Good question and one that has in different form, been ask
before.  It's clear that the Warehousing of Domain Names
by registrars has long been going on despite denials.  I am
a bit surprised to see that Tucows has been engaging in this
restraint of trade practice.  Tucows should release those
names for open registration immediately!  Registrars
should never be allowed to hoard or warehouse domain
names neither should registries.

Danny Younger wrote:

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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