Wendy Seltzer wrote:
If we retreat from this all-inclusive view, to say that a domain name is merely a convenient hook for online communications, then "false" WHOIS data is no more a problem than a parent's arbitrary choice of names for children.
My view is probably closer to this than that of the trademark industry (which is already well represented within ICANN, as far as I can tell). I happen to like approaches such as "No Logo" but I also agree that many of the anti-branding rants I see at, for instance, AdBusters, go a little too far. One of the more contentious issues I see here is the attempt by the trademark industry to turn the domain naming system into its exclusive enforcement tool, and I see that as dangerous. OTOH, I'm also one of those who believes that freedom requires responsibility, and anyone who registers an identity MUST be honest about the owner of that identity. There are ways to allow for some level of privacy (think of the old ways newspapars would print letters with the author's name "witheld by request -- but the original letter still needed to be signed). I would prefer to see ICANN stay out of trademark-enforcement issues as much as possible, but I do think it has a role to play in ensuring that identities can ultimately be verifiable. In this field, I would daresay that the public interest and the interest of registrars and trademark holders diverge significantly. - Evan