My personal response is that ALAC should (based upon public input and list discussion between now and our March 11th Meeting) discuss and decide next steps...  Certainly the focus point that Wendy's recent message made "... the question: Are parties with privileged access to domain name data using it to the detriment of users/consumers?..."  is an obvious point to work from. If the NARALO wishes this to be an Agenda Item at our next meeting with your representatives to speak to the matter that would be fine,  if not then I will be happy to raise the matter in our next ALAC ExCo meeting (28th or 29th Feb TBC)  and for it to enter the ALAC Meeting Agenda that way...

In preparation for such discussion, might I suggest that a similar topic  focus / discussion also begin within the various RALO lists and at your meetings, as well as that you begin to ask your ALS's what their views are on this matter... 

Remember if it is of any help ALAC can request to create up a simple Big Pulse vote on a set of simple short questions regarding topics you wish to poll your ALS's and RALO Membership on... This might be an example of where that tool could be of some use.

CLO

And yes I know I've posted to both the Public and the internal list but I want to ensure that the RALO Secretariats follow up on this matter as well as ensure wide public list input.

-----Original Message-----
From: Danny Younger [mailto:dannyyounger@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, 21 February 2008 12:20 AM
To: Cheryl Langdon-Orr
Cc: At-Large Worldwide
Subject: Question

Does the ALAC intend to launch a policy-development

process on whether and how to restrict GTLD registries

or registrars or both from engaging in warehousing of

and/or speculating in domain names?

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-20-2008/0004758927&EDATE=

Tucows reveals key domain name portfolio assets

[edited excerpt] "as of February 14, 2008 the Company

had over 150,000 Internet domain names in its private

domain name portfolio, including the following:

    -   Over 1,000 "Gems." These domain names are

considered to have the highest potential value in the

portfolio.

    -   39,000 Surnames. Tucows owns over 65 percent

of North American's surnames as domain names.

    -   22,000 Brandable Names. A brandable domain

name is intended to stick in the heads of users and

conveys the nature of the website it leads to or the

business it represents.

    -   88,000 Direct Navigation Names. Direct

navigation names are primarily monetized through

targeted pay-per-click advertising."

      ____________________________________________________________________________________

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