Welcome ICA to DNForum!

**MediaHound** · 03-25-2008, 08:32 PM

DNForum is proud to announce that ICA now has a dedicated subforum, headlining a new "Industry Watchdog" area of DNF.
You may learn more about the Internet Commerce Association (ICA) here:
http://www.internetcommerce.org/about_us
A very pressing current event, ICA aims be influential to stop the proposed Snowe Bill - but they need your support. (link)
Please use this forum to discuss ICA and become aware of your past, present, and future rights as a domainer and how you may help the Internet Commerce Association along to protect those interests.
You may already be familiar with them, but please welcome Michael Collins and Philip Corwin as we kickstart this new forum to discuss ICA and how they help well-meaning domainers.

**Jagusa** · 03-25-2008, 08:34 PM

Excellent. A welcome presence for DNF. I expect a rewarding and productive dialogue for both ICA and DNF members.

**Gerry** · 03-25-2008, 08:36 PM

Ideal!

We need memberships from such organizations.

And updates.

**draggar** · 03-25-2008, 08:41 PM

Welcome to the forums! Any officials from the ICA here yet?

Is / will DNF become a member?

**Michael Collins** · 03-25-2008, 08:48 PM

Wow, that was fast. You guys pay attention. Yes, I am here and look forward to a dialog with DNF members. Thank you Jarred for setting this subforum up for ICA.

**domaingirl** · 03-26-2008, 12:43 AM

Michael, I just finished reading these two blogs:

RicksBlog.com

TheDomains.com

It's pretty scary: all doom and gloom. After becomming a member of ICA, what else can us small domainers do?

**acronym007** · 03-26-2008, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Collins

Wow, that was fast. You guys pay attention. Yes, I am here and look forward to a dialog with DNF members. Thank you Jarred for setting this subforum up for ICA.

Welcome!

**draggar** · 03-26-2008, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Collins

Wow, that was fast. You guys pay attention. Yes, I am here and look forward to a dialog with DNF members. Thank you Jarred for setting this subforum up for ICA.

Welcome to the community, Michael.

**Keyword Factory** · 03-26-2008, 08:31 AM

The ICA represents a few people/companies who fund them. Specifically, their current main goal is to protect the rights of companies like sedo to put infrining keywords on their parking pages. The IREIT people set up ICA and now that IREIT got sued the ICA is trying to distance themselves from them. Now these big players are trying to get small domain owners to fund their lobbying by using scare tactics. There is no reason to believe that ICA protects the rights of "all domainers" or that they are some kind of industry "watchdog." Mr, Corwin is a long-time Washingon lobbyists that will support whomever is paying.

The ICA is going to do overall damage to the domain industry. In you read the current issue of Modern Domainer you will read how the ICA was pegged for having a code of conduct that is not followed by their members or enforced.

So has the ICA given any advice to domainers about how to operate in a changing landscape? Such as develop your sites and obtain your own trade rights? All I see are scare tactics and doom and gloom scenarios to scare people in sending them money. Of course it is your money, if you want to use it to support sedo, Frank Schilling, etc. then go ahead. I am sure they need your money.

**Michael Collins** · 03-26-2008, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by domaingirl

Michael, I just finished reading these two blogs:

RicksBlog.com

TheDomains.com

It's pretty scary: all doom and gloom. After becomming a member of ICA, what else can us small domainers do?

Hi,

Thank you for your concern. Sorry for the scare. We need to be concerned, but I don't want to scare or panic anyone about the Snowe bill. It is a lot easier to stop or derail legislation than it is to create it. We have a talented lobbyist that is has successful experience defending the small guy against Goliath opponents in Washington.

A week ago there was a lot of alarm among some of the leaders of our industry and our association that the financial response to this threat. The concern that they expressed is motivating a lot of new support and there is a lot more hope now, less than a week later.

ICA still could use more members and financial support. However, it is also very important for all US residents to write their senator about this bill. We have information on our site to help you craft an effective opposition letter. Take our sample letter as a starting point and make it your own. Add personal details, especially include information about numbers of people that you employ in your business.

https://www.internetcommerce.org/OPPOSE_THE_SNOWE_BILL

Thank you for the welcome here.

For those who cannot afford a membership, we accept donations of any amount. Paypal and credit cards are accepted on our online cart. If you do not want to or cannot afford to donate, subscribe to our newsletter to keep informed about policy and legislative issues.

**Keyword Factory** · 03-26-2008, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Collins

Hi,

Thank you for your concern. Sorry for the scare. We need to be concerned, but I don't want to scare or panic anyone about the Snowe bill. It is a lot easier to stop or derail legislation than it is to create it. We have a talented lobbyist that is has successful experience defending the small guy against Goliath opponents in Washington.

A week ago there was a lot of alarm among some of the leaders of our industry and our association that the financial response to this threat. The concern that they expressed is motivating a lot of new support and there is a lot more hope now, less than a week later.

