[ncdnhc-discuss] Resolution on ORG Divestiture

Sat Oct 27 07:25:56 CEST 2001

Milton,

it would be inappropriate to dismiss George's fundamental questions on
what the NCDNHC is about. Even heading a significant non-commercial
organization now, he has not chosen to become a member again. It takes a
short memory not to figure why.

His challenge has been made before, by myself, by Dave Crocker, and in
part by David Wasley.

The main point to answer, and it is substantive, is what our interests and
stake as organizations are, regarding domain names.

Many significant non-commercial organizations have been, and still are,
victims of cybersquatting. The UDRP has been a significant advance for
them. An effect of the UDRP is the abatement of such cases against
non-commercial organizations, eg universities. So one can interpret that
one interest of a large number of non-commercial organizations is well
served by the UDRP, and that weakening its ability to protect such
organizations would actually pit members of the NCC against each other.

Research (scientific, technical, legal, social, etc.) conducted by
academic and other research institutions, on domain-name matters, is
little affected by the NCC.

Activist and militant organizations in many countries find themselves
affected by the taking away of their domain name. As discussed several
times before, those organizations which are in particularly tight
political or labor situations are wise enough to use Internet tools far
less vulnerable (to filtering, etc.) than domain names. There is an
uncontested, growing, but to the eyes of many still quantitatively and
strategically marginal view of domain names as a form of expression which
has to be protected. This is one area of actual effect which the NCC has
tried to touch.

In the agenda of ICANN, there are outstanding issues, such as the ALSC
report, the DNSO review, the UDRP review, and new gTLDs. What actual value
can we add to them, that significantly improves ICANN action to the
general benefit and to the benefit of non-commercial organizations in the
broadest spectrum?

As we refocus our attention on critical, long-lasting, strategic issues,
such as the stability and security of the domain-name system (and other
ICANN areas of concern) I think that our thought can be embodied in the
draft resolution we have been working on, and which I have just reposted
in modified form to reflect what would appear to be emerging consensus in
our constituency.

Could you and all of us really reflect for a short while what value the
NCC can add that is specific to its character? We have accomplished some,
and we have failed to accomplish too. Let's work on a forward-looking,
proactive, rational agenda.

Alejandro Pisanty

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     Dr. Alejandro Pisanty
UNAM  -  Educacion Abierta y a Distancia
Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico DF Mexico
Tel. (+52-5) 622-8713, 622-8633 Fax 550-8405

http://www.cuaed.unam.mx
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