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Sponsored by EuroDNS and AsiaDNS - for your domain name registration http://www.eurodns.com/ ********************************************************** Don't forget to check out http://auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, including an RSS feed - already online! Headlines from today's news include: us: Christians, Rockers and Pro-Choicers Testify for Net Neutrality | Battle Against Fast-Flux Botnets Intensifies | ICANN recommendations on fast-flux hosting not tough enough: experts | The Fable Of Front Running: ICANN Says 'No Evidence' But Network Solutions Is Sued In Class Action by Matthew Hall and Tyrilly Bolton | .Asia Landrush Closes with Half a Million Domain Name Applications | Opinion: Government and industry unite in cybercrime battle | DHS Holds Cyber Storm II Exercise to Further Cyber Security Preparedness and Response Capabilities | au: Telstra, CommBank, DoD in secret cyberwar games | Australian Government Systems Under Attack | Cyber terror: Australia faces the storm | Killing Domain Names May Be Oppressive, But Completely Legal | GoDaddy shuts down police rating Web site | The Snowe Bill - Pros and Cons by Jay Westerdal | A Free Speech Double Whammy: Flawed Anti-Phishing Bill Would Dilute Trademark Fair Use and Anonymity Protections | Fund.com sells for $10 million (almost) | Spitzer Scandal Erupts; Domain Names Registered And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** UK launches first Internet Governance Forum http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/e-business/news/index.cfm?newsid=7882 Who should bear the cost of tomorrow's broadband? [IDG] http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/06/Who-should-bear-cost-of-broadband_1.html ICANN looks toward end of US agreement [IDG] http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/07/ICANN-looks-toward-end-of-US-agreement_1.html ICANN seeks public comment on domain tasting http://icann.org/public_comment/#domain-tasting ICANN: Global Policy Proposal for Remaining IPv4 Address Space – Background Report http://icann.org/announcements/proposal-ipv4-report-29nov07.htm Problems with .nl Numerical Domain Names Landrush http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/08/problems-with-nl-numerical-domain-names-landrush/ Cyber Storm II security exercise commences http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4170 Cyber Storm II challenges banks, telcos and government http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/93C601DA05A5B34DCC257404007B56DB Australia engages allies in cyber warfare http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1447007406;fp;2;fpid;1 Chinese hackers: No site is safe http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/03/07/china.hackers/ Kiwi Cybersquatter has change of heart http://stuff.co.nz/4429708a11.html God Saves Kiwi Cybersquatter! http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4162 Yahoo! wins sponsored links ruling in High Court http://out-law.com/page-8916 Getting Ahead in Domain Name Trading http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/61967.html ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** UK Internet Governance Forum launched The inaugural UK Internet Governance Forum was held at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday and featured representatives from Nominet, the Specialist Crime Directorate, several MPs and a British ambassador. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39363103,00.htm UK launches governance forum Leading lights from the UK's internet industry will meet today to launch the UK Internet Government Forum, a working group that will support international efforts to improve internet governance. http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2211427/uk-launches-governance-forum UK launches first Internet Governance Forum The UK Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was held at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, with representatives from Nominet, the Specialist Crime Directorate, MPs and a British ambassador. http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/e-business/news/index.cfm?newsid=7882 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/030708-uk-launches-first-internet-governance.html UK Internet Governance Forum opens its doors The UK IGF is officially launched, against the backdrop of Nominet's web Best Practice Challenge. http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/175698/uk-internet-governance-forum-opens-its-doors.html Who should bear the cost of tomorrow's broadband? [IDG] As the volume of Internet traffic grows explosively, driven by factors like rampant demand for online video, a new question is arising: Who will get the bill for the megasized data pipes of the future? A panel of industry executives and analysts mulled that question and related issues during a keynote event Thursday at the Cebit conference in Hanover, Germany. http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/06/Who-should-bear-cost-of-broadband_1.