated domain hosting provider EstDomains, which is notorious for harboring spammers and malware writers. But I'm having trouble celebrating.
darkreading.com/blog/archives/2008/11/my_spammers_did.html
Despite McColo shutdown, expect Spam deluge to resume
... But now the tide is beginning to turn. First came the news that ICANN had decided to de-accredit EstDomains, an ISP notorious in the security community for serving as a haven for malware authors and spammers.
searchsecurity.techtarget.com.au/articles/27743-Despite-McColo-shutdown-expect-Spam-deluge-to-resume
ITU and ICANN - a loveless forced marriage
ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Touré has called for better collaboration between the ITU and ICANN. "Our members have unnecessarily attacked and criticised each other and I think we should put an end to that," said Touré on Thursday at the 33rd ICANN meeting in Cairo. According to Touré, the two organisations need to get to know each other better and learn to love each other, as telecommunications and the internet are ultimately condemned to a "forced marriage".
www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/118646
Touré’s ITU still pushing for an Internet counter-revolution by Milton Mueller
The speech by the International Telecommunication Union’s Hamadoun Touré brought the ongoing power struggle over Internet governance into the open. Toure spoke openly of the ongoing “war” between ICANN and the ITU. He demanded a stronger role for governments in ICANN, dismissing ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) as “cosmetic” (quite wrong, as I will show later). He correctly accused the UN Internet Governance Forum of “avoiding issues” but also rather harshly dismissed it as a “waste of time.” I commend Secretary General Touré for his forthrightness, which is all too rare in international organizations. Unfortunately, his blunt speech supports the wrong cause.
blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/11/11/3972346.html
Proposal for Signing the DNSSEC Root
The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is soliciting comments on signing the DNSSEC root. Ignore the caption on the page: this is not about DNSSEC deployment, which is already happening just fine. It's about who gets to sign the root zone.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081113_proposal_signing_dnssec_root_zone/
ICANN Must Address Domain Tasting Ripple Effects
A registrar who also engages in domain tasting can inadvertently create ripple effects throughout the domain name industry. Thus, domain name owners must exert pressure on ICANN to reduce this risk.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081115_icann_domain_tasting_ripple_effects/
Overture to Take Over Internet Governance: ITU at ICANN Meeting, Cairo by Sivasubramanian Muthusamy
ITU is 143 years old and it has done a lot of good work. But it is so huge and powerful that it has been monopolizing (or mono-unionizing) Telecommunications for the last 143 years. ITU's hold over communications has been sweeping. But during the last ten years, ITU's member Telcos have seen several challenges from the open Internet architecture. Alternate telecommunication technologies such as email and Internet telephony have been formidable challenges to the ITU.
www.circleid.com/posts/20081115_take_over_internet_governace_itu_icann/
Domain Name Tasting Down 84%
Domain tasting is down 84% since ICANN implemented its 20 cent fee.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/14/domain-name-tasting-down-84/
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- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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Changes To The .CA WHOIS Privacy Policy
As we are reaching a critical point in the evolution of the internet, we will begin to see several agencies making changes to the way they do business. Barrister & Solicitor Lorraine Fleck, has been keeping an eye on the changes that The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) have been making regarding the privacy of its registrants. She imparts important information for .ca holders that they may not have noticed after the jump.
www.namesmash.com/?p=166
China Rockets Past 13 Million Domain Name Registrations
The ccTLD .cn (China) has rocketed past the 13 millionth registration this month. At end October, there were 12915737 registrations and with an average of over 400,000 domain name registrations per month over the past year will have easily past the figure now.
technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6493
www.domainpulse.com/2008/11/15/china-rockets-past-13-million-domain-name-registrations/
www.domainnews.com/en/general/china-rockets-past-13-million-domain-name-registrations.html
Will .Com Domain Name Fees Soar?
