An interesting article from inside the board firewall. But it doesn't address what I think are the real problems with this deal. I understand that ISOC might want to enter into a different funding arrangement but this was not the only way to achieve this result. If PIR was for sale, why were other bids not sought out? PIR could have been handed off to another non-profit, maybe ISOC could even have negotiated a better deal in a competitive environment. But this was clearly an inside deal - organized quickly and undercover, funded by very deep pockets who are unlikely to be swayed by the "public interest" arguments. "PIR will be okay" says the author. This is a private money takeover that is beholden only to the need to maximize profits. It could be turned over next week to yet another VC operation making a better offer to Ethos Capital. I am not instilled with confidence. ISOC chapters should be asking these questions. But bringing it back to what ICANN can/should do about it .... that's still an open question. Marita On 11/28/2019 9:23 AM, Roberto Gaetano wrote:
This article has been posted to CircleId yesterday by Richard Barnes, an ISOC Trustee: http://www.circleid.com/posts/20191127_why_i_voted_to_sell_org/ Please find below the reply that I have posted today, that is currently awaiting moderation. Cheers, Roberto
Dear Richard,
I am a .org registrant. I was proud of the fact that part of the money I was spending went to ISOC for the very projects you have described. This is now gone.
My .org domain name is not just a domain name, is the digital identity that makes me part of the .org community. The fact that there are also commercial members in this community is irrelevant because the image that we project is that of not for profit, and to have the house hosting us being itself not for profit was a reassuring affirmation of this identity. This is now gone.
When I applied for the PIR Board I was proud to become part of a wider community of which ISOC was the steward, that was working together with the registry, registrants and users for the benefit of the internet worldwide. This is now gone.
Since I have started becoming involved in the Internet I had a strong belief that it was possible to act after discussion with the stakeholders and that the community could be involved before making strategic decisions. This is now gone.
When the I* community started operating I believed that ISOC could be the core organization that was leading by example, putting ideals before and above money. This is now gone.
You know that, in particular in the last couple of years, there have been disagreements between our two Boards - or at least parts thereof - but they have been solved with the spirit of collaboration that two travellers who share the same journey always have. Not even in my worst nightmares I would have thought that we were getting to the point that we would have taken different paths.
Be happy and prosper with the financial stability you have achieved, but be aware that you have paid a price - an immaterial one, but a very important one.
Roberto
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