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143193-c,broadband/article.html From Zittrain to Aristotle in 600 words Here is a picture taken during Jonathan Zittrain's LSE lecture yesterday on "The Future of the Net (and how to stop it)". In case you can't read it or guess it, the word tattoo-projected onto JZ's forearm is not "open is we" or "CC rules" but "Communitarian". When I saw the word, the memory bells started to ring. I'll tell you why. http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/tony_curzon_price/from_zittrain_to_aristotle_in_600_words ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN looks toward end of US agreement [IDG] ICANN is starting to look at how the organization might function after its current memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Commerce expires in September 2009. http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/07/ICANN-looks-toward-end-of-US-agreement_1.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143219-pg,1/article.html http://www.itworld.com/Tech/4535/icann-080307/ http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9067318 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030800059.html http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/03/07/icann-looks-toward-end-us-agreement-0 http://www.circleid.com/posts/83716_icann_jpa_department_of_commerce/ ICANN seeks public comment on domain tasting Explanation: The GNSO Council is considering the issue of "domain tasting", a term used to describe the case when someone registers a domain name and then tests to see if the name has sufficient traffic to provide more income than the annual registration fee (usually through pay-per-click advertising). If the name is deemed sufficiently profitable, it is kept. http://icann.org/public_comment/#domain-tasting ICANN Formalizes Relationship with ccTLD Managers for South Africa and Azerbaijan ICANN has announced today that it has signed an exchange of letters with the ccTLD manager for .za-South Africa ZA DNA, and an accountability framework with the ccTLD manager for .az-Azerbaijan, IntraNS. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-06mar08.htm ICANN: Global Policy Proposal for Remaining IPv4 Address Space – Background Report - Updated 5 March 2008 Introduction: The development of Global Internet Number Resource Policies is the subject of an MoU between ASO/NRO and ICANN. There are also specific ICANN Board Procedures for handling global policy proposals in this context. The Board procedures also state that the Board can request ICANN staff to undertake an “early awareness” tracking of proposals for global policies under development in the addressing community. At its meeting on 20 November 2007, the Board resolved to request such tracking of the development of a global policy proposal for allocation of remaining IPv4 address space, currently being discussed in the Regional Internet Registries, or RIRs. The status overview presented below is compiled in response to this request and will be timely updated as developments proceed, for information to ICANN entities and the wider community. http://icann.org/announcements/proposal-ipv4-report-29nov07.htm Asking for your help in shaping ICANN’s travel support for constituencies by Doug Brent During the New Delhi meeting, I made a presentation on ICANN’s goal of creating a documented, consistent policy that makes it clear when, for whom, and how ICANN will provide travel support for volunteers who make ICANN’s community-based work possible. While lots of valuable input came from that meeting, I made a commitment to host an online forum to collect further input. While this is not a formal ICANN process, input is being sought and will be used in the spirit of ICANN’s commitment to openness and transparency. That forum is now open and will be open for comments until 17 April 2008. http://blog.icann.org/?p=281 Internationalized Domain Names IDNs are perhaps the only hope to increase Internet penetration in India, enabling the non-English speaking population to comfortably use the Internet. http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20080310/technology01.shtml ICANN Wants To End Commerce Dept. Oversight In 2009 Ian Lamont writes "ICANN's current Joint Project Agreement with the US Commerce Department is set to expire in September of 2009, and ICANN wants to become more autonomous and switch to a global governance model, says ICANN's executive officer. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/03/07/2251247 ********************** - (cc)TLD NEWS ********************** .Asia Landrush Countdown - 5 days to go! Only 5 days to go! Only 5 days to go - .Asia Landrush ends on March 12, 2008. Don't miss out on the best opportunity to invest in prime real estate on the new .Asia cyberspace. Over a quarter million domain applications were received within the first 24 hours of the .Asia Landrush, which started on Feb 20, 2008. http://www.sedo.com/links/showhtml.php3?Id=1671 cz: CZ.NIC Securing the Czech Internet [news release] The DNSSEC technology increases the DNS system security; DNSSEC will be useful mainly for companies handling sensitive information and data; launch of a testing version for the ENUM domain is scheduled for April, testing version for the .CZ domain will be launched in August and