Kris Benson wrote: > > Why do we see a problem with domains? Probably because we're looking at > them as an object that we *buy*. The registrant is not an owner, but a > lessee. When you register a domain, you essentially acquire a lease on > some Internet "real estate" for a fixed period of time, with the > right-of-first-refusal when renewal time rolls around. Renewal time rolls > around and your building manager (registrar) comes by to collect the next > year's lease payment. You say "naw, not this year" and he goes away. It > is within his right to resell that space to someone else, providing the > property owner (registry/ICANN/Internet-at-large) still gets paid the > rental fee.
To extend this analogy further, we can look at it this traditional practice (which we must be thankful doesn't occur in the domain world): A lease is coming up for renewal. They've been good tenants, making their payments on time and have fulfilled every part of the lease contract for the last two years. The property manager comes along and says "the tenants next door really want to expand into here... so, we're going to be changing the lease rate for you from $12/ft2 to $20/ft2. If you want to pay that, great. If not, then we won't be renegotiating this lease." There is *nothing* the tenant can do about this -- they are at the mercy of the landlord/property manager. Now, I think we should be counting our lucky stars that the landlord (VGRS) is somewhat controlled in what they can do, and that we have a fair and equitable property manager (OpenSRS). They give us the right of first refusal (plus 40 days to make up our minds) and we can choose to take it or leave it (and no price increase on "good" names). I realize that we all want stuff to be free and fair on the Internet... it's this kind of ethic that formed this pioneering community, and I would like to say that I am the first in-line to agree that the GPL and similar licenses are the way to go and that Micro$oft software should not be given permission to operate on the Internet. However, it is also worth pointing out that some things are supposed to cost money -- to suggest that this is inequitable treatment of others... well, I don't think so, because they can sign up through either a reseller or themselves by becoming a reseller for these names. I see no issue here that is causing this aside from a lack of communication (which, is understandable, given the fact that it is a new product development). I'd like to remind everyone that when SnapNames came on the list and was trying to offer us their product, most people came back and said "if OpenSRS can offer a product like this, we'd take it... we don't want to work with a company of 'questionable' morals and ethics, however." So, it's our own doing that is causing this product development. -kb -- Kris Benson ABC Communications +1 (250)612-5270 x14 +1 (888)235-1174 x14