Upset about VeriSign increasing your .com registration fees 7% a year? Imagine if they could raise them by whatever they want.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/13/will-com-domain-name-fees-soar/
de: Provider Change with AuthInfo - Fast, Secure, and Reliable [news release]
As from December 2008, DENIC and the DENIC members will make available a new procedure to domain holders who want to change their provider. The central feature of this new procedure is the transmission of a password, which is called AuthInfo. The AuthInfo is valid exclusively for this specific action and is related to one specific domain.
www.denic.de/en/denic/presse/press_91.html
Hamburg joins growing list of potential CityTLDs
With the first round of new TLD applications set to open in September 2009, more potential applicants are making themselves known. One is .HAMBURG for the German city of Hamburg.
domainesinfo.fr/english/236/hamburg-joins-growing-list-of-potential-citytlds.php
A new top level domain for communications launches
.tel, a new TLD, is about to launch with a Sunrise period reserved for registration for trademark owners to commence on 3 December. Following this period, open registration then commences in a Landrush period on 3 February 2009. In both periods, applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, with a validation fee (where Deloitte assesses the validity of the trademark) applying in Sunrise and a premium price applying in Landrush. General registration commences on 24 March 2009 for the remaining domain names.
technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6489
www.domainpulse.com/2008/11/14/a-new-top-level-domain-for-communications-launches-tel/
.Tel Has Benefits, But Many Challenges
The first time I wrote about .tel was back in 2006 when it was approved by ICANN. I wasn’t a big fan of it back then. I wrote about it again earlier this week, and said I still think this domain extension is a longshot. Earlier today I talked with Justin Hayward, communications director for .tel backer Telnic. My general opinion is the same, but there are some ways, if executed well, .tel could work out.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/13/tel-has-benefits-but-many-challenges/
Nominet director quits over boardroom rift
One of Nominet's four non-executive directors has resigned amid accusation and counter accusation of wrongdoing at the not-for-profit company that runs the .uk registry.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/13/nominet_director_resigns/
Nominet top brass reject resignation call
The executives in charge of Nominet, the not-for-profit company responsible for the .uk web address registry, have rejected calls from elected directors to resign and face a vote of confidence from members.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/14/nominet_no_resignations/
UK IGF web site launch
The UK Internet Governance Forum is a collaborative partnership between Nominet, the UK Department for Business, key parliamentarians and other organisations taking a leading role in making the Internet a better place.
www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=5724
ENUM Registrar information day
We are holding our second ENUM registrar information day on Wednesday 3 December 2008 at the Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds.
www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=5723
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- DNS SECURITY
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Denial-of-Service Attacks Intensify
Massive distributed denial-of-service attacks against ISPs and their customers doubled in intensity over the past year, according to a new survey.
www.pcworld.com/article/153956/.html
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- DOMAIN DISPUTES
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EFF: Kentucky domain seizures flawed on many levels
In September, the state of Kentucky won a legal victory in its fight to control gambling within its borders, as a judge ordered the seizure of the domain name registrations of a variety of online gambling outfits. Although the ruling targeted 141 sites, the legal challenge has been accepted by two of the businesses targeted, which have filed an appeal in the case. Their appeal has now been joined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, ACLU, and the Center for Democracy and Technology, who use an amicus brief to argue that the initial seizure ruling was flawed on several levels.
arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081114-eff-kentucky-domain-seizures-flawed-on-many-levels.html
Groups ask Kentucky court to reverse domain seizures [IDG]
Three civil liberties groups have filed a petition asking a Kentucky court to reverse a judge's ruling that could lead to the seizure of 141 domain names related to gambling Web sites.
www.networkworld.com/news/2008/111408-groups-ask-kentucky-court-to.html
www.cio.com/article/463217/Groups_Ask_Kentucky_Court_to_Reverse_Domain_Seizures
www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/153930/.html
www.itworld.com/business/57877/groups-ask-kentucky-court-reverse-domain-seizures
Watchdogs decry Kentucky's 141-site net casino land grab
Three civil liberties groups urged a Kentucky appeals court to overturn the seizure of domain names for some of the world's most popular gambling sites, arguing the move is based on "incorrect factual assumptions" and violates Free Speech guarantees and other provisions of the US Constitution.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/14/kentucky_domain_name_grab_amicus/
ACLU Defends Online Casinos From Kentucky Courts
The organizations argue that Judge Thomas Wingate's decision to force the forfeiture of Internet casino domain names ignores several provisions ofthe Constitution, including the Commerce Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the First Amendment.