the full operation launch will be carried out in September 2008 http://www.nic.cz/page/445/cz.nic-securing-the-czech-internet-/ Domain registration in Germany The registry for the .de domain is administered by DENIC in Germany. The Domain Name Contract with DENIC can be concluded once the registration guidelines and general terms and condition laid down by DENIC are fulfilled. The contents of these provisions describe the rights and obligations of the Registry and the Registrant with respect to registration and all issues in relation to Domain Name. There is no restriction on the number of domain names that a single entity or person can register. This article answers the following questions: What characters are permitted for domain name registration under .de in Germany? What duties lie on the Domain Holder at the time of registration? What conditions lead to termination of the domain Contract by the DENIC? What is a DISPUTE entry? What material must be stipulated in an application to dispute entry? http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=F324D6ED-6B4E-4FC7-B488-A6DF2ED918B1 jp: Cumulative Number of Registered JP Domain Names Exceeds One Million [news release] On 4 March 2008, JPRS announced that the cumulative number of registered JP domain names as of 1 March 2008 exceeded one million for the first time, hitting 1,003,285. http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/080305.html Problems with .nl Numerical Domain Names Landrush SIDN logoThe recent landrush for numerical .nl names has not gone as expected with some problems occurring that relate to speculative applications for names from a small number of applicants. Both SP-Kamerlid Arda Gerkens and the association for internet service providers, ISPConnect, are both dissatisfied with the process with the latter speaking of a massive hijack. Gerkins meanwhile claims there was a massive hijack, something denied by SIDN, and the government must take the role of SIDN away and transferred to OPTA. http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/08/problems-with-nl-numerical-domain-names-landrush/ Nominet launches Best Practice Challenge 2008 [news release] Today we launch our second Best Practice Challenge to celebrate innovation and achievement in the British Internet. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=4830 Nominet Retains First Class Star Status with Best Companies Workplace Award [news release] Nominet, the .uk domain name registry, has retained its 'First Class Star Status' Accreditation by Best Companies Ltd. The accreditation is based on a 'Michelin-style' star rating system and focuses on employee engagement with their organisation and acknowledges companies that provide an excellent working environment for its employees. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=4772 Registrar information days [news release] 2008 programme launched We are running another series of our popular information days to help familiarise members and registrars with our business practices and the use of our automated systems. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=4831 uk:Registrar systems - simultaneous connections [news release] On the 11 March 2008 we will implement a number of changes to our registrar systems that may affect the connections you make to our systems. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=4832 uk: March PAB meeting agenda and papers [news release] The Policy Advisory Body will be meeting on Wednesday 12 March 2008 and it welcomes stakeholder comments on the issues being discussed at this meeting http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=4692 33M Internet domain names added in 2007, VeriSign says The Internet grew by almost 33 million domain names last year, according to the fourth-quarter 2007 "Domain Name Industry" report released yesterday by VeriSign Inc., a digital infrastructure vendor that manages Internet domain names such as .com. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9066999 http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;574729208;fp;2;fpid;1 Those Expanding Internet Domain Names Think all the good domain names are taken? Think again. If the latest set of statistics from VeriSign is any indication, there are still a lot of domain names to go around. VeriSign reported that in 2007 there were 33 million new domain registrations, bringing the total number of domains registered to 153 million. http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/cnews/article.php/3732841 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Cyber Storm II security exercise commences Cyber Storm II commences this month involving and planned in close coordination with federal, state, local, and international governments, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In addition, private sector players from the Information Technology (IT), Transportation (Rail and Pipe), and Chemical sectors along with multiple Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) are scheduled to participate. Cyber Storm exercises are prepared by the United States' Department of Homeland Security. It is a biennial National Cyber Exercise whose goal is to examine the