Since there is no competition yet, NSI has not done anything to hinder it. However, converting what has been considered an Internet community resource into a marketing opportunity, and asserting proprietary rights in the information collected through the InterNIC, are indicative of a willingness to take advantage of the uniquely privileged position which NSI has enjoyed with respect to the currently-popular TLDs. NSI's anti-trust lawyers would be able to explain far more accurately than me how NSI has done nothing to hinder competition, as a matter of law. It's the principle of the thing, and the way the Internet is currently run, it's a principle that matters. But, in a prospectively competitive market, I suppose you do what you have to do. Craig McTaggart [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Craig, > > What was done by NSI to hinder competition? > > Chuck > > -----Original Message----- > From: Craig McTaggart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, April 02, 1999 12:03 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Regulation? [Was: Re: [IFWP] Fwd: Re: Power Politics and > the N ew Internet Order] > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > Roberto, > > > > Please help me understand your thinking. > > > > Chuck > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Roberto Gaetano [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > <snip> > > > > But something happened, that I would call the "uncle > > Scroogy" syndrome: the > > recent actions from NSi seem to me more in the direction of > > keeping the > > monopoly than preparing for the new competitive market that > > will > > (eventually) rise from this monopolistic situation. > > > > (Text deleted) > > Indeed, NSI *is* preparing for the new competitive market, by exploiting > its position as the incumbent to make competition as difficult as > possible. This is pretty standard stuff in formerly monopolized > industries, long distance and local telecom come to mind. Former > monopolists have no incentive to facilitate competition, so regulators > have to force them to. The FCC and CRTC's attempts to open up telecom > markets to competition are illustrative. The tricky question here is > whether there is a regulator with enough clout to *force* competition. > This can't all come as news, Chuck. Now if you could help me understand > NSI's thinking, if it isn't as described above. > > Craig McTaggart > Graduate Student > University of Toronto > Faculty of Law > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
