auDA Domain Name News - 28 June
28/Jun/2010
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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Openness makes for success in Internet Governance
A weeklong series of Internet Governance discussions focused on the Asia Pacific took place last week in Hong Kong. The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) saw more than 20 economies represented, with delegates from Civil Society, the Internet technical community, Business, and Government, all cooperating to make the inaugural event a success.
www.apnic.net/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/21414/APNIC-rIGF-Press-Release_FINAL.pdf
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DOMAIN NAMES
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- ICANN
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Sex domain gets official approval
Official approval has been given for the creation of an internet domain dedicated to pornography. The board of net overseer Icann gave initial approval for the creation of the .xxx domain at its conference in Brussels.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10412765.stm
China gets own-character domains
Chinese people should soon find it easier to browse the web as domain names written in Chinese win approval.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10432404.stm
ICANN does the right thing on .xxx - but will the GAC? by Milton Mueller
At its public forum Thursday, the ICANN Board indicated its willingness to accept and act in accordance with the findings of an Independent Review Panel that ruled it had treated the .xxx top level domain application unfairly. In a presentation from its General Counsel, ICANN bowed to justice and issued two important declarations.
blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/6/25/4562321.html
ICANN and GAC discuss censorship by Milton Mueller
At the Brussels meeting between ICANN's Board and its Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), a fascinating and important discussion took place over the right of ICANN to censor or restrict the kind of words that can be used as top level domain names. The issues being debated here have profound implications for global regulation of internet content.
blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/6/23/4560694.html
Accountability is the Word at ICANN-Brussels by Milton Mueller
Everybody involved in Internet governance is in Brussels. It is one of the largest attendances at an ICANN meeting ever. Famous crypto expert Whit Diffie is here as a new ICANN employee and so is DNS developer Paul Mockapetris. Lawrence Lessig and his sidekick Jon Zittrain are here for the Internet Society Board meeting. Paul Twomey, the former CEO, has come as "a civilian." The U.S. Commerce Department is out in force, including Larry Strickling. So is the European Commission.
blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/6/21/4559154.html
More Delay To ICANN Introduction Of New Internet Domains?
Applicants for new top-level internet domains may face another round of discussions before the long-awaited application period for .nyc, .shop or .gay can happen.
www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/06/23/more-delay-to-icann-introduction-of-new-internet-domains/
Porn industry, Christian lobby unite against .xxx domain
The pornography industry and the Christian conservative lobby have united in opposition to a proposal to create a new domain name catering specifically for pornography on the internet.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/28/2939129.htm
Reflection on ICANN (Brussels)
So I have an unresolved sadness about ICANN at the end of this Brussels meeting, so I figured I would type it out to figure out why. Like so many people in the “community”, I feel a strange sense of loyalty to the organization and yet spend about half my time being critical of it. I know how infuriating this is to the people trying to make it work and yet feel compelled to continue to point out where it is failing – at least in my expectations.
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/26/reflection-on-icann-brussels/
ICANN Board Approves Dot-XXX Top-level Domain for Porn
Pornography will have its own top-level domain, dot-XXX, the board of ICANN decided Friday.
www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/199851/.html
The .XXX Fiasco is Almost Over by John Levine
At Friday's meeting of the ICANN board in Brussels, they voted, probably for the last time, to approve the 2004 application for the .XXX domain.
www.circleid.com/posts/the_xxx_fiasco_is_almost_over/
Chinese language top-level domains win ICANN approval
Web site operators will be able to register domain names written entirely in Chinese characters, including the final characters to the right of the last dot, in a matter of months.
www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178525/Chinese_language_top_level_domains_win_ICANN_approval
Icann approves Chinese internationalised domain names
Icann has given the green light to internationalised domain names (IDNs) in Chinese script, representing a huge opportunity for firms hoping to reach potential customers in the region.
www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2265512/icann-approves-chinese-idns
Dot-xxx approved by ICANN Board
As flagged up yesterday, the ICANN Board has approved the dot-xxx Internet extension at its Board meeting just now in Brussels. It did so almost unanimously (two abstentions) but rather grumpily, however, with several members saying they were “uncomfortable” with the decision and appearing the blame the “process” for forcing them to make a decision. The approving resolutions also stuck in several approval steps, which more members grumpily pointed to.