processes, procedures, tools, and organisational response to a multi-sector coordinated attack through, and on, the global cyber infrastructure. http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4170 http://www.domainnews.com/general/2008032738/cyber-storm-ii-security-exercise-commences/ http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/07/cyber-storm-ii-security-exercise-commences/ Cyber Storm II challenges banks, telcos and government Attacks on the digital infrastructure of various companies and industry sectors will be role-played nationally and internationally in the Cyber Storm II exercise, to be held from today through to Friday. The active exercise will centre on the Tuesday to Thursday period, and locally will involve government departments, banks, at least one power distribution company (plus TransPower), telecoms and internet service providers, and networking companies. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/93C601DA05A5B34DCC257404007B56DB Washington Prepares for Cyber War Games - Week-Long Simulation Tests Agencies', Companies' Response to Online Attacks The U.S. government will conduct a series of cyber war games throughout next week to test its ability to recover from and respond to digital attacks. Code-named 'Cyber Storm II,' this is the largest-ever exercise designed to evaluate the mettle of information technology experts and incident response teams from 18 federal agencies, including the CIA, Department of Defense, FBI, and NSA, as well as officials from nine states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In addition, more than 40 companies will be playing, including Cisco Systems, Dow Chemical, McAfee, and Microsoft. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030701157.html Australia engages allies in cyber warfare Cyber Storm II was today officially launched by the Attorney General in which five countries will engage in an international hacking exercise. The wargame is a follow-up to last years' Cyber Storm and will test the national security of Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand between March 11 to 14. http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1447007406;fp;2;fpid;1 Chinese hackers: No site is safe They operate from a bare apartment on a Chinese island. They are intelligent 20-somethings who seem harmless. But they are hard-core hackers who claim to have gained access to the world's most sensitive sites, including the Pentagon. In fact, they say they are sometimes paid secretly by the Chinese government -- a claim the Beijing government denies. http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/03/07/china.hackers/ Surge of Phishing Kits Hits the Net Researchers have discovered a cache of over 400 do-it-yourself phishing kits now in the wild -- including some used by phishers to phish other phishers. The phishing kits, which include some traditionally distributed by a phishing group known as “Mr. Brain” that offers free phishing kits that surreptitiously target other phishers, are set up to go after social networks, video-sharing, VOIP, and free email service providers as well as the usual financial services victims. Among the banks that are being targeted by the freebie and easy-to-use kits are Barclays, BankOne, Charter, Chase, Citibank, and HSBC, according to researchers at Trend Micro, which are investigating this development. http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=147810 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Kiwi Cybersquatter has change of heart The internet address OzJet wanted, but would not pay for – www.ozjet.co.nz – is now free for the airline's use, after a dramatic change of heart by reformed cybersquatter Jeff Twigge. http://stuff.co.nz/4429708a11.html God Saves Kiwi Cybersquatter! A New Zealand cybersquatter Jeff Twigge says he gave up the practice after reading "a passage in 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, from the Bible (King James version). 'Extortioners', listed among various kinds of people who would not inherit the kingdom of God, 'leapt off the page,'" reports the Manawatu Standard. Previously Mr Twigge justified his cybersquatting "as modern-day Robin Hood behaviour." http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4162 http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/06/god-saves-kiwi-cybersquatter/ http://www.domainnews.com/litigation/2008032737/god-saves-cybersquatter/ NZ charidee cybersquatter fears burning in Hell A Kiwi cybersquatter has recanted his domain hostage-taking after a Bible-powered epiphany taught him the error of his ways. