So we have a new structure - great. I look forward to hearing their views and opinions on the ongoing policy and process issues taking place at ICANN. However, I am still skeptical - as the ALS/ALAC community has still not responded to the recent developments @ Registerfly (see below). In fact, was ALAC at all consulted on the issue ? regards, Robert --- Robert Guerra <rguerra@privaterra.org> Managing Director, Privaterra Tel +1 416 893 0377 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070227-8933.html Registerfly faces losing ICANN accreditation 2/27/2007 12:37:07 PM, by Jacqui Cheng Domain registrar and SSL certificate issuer Registerfly has been given notice by ICANN for violation of numerous policies and must remedy the situation by March 13 or lose ICANN accreditation. The issue is focused on Registerfly's failure to unlock tens of thousands of domain names despite repeated requests by customers and ICANN itself, a violation of ICANN's Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy, as well as repeated failure to pay ICANN's accreditation fees. The company's troubles have been snowballing for a while now, and came to a head with Registerfly's financial problems that caused the company to allow 75,000 domain names to expire despite repeated user requests to renew and/or transfer them. Registerfly blamed the financial crisis on parent company Unified Names' CEO Kevin Medina's misue of company funds. Medina was terminated from the company on February 12 and Unified Names sued him that same day, accusing him of misusing the funds on liposuction and escorts. Registerfly claims that upon Medina's termination, he deleted quite a bit of company information, including passwords and access to the billing department in order to issue refunds. ICANN isn't impressed with Registerfly's excuses and accuses it of severe breaches of its agreements with customers and ICANN. In a letter sent to Registerfly and seen by Ars Technica, the organization accuses Registerfly—with plenty of examples—of withholding approval and otherwise acting to block requested transfers of domain names, despite their agreement to do so within five days of request. The letter also details numerous complaints made by customers about being charged multiple times for domain names as well as Registerfly changing some WHOIS entries from the actual domain owner to "Kevin Medina." "Registerfly's pattern of neglect of its obligations to ICANN, fellow registrars, and customers demonstrated by the above circumstances is unacceptable," wrote ICANN. "We hereby demand that Registerfly act promptly to cure the breaches outlined in this letter, and will become more responsive and cooperative in dealing with additional issues as they are discovered." What's next for Registerfly? Newly-appointed CEO John Naruszewicz made a public statement last week, one day after ICANN's notice to Registerfly, insisting that customer service is Registerfly's utmost priority. He also called Medina a "selfish, cold-hearted, self- loving, criminal" and stated that Naruszewicz is personally taking out funds to help remedy the dire situation that the company has found itself in: "I've mortgaged my home, leveraged all assets, and am in the stages of securing large letters of credit to bring this company forward properly." Those certainly seem like committed words, although many of Registerfly's burned customers have had a hard time swallowing these assertions without much evidence of action. Some customers have reported late last week that they have been able to log into their previously-locked accounts, however, so it appears as if there may be some glimmer of hope for those who are still waiting for resolution. But will the company be able to right its financial obligations to both customers and ICANN in time to save its accreditation?