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/25/dot-xxx-approved-by-icann-board/
.XXX Closer, Chinese IDNs Approved Amid Cybersecurity Concerns and gTLD Delays at Brussels ICANN Meeting
In a week where domain name security, the possibility of blocking certain domain name character strings due to their use in cybercrime and no set date for the taking of applications for new Generic Top Level Domains, there was some good news at the 38th ICANN meeting held in Brussels this week that concluded Friday. ICANN's board voted to enter negotiations with a view to approving the controversial .XXX Top Level Domain while Chinese internationalised domain names approved for China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in the usual board meeting that concludes each meeting.
goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=11688
www.domainpulse.com/2010/06/25/xxx-closer-chinese-idns-approved-amid-cybersecurity-concerns-and-gtld-delays-at-brussels-icann-meeting/
www.domainnews.com/en/xxx-closer-chinese-idns-approved-amid-cybersecurity-concerns-and-gtld-delays-at-brussels-icann-meeting.html
For X-Rated, a Domain of Their Own
What if the Web held a sex party and no one showed up? That’s what could happen now that the agency governing the Internet address system all but approved the creation of a new red-light district on the Web. The problem is that some of the biggest names in online pornography prefer not to be in that neighborhood.
www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/technology/26domain.html
Internet pornography to get its own red light district as .xxx name approved
Icann decision marks end of 10-year battle, but pornography companies fear US politicians will shunt them into web ghetto
www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jun/25/internet-pornography-companies-xxx-domain
Internet to get its own red-light district
Approval ends seven-year battle over .xxx suffix for adult sites
www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b2f9e1e4-806c-11df-be5a-00144feabdc0.html
ICANN Brussels – .xxx approved but not approved
The controversy over the .xxx top-level domain has for the last few years, at least from one point of view, centered on opposing views of whether it was already “approved”.
domainincite.com/icann-brussels-xxx-approved-but-not-approved/
.XXX to get ICANN nod
ICANN plans to give conditional approval to .xxx, the controversial top-level internet domain just for porn, 10 years after it was first proposed.
www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/24/domain_vote/
Dot-XXX Domain Won't Clean Up the Web
ICANN has approved XXX as a top-level domain. The adult entertainment industry will soon have its own glaringly obvious domain, but unfortunately that doesn't necessarily mean that dot-COM domains will suddenly be porn-free.
www.networkworld.com/news/2010/062510-dot-xxx-domain-wont-clean-up.html
Internet bosses set to approve .xxx for porn sites
The company that oversees Web addresses is expected to give the go-ahead on Friday for the creation of a .xxx suffix for websites with pornographic content, company officials indicated on Thursday.
uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65N4NP20100624
in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49620520100624
www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3854837/Go-ahead-given-for-xxx-porn-web-addresses
ICANN’s two missing accountability clauses
Earlier this year, the organization that oversees the domain name system, ICANN, saw the first use of its Independent Review Process – its highest level of review for decisions that affect billions.
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/25/icanns-two-missing-accountability-clauses/
ICANN Day 3: Good news all around
I’ll be honest: I didn’t go to many Wednesday sessions at ICANN Brussels. At least not physically. The remote participation tools mean that, unless you want to actually raise a point at the microphone, you can settle yourself down somewhere more comfortable and follow events on your laptop (and even your iPhone with the Adobe Connect app).
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/24/icann-day-3-good-news-all-around/
Why ICANN doesn’t need to go back to the GAC over dot-xxx
This Friday, it looks as though the ICANN Board will follow the clear conclusions drawn by its independent review and approve dot-xxx.
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/23/why-icann-doesn’t-need-to-go-back-to-the-gac-over-dot-xxx/
ICANN Day 2: The bells! The bells!
Nothing aids careful discussion and debate more than loud repetitive ringing. So thank you the Square Meeting Centre in Brussels for introducing not one but two ringing systems that go off every 30 minutes: a fire alarm and the bells from the nearby cathedral.
kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/22/icann-day-2-the-bells-the-bells/
Opinion: Put porn where it belongs – in an online ghetto
It's interesting that Icann is setting up a porn-only internet domain, where addresses will have the suffix xxx rather than www. Interesting also that porn companies are very unhappy about it. Of course they are. Never mind the self-serving flannel about censorship, dedicated space online will result in an online porn ghetto, with sex sites filtered out more efficiently, loss of passing traffic and plummeting revenue.
