auDA’s Industry Competition Advisory Panel is currently reviewing their competition model for the Australian domain name industry.
The Panel has released an Issues Paper for public consultation, which sets out the current situation and canvasses the issues and possible options for change. The closing date for submissions is Friday 1 August 2008.
Here are a few interesting points:
- “Abandon the competitive registry model and make auDA the registry operator”
This sounds like someone has been talking too much to ICANN or Verisign.
- “the start-up capital costs constitute the most significant barrier for prospective new entrants” Ohhh.. the poor kids down the road can’t become an operator.
HELLO, its called capitalism ! I’d note that “Accredited registrars pay an annual fee to auDA of $3,300 and there is also a $2,200 non-refundable accreditation application fee.”
- “auDA does not have the legal power to impose financial penalties on a registrar who has breached the Registrar Agreement.”
So registrars can basically do whatever they want as long as its not serious, to the point of suspension or termination the registrar’s accreditation.
- “Questions have been raised however, about the extent to which registrars should be allowed to participate in domain-related activities other than the core business of registering domain names for registrants. For example, is it appropriate or desirable for registrars to be in the business of warehousing domain names for their own domain monetisation purposes?”
Watch out - its those evil domainers again!
- “It has been suggested that this lack of market transparency could be addressed by publishing a list of deleted and expiring domain names, or by placing the domain names in a “holding pool” for a period of time before making them available to the general public.“
This is just a bad idea. Again, see the word capitalism. Looking into my crystal ball I see auDA being in a position to profit from this “holding pool”. Who will have the independence to maintain it?
It appears that auDA needs all the help it can get. Have a look at the Issues Paper and send your comments to:
auDA Industry Competition Advisory Panel
email: info@auda.org.au
fax: 03 8341 4112
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Tags: auda, australia, competition, domain name, model, panel
