Just to correct my prior email, .pro technically wasn't a "sponsored" TLD. But, the other ones that were sponsored weren't very successful (.post, .aero, .asia, .jobs. mobi, .xxx etc.). Sincerely, George On Fri, Apr 14, 2017 at 4:47 PM, George Kirikos <icann@leap.com> wrote:
Hi J. Scott,
On Fri, Apr 14, 2017 at 4:22 PM, J. Scott Evans via gnso-rpm-wg <gnso-rpm-wg@icann.org> wrote:
My suggestion would be that either we have sponsored TLDs with up front verification or we have a challenge system whereby the challenging party that wants to us the string for a non-infringing purpose could obtain the domain name; provided, however that their use was subject to the requirement that they stick to the stated non-infringing purpose. Failure to do so is a breach of the TOS and the Registry would takedown the domain name if it received a valid complaint. Similar to DMCA.
We're trying to achieve the same result, which I see as promising.
With respect, it's unfortunate that sponsored TLDs turned out be a disaster. Either they were outright gamed (e.g. people renting out their ".pro" qualifications/credentials/whatever), or domains were mopped up by insiders (e.g. .travel), etc.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/02/22/theglobecom-to-sell-travel-domain-name-...
With a "challenge" system, what if there were multiple challengers? Who gets the domain name? What if the sunrise registrant wants the domain name more than the "challenger(s)" does(do)? Who gets it?
What I proposed (auction system in landrush, which is how landrushes tend to operate anyhow; i.e. just eliminate the sunrise and go straight to landrush) is entire neutral and "clean." The answers to the above questions are simple: money.
No need to reinvent the wheel here. Money has always been the way to solve these allocation issues for scarce resources. Once you start interfering in that (to suggest that someone is "more deserving" of the asset), it invites the gaming we're seeing.
It'd be interesting to know the stats on average domains registered in sunrise, by the way, if anyone has those handy. i.e. we know that on average 130 per TLD are registered in sunrise. How many more are being registered in landrush, on average?
Sincerely,
George Kirikos 416-588-0269 http://www.leap.com/