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/27/pornography-glastonbury-australia
Bulgaria to file ICANN reconsideration appeal over rejected IDN ccTLD
Bulgaria is to appeal ICANN’s rejection of .бг, the Cyrillic version of its existing country code top-level domain, .bg.
domainincite.com/bulgaria-to-file-icann-reconsideration-appeal-over-rejected-idn-cctld/
Photographs of ICANN gala dinner now available
Last night, EURid hosted a gala dinner for the 38th ICANN meeting in Brussels. The dinner was held at Chateau Grand-Bigard and was well attended. Photos of the event are now available on the website, www.icannbrussels.eu. The password to access the site is: eurid.
www.eurid.eu/en/content/eurid-hosts-gala-dinner-icann-meeting-no-38
Sticky Points On New gTLD’s: Terrorists, Territories, & Trademark Violators Are Worse Than Child Murders
From the ICANN meeting in Brussels this week there are a few more “sticky points” that coming out of the new gTLD process. The sticky points as I call them are issues raised by commentators in the public sessions on the new gTLD’s.
www.thedomains.com/2010/06/27/sticky-points-on-new-gtlds-terrorists-territories-trademark-violators-are-worse-than-child-murders/
Former Justice Department Chief Blasts ICANN Decision on .XXX
Pat Trueman, former Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, called ICANN’s decision on .xxx today “foolish and unnecessary” in an interview with Domain Name Wire. Trueman served in the Justice Department starting with Ronald Reagan in 1988 to the end of the administration of George H. W. Bush.
domainnamewire.com/2010/06/25/former-justice-department-chief-blasts-icann-decision-on-xxx/
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- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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DotAsia Cheering for Asian Teams in the World Cup with Special Playtime Promotion
As the World Cup fever continues to sweep across Asia, DotAsia announces special program to show support to Asia Pacific teams playing in the finals, including Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia and New Zealand. DotAsia is launching a special “Go Asia!” playtime promotion for “.Asia” domain registrations during the playing time when the Asia Pacific teams are in action.
dot.asia/pressreleases/DotAsia-PR-WorldCup2010.pdf
Annual Report 2009 of DNS BE
The DNS BE Annual report 2009 is available in three languages.
www.dns.be/en/home.php?n=446
ee: The transition to new domain rules will take place on July 5, 2010
Estonian Internet Foundation has set the deadline for the transition to new domain rules on July 5 2010. The new domain regulation will make the .ee ccTLD significantly more accessible: private individuals and foreigners will be able to register .ee domain. One person can register multiple domains.
www.eestiinternet.ee/eng/news/the-transition-to-new-domain-rules-will-take-place-on-july-5-2010
First .ee registrars have been accredited
Estonian Internet Foundation is happy to announce that first .ee registrars have gone through accreditation procedures and signed the registrar contract.
www.eestiinternet.ee/eng/news/first-ee-registrars-have-been-accredited
Neelie Kroes EURid dinner speech
European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, has released her speech given at the EURid dinner (2/06/2010) where she highlighted the importance of a strong and safe .eu Domain Name.
www.broadband-europe.eu/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemID=722
Businesses can now create quality mobile Web sites in minutes when they "goMobi"
dotMobi’s new low-cost goMobi™ product creates a smartphone Web experience on every mobile phone, giving any business a rich, icon-driven mobile website — quickly, easily and completely.
mtld.mobi/node/1771
Wholesale price cut won’t benefit all .nz domain holders
Many .nz domain name holders won’t experience a reduction in expenses when the wholesale price of New Zealand domain names drops by 16% next week, says InternetNZ’s president.
pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/wholesale-price-cut-wont-benefit-all-nz-domain-holders
New Zealand court rules that .net advertising and poker tournaments are not illegal
Online gambling companies using the .net advertising strategy will be heartened by a New Zealand court’s ruling that such advertising is not an inducement to gamble, and that live poker tournaments are a form of competition and therefore not illegal in a gambling sense.