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/07/cybersaquatter_sees_the_light/ us: R.N.C. Snap Up Domain Names Cannotrustclinton.com? clintonisbad.com? At least 25 domain names related to Hillary Rodham Clinton have links to the Republican National Committee: the names were either registered by the R.N.C. last year or showed up on servers the committee uses. Half a dozen seemed to guess at Mrs. Clinton’s eventual running mate, like clintonomalley.com, referring to Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland. The day after Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses, the R.N.C. snapped up at least 20 domains related to his candidacy. Some of them may signal the party’s future strategy: baracknotready.com and norealexperience.com. The party has also begun preemptively registering domains that could be used to attack John McCain, like mccainamigos.com, voteagainstmccain.com, flipflopmccain.com and hatemccain.com (ihatemccain.com was taken.) http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/rnc-snap-up-domain-names/ US seizes domain name of Spanish company selling Cuba trips The United States has often presented itself as the guardian of Internet free speech. China may censor the Internet, and otherwise-civilized nations such as Germany or France may attempt to block what they view as unacceptable material, but the United States of America likes to think of itself as a place that doesn't censor people online... unless you happen to own a foreign travel business that offers trips to Cuba. Under such circumstances, as Steve Marshall discovered, all bets are off. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080307-us-interferes-with-travel-to-cuba.html Sabotage: an occupational hazard on the net Sabotage. That's the right word for what Pakistan Telecom did to YouTube on the last Sunday in February. It was intended to be censorship — blocking Pakistanis from seeing a video that their government found offensive. But it resulted in all of YouTube vanishing from the internet for up to two hours. ... So, like YouTube, you could find your domain name hijacked, accidentally or intentionally, at almost any time. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/mgmt/300FEEEFF14D0442CC2574040078E640 Aniti-phishing bill working its way through U.S. Senate A group of U.S. senators have introduced a bi-partisan bill aimed at stopping phishing, but some privacy advocates are worried that website registrants will have to forfeit too much personal information. http://www.securecomputing.net.au/news/71701,anitiphishing-bill-working-its-way-through-us-senate.aspx New Anti-phishing law: A Snowe job? by Milton Mueller Three U.S. Senators, led by Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, have proposed a new, harsh law allegedly to combat phishing, the Anti-Phishing Consumer Protection Act of 2008. But since the Senators obviously pandered to major trademark holders during its drafting, the law does little more than attempt to expand the powers that brand holders have over domain names, while adding little or nothing to the fight against phishing -- which is already completely illegal. The problem is that the bill focuses too much on the domain names used by phishers and adds little to efforts to prosecute phishing itself. It might better be renamed, "The Selective Anti-Typosquatting and antiWhois Privacy Act of 2008." A group representing small business interests in domain name policy, the Internet Commerce Association, has sounded the alarm against the bill, noting that: http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/3/7/3566502.html Fucked Up - The Theft of Fucked.com and Pornos.com A domainer is cheated of over $120,000. The FBI and the police are involved. And so is an allegedly 16 year old boy in Ontario, Canada. You work hard for what you have earned in life. You spend all day crouched over your computer doing research and negotiating deals. But some people aren't willing to put in this work and want quick shortcuts - and will do this at the expense of your life savings. http://www.domainbits.com/domain-theft/ National Arbitration Forum Reports Rise in Domain Name Disputes [news release] The National Arbitration Forum, an international provider of alternative dispute resolution services, administered a total of 1,805 domain name disputes in 2007, up from 1,658 disputes in 2006. The National Arbitration Forum has been approved as a domain name dispute resolution program provider by ICANN since 1999. http://domains.adrforum.com/newsroom.aspx?itemID=1363 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** MobiTV threatens suit over link providing free video streams ... Howard Forums' users, as you might expect, are hardly happy about the threats. E-mail correspondence that Howard Forums posted from MobiTV shows its lawyers consider the link to be obtained through "hacking" and that ICANN will be contacted as well. http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9888724-38.html http://www.cnet.com/8301-13739_1-9888749-46.html Afilias and CERT-In Sign MoU to Improve Internet Security in India [news release] Afilias, a global provider of registry services, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to share critical information and resources to enhance cyber-security in India and world-wide, increase awareness of important security issues, and to cooperate in emergency response to critical threats. http://www.afilias.info/news/press_releases/pr_articles/2008-02-12-01 What everyone ought to know about Geo domains I've got a real interest in Geo Domains as I think that they have a lot of potential for future appreciation. As well, coming from a competitive webmastering background, I could see how the right Geo Domain could provide a substantial competitive advantage. In