ICA still could use more members and financial support. However, it is also very important for all US residents to write their senator about this bill. We have information on our site to help you craft an effective opposition letter. Take our sample letter as a starting point and make it your own. Add personal details, especially include information about numbers of people that you employ in your business.

https://www.internetcommerce.org/OPPOSE_THE_SNOWE_BILL

Thank you for the welcome here.

For those who cannot afford a membership, we accept donations of any amount. Paypal and credit cards are accepted on our online cart. If you do not want to or cannot afford to donate, subscribe to our newsletter to keep informed about policy and legislative issues.

So what does ICA have to say about the accusations made by the trademark lawyers at the recent meeting that ICA does not enforce the Code of Conduct? (This was reported in Modern Domainer Mag).

**PRED** · 03-26-2008, 09:27 AM

Great to see you guys.

Welcome!

**Michael Collins** · 03-26-2008, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Keyword Factory

The ICA represents a few people/companies who fund them. Specifically, their current main goal is to protect the rights of companies like sedo to put infrining keywords on their parking pages. The IREIT people set up ICA and now that IREIT got sued the ICA is trying to distance themselves from them. Now these big players are trying to get small domain owners to fund their lobbying by using scare tactics. There is no reason to believe that ICA protects the rights of "all domainers" or that they are some kind of industry "watchdog." Mr, Corwin is a long-time Washingon lobbyists that will support whomever is paying.

The ICA is going to do overall damage to the domain industry. In you read the current issue of Modern Domainer you will read how the ICA was pegged for having a code of conduct that is not followed by their members or enforced.

So has the ICA given any advice to domainers about how to operate in a changing landscape? Such as develop your sites and obtain your own trade rights? All I see are scare tactics and doom and gloom scenarios to scare people in sending them money. Of course it is your money, if you want to use it to support sedo, Frank Schilling, etc. then go ahead. I am sure they need your money.

Hi,

Yes, iReit was instrumental in forming ICA. However, they decided to end their association with ICA during the time that they were going through some management changes last year. It was probably best for ICA that they left. We receive a significant amount of our support from a few service companies in the industry and from some large portfolio holders. However, I am in communications with the board members almost every day and they are sincerely concerned for domain investors and developers at all financial levels. ICA's tiered membership fees are meant to encourage people and companies of greater means to provide greater support for an association that lobbies to protect all domainers. It seems to be working to me. We would not be able to do the work that we do in Washington now without the big players funding.

I have not seen the Modern Domainer article, so cannot speak to that issue. However, no one has brought a charge of violation of our code of conduct to my attention. Yesterday, we implemented a new policy aimed at making members more accountable to our Code of Conduct. Our membership list is now published at https://www.internetcommerce.org/sponsors

We have devoted most of our energy since Snowe S.2661 was introduced to rallying opposition in Washington to this bill. This bill threatens large and small domain owners including those with developed domains. I might add that it is the small domainers that are probably least able defend themselves against actions under this "anti-phishing bill". Frank Schilling or Sedo can probably afford a few hundred thousand dollars to mount a defense for themselves. We have made great progress in Washington and I will include a report about the progress in our next newsletter.

ICA is still in its infancy. We have made some missteps as we got started and will probably make others, but I am trying to organize some work groups to help develop more effective programs and policies. The first work group is for marketing and fundraising which will consider membership prices. Others will follow for website improvement, conference organization, communication and more. I hope that you will join and support ICA now, but if you are not convinced that we are working for the benefit of all domainers (except those who purposely target trademarks), then at least watch what we accomplish before disparaging our intentions. Thank you.

**VTEC** · 03-26-2008, 09:37 AM

Michael, welcome to DNF !!!

**Salient** · 03-26-2008, 10:49 AM

Become a member of the ICA, it's a no-brainer.

**Keyword Factory** · 03-30-2008, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Collins

I have not seen the Modern Domainer article, so cannot speak to that issue. However, no one has brought a charge of violation of our code of conduct to my attention. Yesterday, we implemented a new policy aimed at making members more accountable to our Code of Conduct. Our membership list is now published at https://www.internetcommerce.org/sponsors

Wow, I didn't expect you to come out and blatently lie about this.

I have personally pointed out to you and ICA theat members are in violation of the code of coduct. I also pointed out that Yahoo,Google, and many others are involved in the same practice and that some stragedy needs to be developed on how to handle this issue rather than ignoring it.

The Modern Domainer articly discusses your metting with the Trademark lobby and it was brought out that the Verizon attorney Sarah Deutsch brought out that ICA members do not honor the code. According to the article John Berryhill was resresenting ICA there and brought out the fact that Verizon is involved in the same practice by using a sitefilder-like service for their web costomers.

So the only answer to the question is "to the best of recollection I don't recall" or "they do it too." So how much money did you burn through to come up with that strategy?

**domainplus** · 03-30-2008, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Collins

Wow, that was fast. You guys pay attention. Yes, I am here and look forward to a dialog with DNF members. Thank you Jarred for setting this subforum up for ICA.

In Hope...

Welcome