>Why carve out a first class seat for corporations and relegate individuals
>to the cattle car?
In this case, since the DNSO.org is allowing INTA to determine the bylaws,
one special interest group with decided bias (that necessarily curtails
rights of individuals and domain name holders who are not also trademark
holders) will dictate the "rules" under which all parties must be governed.
Therefore, it is far worse than first class vs. cattle car. It is
essentially the equivalent of the original criteria in the United States
for who gets the vote. Then, it was white males who are also landowners.
When color and land ownership was eliminated from the equation, those in
power threw another roadblock out there, i.e. literacy. Then poll taxes,
etc. etc. Though finally the courts remedied this situation, how many
people were prevented from voicing their opinions and voting for
representatives? How different would this country have been if all were
given a voice and a vote?
This is exactly what is happening here. One special interest group is
going to dictate the "rules" even though it has a tiny membership when
compared to domain name holders who are NOT members of INTA and do NOT have
trademarks. And even those of us who ARE members of INTA have not been
consulted, nor asked for input to these proposals or these draft bylaws.
This has the probable effect of giving trademark holders greater rights and
a greater voice than ISPs, RIRs, public interest groups, individuals, small
businesses, or anyone else who has not ponied up the 500 dollars plus to be
a member of INTA, or the 245 dollars plus to own a US trademark (probably
more in most other countries.)
And why do they have this power? "Because they are large and powerful" is
not a good enough answer. It lack credibility from every possible level.
Having classes of membership may be a good idea. Having "privileged"
classes and "plebian" classes is not. We must not allow INTA's bylaws to
be implemented.
Mikki Barry
President - DNRC
Member - INTA
Trademark Holder
Domain Name Holder
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