fact, the first major domain purchase I made was a Geo Domain. Because of this, I was happy to see the launch of Simply Geo a few months ago. This is a blog devoted solely to the Geo Domain industry. http://www.domainbits.com/steven-morales/ ********************** - DOMAINING ********************** Yahoo! wins sponsored links ruling in High Court Yahoo! did not infringe a businessman's rights by displaying adverts for other companies when users entered his trade marks as search terms. The High Court dismissed a lawsuit against the web giant as being "totally without merit." http://out-law.com/page-8916 Domain Parking Company ParkingDots Closes its Doors A major domain parking company just announced that it is closing its doors. ParkingDots will be no more effective March 9th. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/03/08/parkingdots-closes-its-doors/ DomainerTV and Domain Roundtable preview by Jay Westerdal The domain industry keeps growing. We now have two TV channel websites that create unique content which cover domaining. The first is DomainerTV.com and the other is Page Howe’s DNTV.tv. I am very impressed by the level of detail these sites have launched with in very little time. DomainerTV interviewed me while I was attending the TrafficZ party in Las Vegas. I talked about the up coming Domain Roundtable event and what DomainTools working on. http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/03/domainertv-and-domain-roundtable-preview/ “Gamble for Good” Benefit Hosted at Domain Roundtable Club 443Inspired by last year’s $20,000 success, Domain Roundtable is back at it again! So, get ready to press your luck Saturday, April 19 as you are invited to Gamble for Good at the Domain Roundtable Conference. http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/03/gamble-for-good-benefit-hosted-at-domain-roundtable/ DOMAINER SPOTLIGHT: Jeffrey Behrendt; DomainBits.com If you're interested in following along side-by-side with the domain industrys most seasoned domainers then look no further than inside your computer. Domainers have long been pressing their thoughts about domaining into the screen before most of us even knew what a blog was. The more info about domains that comes out the more people there are that are introduced to domaining and eventually hop in for the ride of their lives. http://www.domainerdeveloper.com/2008/02/domainer-spot-1.html ********************** - AFTERMARKET ********************** Internet domain prospectors try to capitalize after NIU tragedy Less than 24 hours after the shootings at Northern Illinois University, "domain prospectors" went to work registering various Web site addresses they hoped to sell later for a profit. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150196&src=109 Getting Ahead in Domain Name Trading Domain name appraisers have become quite prominent. If you go to Google, for example, and search for "domain name appraisers," you will get about the same number of hits as for "domain name auctions" -- over 200,000. It seems to me that virtual real estate has created a new profession: domain name appraiser. Most of us are painfully aware that the real estate market has been on the decline for some time. In fact, some experts feel that it might take at least two years for prices to hit bottom. However, an interesting twist is bringing good news: Virtual real estate prices (domain names) are on the rise! In fact, we now have active trading in domain names. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/61967.html Comparison search tool for domain names Whether you buy domain names on a large scale or not, this service may be of interest: Ofindo is a (relatively) new website where you can compare registrars offers. Using different criteria (TLD, registrar's country, currency and/or mean of payment), users may select which registrar best suits their needs. Comparison is only possible among the providers which registered and publish their offers. http://domaine.blogspot.com/2008/03/comparison-search-tool-for-domain-names.html Domain Name Appraisal Scam Resurfaces An old scam in the domain name world appears to be resurfacing. The domain name appraisal scam works like this: someone emails you interested in buying a domain. When you reply, they require an appraisal to verify the value. The scammer either owns the domain appraisal company you are referred to, or is a paid affiliate. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/03/06/domain-name-appraisal-scam-resurfaces/ UNet.com Yields $100,000 to Top a Long List of Reported Domain Sales From the Past Fortnight We're back after a week off to cover last week's T.R.A.F.F.I.C. West conference in Las Vegas (our comprehensive review of that event will be published on our home page by the end of the week). Given the 14-day span since our last column, you won't be surprised to hear that hundreds of new four, five and six figure sales have been reported since our previous trip to the plate. The lone surprise is that from among all of those sales, only one cracked the six-figure mark and that one - Unet.com, sold at Sedo.com for $100,000 to barely clear the bar. