Open Source Registrar

[Together]

There have been so many complaints about ICANN accredited registrars not living up to their end of the bargain when it comes to their customers that I am beginning to wonder if there are any alternatives. Whether it the nightmares of being forced to pay ridiculous fees, hijacked domains, poor customer service or un co-operative transfers almost every domain name registrant has experienced some kind of bully tactic, ignorant service or incompetence at the hands of these registrars.

Even though there are some that actually try to do what they can, they are often unable due to the low margins in the industry. This often results in a lack of resources to tackle the issues that face those who are affected most. It has been complained about long enough that many believe it is time to take action. It has been suggested that the best people in the world to run a registrar and to include the tools and options that domain registrants want are the very ones who most use the system, the registrants.

What I propose is an “opensource” type registrar. How about a registrar built on the input from the ones who are actually going to use it? Envision a registrar that is built with sustainable margins that return profits back into the system. A registrar that is built for the people by the people. A registrar that takes the long term approach to the problems suffered by domain registrants all over. One that incorporates the best aspects of the bigger registrars but is built, run, maintained by the ones that are actually using it.

There has been an increasing discontent in the domain community with the status quo and it needs to be addressed. It needs to be addressed by the ones that have the most to benefit and lose from doing nothing. If you feel like so many out there who are frustrated with what has been happening in the domain registrar community and would like to effect real, lasting and positive change from the ground up, I suggest you contact us.

We do not need to idly stand by while the domain name system continue to be sabotaged by those who are primarily motivated by their own self-interest. The Internet belongs to all of us and it is time we show this by our actions. We have the technical skills, the financial clout and the domain registration base to make this happen. Lets take control today so that the domain name system of tomorrow has some real alternatives for those who rely on it the most. Us.

www.osrp.org

[CoolDot]

Hear, hear!!!

I think your idea is great, noble and honorable.

But I fear it will not fly. Because one of the first things a registrant-dominated registrar would do, is to declare domains property and refuse to be bullied by the big companies. And these companies know that and will never allow a bunch of small people to rule a registrar.

A really democratic registrar would certainly clean up the mess that we currently have, but it would also (attempt to) improve the situation of domain-owners versus owners of trademarked names. And that is something the big bullies can't allow...

Just my two cents worth...

I'll be gone for a few days, so don't despair if you don't hear from me anymore till monday )

Happy thanksgiving.
CoolDot

[FineE]

I for one do not accept that "big business" is winning on the Internet, when quite the opposite is the case.

Domains as property is a perfect example. The courts in the US have already ruled that domains are "property" in the sex.com case even though the multi billion dollar corporation Versign / Network Solutions fought tooth and nail against this, in the courts and lost.

As for an open source registrar it can work. If it delivers the right balance of customer service and price.

As for "big business" vs "open source" there is no better example than Microsoft vs Linux with Microsoft dominant in the desktop and Linux in the servers. How many people view a website using a Microsoft desktop, when the wedsite is hosted on Linux? Both actually can and do work side by side.

[Nexus]

However good intentioned, the idea sounds like it is based on flawed assumptions regarding the current state of affairs. Flawed in that I'm not sure the "unrest" expressed by most is something that any feel can be solved with a magic bullet system that cuts through the clatter and is hailed by the multitude.

It will take more than words (or DnTalk - putting up a free forum with lots of empty sections) to really get an effort like this going. The best demonstration of credible intent would be to have had this forum going for a month, filled with substantive progress from the efforts active partners, before announcing it for public participation.

To be honest, this seems oddly like an attempt to rally support before the idea has been really thought out. People will not spring up out of the woodworks to support something purely for the cause of change with nebulous, undemonstrated consideration behind it.

We do not need to idly stand by while the domain name system continue to be sabotaged by those who are primarily motivated by their own self-interest.

Everyone is motivated by self-interest. It's not as if an open-source registrar will provide cheaper prices than other efforts out there.

One more constructive criticism I can offer is this. The most compelling thing I feel people could read, is a comprehensive analysis of at least the top 8 registrar/api/reseller-programs/models out there, and how in summation they are lacking, and how a new solution will fundamentally solve things.

For instance, ISP planet has done a lot of work in this regard, but it is working from the point of view of benefit to ISP's, and not critical analysis of business/benefit model.
http://www.isp-planet.com/services/registrars/

In the link above, you'll read a very human interaction between ISP Planet and these registrars, discussing how they interface with resellers, their API model, and other things.

At some point, someone on a project like this will have to do this work (its tough, grueling, and may not bare fruit), but there's no better time than right now (other than before this announcement).

I would say "good luck", but I have a feeling you don't need it.

Regards,
~ Nexus