www.recentpoker.com/news/new-zealand-gambling-7755.html
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- DNS SECURITY
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US Senate Panel Approves Controversial Cybersecurity Bill [IDG]
A U.S. Senate committee has approved a wide-ranging cybersecurity bill that some critics have suggested would give the U.S. president the authority to shut down parts of the Internet during a cyberattack.
www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178498/Senate_committee_approves_controversial_cybersecurity_bill
www.networkworld.com/news/2010/062410-senate-panel-approves-controversial-cybersecurity.html
us: Obama internet 'kill switch' bill approved
The US senators pushing a controversial new bill that some fear would give President Barack Obama the powers to seize control of and even shut down the internet have rejected claims it would give Obama a net "kill switch".
www.smh.com.au/technology/security/obama-internet-kill-switch-bill-approved-20100625-z8sf.html
www.theage.com.au/technology/security/obama-internet-kill-switch-bill-approved-20100625-z8sf.html
www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3855664/Obama-internet-kill-switch-bill-approved
uk: Quietly celebrating DNSSEC
And so, on the 16th June 2010, ICANN and IANA finally added DNSSEC keys to the root of the Internet. In an elaborate ceremony, much discussed and sometimes derided amongst the community, a group of ICANN staffers and volunteers from around the globe added DNSSEC keys to the root.
blog.nominet.org.uk/insight/2010/06/quietly-celebrating-dnssec/
us: Federal Register Notice: Intent to Proceed with the Final Stages of DNSSEC Implementation in the Authoritative Root Zone:
NTIA announced the availability of the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) testing and evaluation report and NTIA’s intent to proceed with the final stages of DNSSEC deployment in the authoritative root zone. NTIA is providing a comment period on the report and the commencement of the final stage of the DNSSEC deployment before taking any action. Comments must be submitted by June 21, 2010.
www.ntia.doc.gov/frnotices/2010/FR_DNSSEC_Notice_06092010.pdf
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- DOMAIN DISPUTES
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The Typosquatter by James B. Astrachan [The Daily Record, May 2007]
Abstract: This short article describes how a web-based affiliate of the Lands' End Co. got sued by that company after using common misspellings to create a scam. Without telling Lands’ End, he registered ten names that were the sort of domain names that might result from less than careful typing by an Internet searcher looking for Lands’ End.
ssrn.com/abstract=1628748
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- IPv4/IPv6
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Reduction in IPv4 Allocation/Assignment Time Period
From Thursday, 1 July 2010, the RIPE NCC will start to allocate enough IPv4 address space to Local Internet Registries (LIRs) to meet their needs for a period of up to nine months.
ripe.net/news/v4-time-period-reductions.html
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- MISCELLANEOUS
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au: Tech services for non-experts are Larry Bloch's key to success
SOUTH African-born Larry Bloch, co-founder of web services company Netregistry, is a dotcom survivor in an industry yet to reach maturity.
www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/tech-services-for-non-experts-are-larry-blochs-key-to-success/story-e6frg9if-1225884480355
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- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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A Seven-Figure Sale and a Quartet of Six-Figure Transactions Led the Domain Aftermarket Action Over the Past Two Weeks
... Even though we're in the first month of summer, a season in which domain sales typically slow down, aftermarket activity appears to be moving in step with temperatures and heating up. The latest sales parade was led by the second biggest sale of the year to date, Dating.com at a cool $1,750,000 in a deal Moniker completed after auctioning off the domain in their DOMAINfest Ft. Lauderdale auction.
dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2010/20100623.htm
Domain Parking Scammers Get Aggressive
Ask any domain name parking company what their number one nuisance is and they’ll say fraud. Click fraud is big, but it all starts with trying to get an account at the parking companies.
domainnamewire.com/2010/06/24/domain-parking-scammers-get-aggressive/
Free Webinar: How to Find Domains on Sedo
Sedo is pleased to announce our next free webinar, “How to Find Domains on Sedo,” on July 14, 2010, 2 PM EDT. Sedo.com brings you to the next level of buying. With over 16 million domains for sale, you can bet that the perfect domain is waiting for you. Whether you are investing in domains as an integral part of a complete online marketing strategy or developing an existing portfolio, this webinar provides the tips and tricks you need to buy like a pro.
https://sedo.com/links/showlinks.php3?tracked=&partnerid=&language=us&Id=2666
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