Do domain registrants deserve a charter of rights?

[GeorgeK]

Hi folks,

There's an important ICANN comment period ending tomorrow that you might want to participate in:

http://icann.org/en/announcements/an...28may10-en.htm

So far, I am the only person to have made a comment, see:

http://forum.icann.org/lists/raa-imp.../msg00000.html

In particular, the important issue involved is the nature of a Registrant Rights Charter (just like the USA has a "Bill of Rights" in the constitution). Notice, though, that the comment period is given the label "Initial Report on Proposals for Improvements to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement" --- if you read the report, you'll quickly see why: they basically GAVE UP on producing a charter that would protect the rights of domain name registrants! It should make people angry, that our rights are not a priority at all.

Anyhow, it's a very long document (150+ pages), but most of it involves proposals for the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (some really wacky stuff, like prohibitions against "speculation", etc.). But, if you have time to read some of the stuff at the beginning, that'll capture the essence of the document. Or, just read my comment, which isn't 150 pages long.

It's an opportunity to call for greater rights for registrants, so hopefully you will be heard loudly and clearly if you take a moment to submit comments that what the working group has produced is simply unacceptable. Registrants deserve much more than what we're getting from ICANN.

[GeorgeK]

Some positive news --- they just extended the comment period to July 30!

http://www.icann.org/en/announcement...28may10-en.htm

They probably didn't want my comment to be the only one. But, hopefully domain registrants will take some time and submit comments.

They should extend the comment periods for other issues, too, by the way, if they wanted to be fair.....there are just way too many of them coming up.