www.onlinecasinoadvisory.com/casino-news/online/kentucky-gambling-case-draws-aclu-42314.htm
ACLU Joins PPA in filing Briefs in Kentucky Domain Case
The Poker Players Alliance joined the Kentucky office of the ACLU, Network Solutions, Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Center for Democracy and Technology in filing Amicus briefs in the Kentucky Court of Appeals yesterday protesting a judge’s that Kentucky has the right to seize domain names used to gamble and play poker online.
www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/5529/aclu-joins-ppa-in-filing-briefs-in-kentucky-domain-case
Kentucky Attorney General Asks to be Dismissed From Petition
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway wants no part in a case involving Governor Stephen Beshear's attempts to have 141 online gambling domain names removed. On Friday, it surfaced that the Attorney General asked to have his name removed from the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association's court filings in this matter.
www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/kentucky-attorney-general-asks-be-dismissed-petition-111408.html
Groups Urge Court To Vacate Domain Name Seizure
Three public interest groups have filed a friend-of-the court brief urging a Kentucky appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that authorized the seizure of more than 100 Internet domain names associated with Web sites operating around the globe.
techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/11/groups_urge_court_to_vacate_do.php
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- MISCELLANEOUS
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Have You Implemented a Domain Name Strategy? What Every Business and IP Owner Should Know
Have you implemented a domain name strategy? Many established businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups fail to account for their use of domain names in their general business planning. A comprehensive and effective domain name strategy can often boost profits and extend your marketing to new niches, all while defending from would-be cybersquatters and others that would seek to cash in on your business’s goodwill. An effective domain name strategy consists of a plan to protect your trademarks in domain names, to register generic domain names related to your business niche, to defensively register domain names similar to your trademarks, to monitor for confusingly similar domain names, and to handle cybersquatters and typosquatters through legal and extra-legal means.
tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/2008/11/have-you-implem.html
Obama transition team names FCC review leaders
President-elect Brack Obama's transition team on Friday announced who will lead the transition project's review of the Federal Communications Commission, the office of the United States Trade Representative, and a number of other agencies, departments, and executive offices. The new team members will review the agencies and offices to aid the new administration in its planning decisions. Obama's transition group first announced the formation of the teams on Wednesday. Susan Crawford, a communications law and Internet law professor at the University of Michigan, is a leader of the FCC review team. Crawford was until recently on the ICANN board of directors.
news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10097760-38.html
RIPE NCC Statement on Changes in the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2009
Recent conversations on the RIPE mailing lists and at the recent RIPE NCC General Meeting have highlighted a number of concerns from members concerning the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2009. These concerns refer particularly to the changes laid out in RIPE Policy Proposal 2007-01, relating to charges for Direct End User (PI and ASN) assignments.
ripe.net/news/charging-scheme.html
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- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Yes, Recession will Hurt Pay-Per-Click
I’ve written it many times, but now we’re starting to see the affects: pay-per-click is hurting. I’m not talking about just domain name parking income. We’ve known for a while that payouts to domain owners have been in the dumps. I’m talking about how pay-per-click isn’t immune to downturns.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/13/yes-recession-will-hurt-pay-per-click/
Aftermarket.com Traffic Down Under Auction Underway
The Aftermarket.com live auction at the Traffic Down Under conference in Australia has begun. Domains are finalized and bidding is now available on the Aftermarket.com site.
domainnamewire.com/2008/11/14/aftermarketcom-traffic-down-under-auction-underway/
Reboot: How Domains Helped Australian Entrepreneur Michael Gilmour Bounce Back Bigger Than Ever After Losing a Fortune Overnight
In many ways, Michael Gilmour's journey through life has been the quintessential boom to bust to boom again saga that serial entrepreneurs so closely identify with. After working hard his whole life he was worth millions only to suddenly find himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, flat broke almost overnight.
dnjournal.com/cover/2008/november.htm
Completed Live Auction Sales Dominate This Week's Domain Sales Chart
Another big wave of completed live auction sales from the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. New York conference dominates this week's domain sales chart. To make room for all of those sales we expanded our usual Top 20 chart to 30 positions this week. Moniker.com alone piled up 13 chart entries from their live sale. Aftermarket.com and RickLatona.com also notched multiple chart entries from their live auctions at the conference.
dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales11-11-08.htm