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales03-04-08.htm ********************** - NON-ENGLISH NEWS ********************** Countdown für .Asia - Nur noch 6 Tage bis zum Ende der Landrush-Phase Wer sich im Vorfeld eine Domain mit der Endung .asia sichern möchte, sollte sich beeilen. Am 12. März 2008 endet die Landrush-Phase, die den Schlusspunkt der allgemeinen Einführung bildet, bevor am 26. März 2008 die Live-Registrierung starten wird. http://www.sedo.de/links/showhtml.php3?Id=1669 Der Wert einer Domain Kaum etwas erscheint schwieriger, als den Wert einer Internet-Domain festzustellen - oder zu schätzen. Spektakuläre Domain-Geschäfte wie irepot(s).com (US$ 750.000,–), cruises.co.uk (GBP 560.000,–) und datarecovery.com (ca. US$ 1,7 Mio.) sind für Außenstehende ein Rätsel; für viele Domainer ebenfalls. Man fragt sich, wie diese utopisch anmutenden Preise zustande kommen. Auf Grundlage von üblichen Appraisals jedenfalls nicht. Was ist das Geheimnis solcher Domainpreise? http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2008/der-wert-einer-domain-id667151.html Wegen "VZ" – StudiVZ mahnt Domain-Inhaber ab Das Online-Netzwerk StudiVZ, lange in den Schlagzeilen wegen seiner umstrittenen allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen, zeigt sich auch in Sachen Domains wenig zimperlich: Domain-Inhaber, die den Zeichenbestandteil "VZ" in der Adresse führen, sind ins Visier einer neuen Abmahnwelle gerückt. http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2008/wegen-vz-studivz-mahnt-domain-inhaber-ab-id667152.html Regensburg ist die deutsche Domain-Hauptstadt Der Domain-Statistik des deutschen Registrars Denic zufolge hat im Schnitt jeder achte Bundesbürger eine ".de"-Domain. Insgesamt waren 2007 knapp 10,2 Millionen Adressen bei der Denic registriert. Im Vergleich zum Vorjahr wuchs die Anzahl der Registrierungen im Bundesdurchschnitt um sechs Prozent. Im europäischen Vergleich belegt Deutschland damit nach Denic-Angaben den dritten Rang hinter den Niederlanden und Dänemark. http://www.ecomm-online.de/aktuelles/aktuell+M5fbef76f29e.html Gouvernance et JPA, trompe l’œil ou boîte de Pandore? Par Loïc DAMILAVILLE Nous avons aujourd'hui le plaisir d'accueillir Loïc Damilaville dans la famille des chroniqueurs de Domaines.Info. Si Loïc a bien entendu déjà été cité dans nos pages, notamment dans le cadre des ses fonctions d'adjoint au directeur général de l'AFNIC, c'est la première fois qu'il y rédige un article. http://domainesinfo.fr/chronique/185/gouvernance-et-jpa-trompe-l-%C5%93il-ou-boite-de-pandore.php 33 millions de nouveaux noms de domaine en 2007 Fin 2007, la Toile totalisait 153 millions de noms de domaine, selon VeriSign, soit 27 % de plus que l'année précédente. http://www.journaldunet.com/ebusiness/rubriques/chiffre-cle-hebdo/080310-chiffres-cles/1.shtml Estados Unidos bloquea todos los dominios .com con Cuba que puede Steve Marshall es un agente de viajes afincado en España. En Octubre del año pasado unos 80 dominios que tenía fueron bloqueados por su Agente Registrador "gracias" al gobierno de los Estados Unidos. http://www.latinoamericann.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1605 Resolución 284 del 2008 El día de ayer se conoció la resolución 284 del 2008, en la que el Ministerio de Comunicaciones formaliza su decisión de adoptar el modelo de Tercerización Total excluyente para la administración del dominio .co, manteniendo para sí la definición de política. http://www.latinoamericann.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1604 nl: SP: uitgifte domeinnamen door overheid De uitgave van numerieke internetadressen die vorige week plaatsvond moet ongeldig worden verklaard. Dat vindt SP-Kamerlid Arda Gerkens. Ook de branchevereniging van internetproviders, ISPConnect, is zeer ontevreden over het verloop van de uitgifte en spreekt van een massale kaping. http://www.telegraaf.nl/digitaal/3475146/_SP__uitgifte_domeinnamen_door_overheid__.html Harde strijd om www.1234.nl Vier slimme jongens achter MijnAlbum.nl zijn er in geslaagd om bijna 2600 numerieke domeinnamen naar zich toe te halen. Het succes van deze ‘miljonairs in de dop’ leidde gisteren tot woede bij de concurrentie. Het kwartet zou niet eerlijk te werk zijn gegaan. http://www.ad.nl/multi-media/2103755/Harde_strijd_om_www1234nl.html Story in Russian on VerSign's Domain Name Industry report http://lenta.ru/news/2008/03/07/domain/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Check out http://auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the most recent edition of the domain news, including an RSS feed - already online! The domain name news is supported by auDA For information on subscriptions to the domain name and/or general internet news please contact me. For archives of postings to the list, see http://lists.technewsreview.com.au/pipermail/technewsreview/. Also see http://technewsreview.com.au/ for recent updates. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2008 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David @yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home) "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail _______________________________________________ APPLe mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/apple
