ICANN, copyright infringement, and "the public interest"
(WashPost):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/03/09/icann-copyright-infringement-and-the-public-interest/
It is, however, anything but harmless - and the RIAA/MPAA letters show
why. Registries and registrars will henceforth have to satisfy ICANN
that they are taking appropriate steps to suspend end-users who engage
in "piracy" or any activity "contrary to applicable law"; if they do
not, they risk losing their place in the DNS. Is it "appropriate" -
in ICANN's view - to revoke domain names if, for instance, they
receive a letter from the London Police Department, containing a list
of websites the LPD thinks (based on information provided by copyright
owners) are infringing? Or a letter from the RIAA? Is it
"appropriate" to take down all of those sites? Does the operator of
the domain name get an opportunity to defend itself? Does the
registrar have to examine those sites to see if they are indeed
infringing copyright? Consult its lawyers about fair use or other
possible defenses? Hold a hearing? And most importantly of all: why
should ICANN, which is constituted for the purpose of assuring
uniformity and stability of the DNS - ie., making sure that the
Internet's system for resolving names into IP Adresses continues to
function smoothly -- be making these determinations?
- - -
My view remains that in the long run we need to move completely away
from the existing DNS with its centralized control and potential for
centralized abuse.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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