CircleID

Bob, The Registrant's Code is a good start and it's nice to see you taking a reasonable position on this, one that respects all positions and players. I mention this in contrast to one or two extreme groups active in the trademark lobby that are trying to "brand" domainers as crooks by associating them all with any illegal online practice they can think of.  In one recent article they attempt to brand almost anyone that invests in domain names as "online scammers", using other terms like: "cybersquatters", "counterfeiters", "malicious coders", "duping customers", "phishers", "defraud", "infringement", "kiters". 

Not once do they mention the considerable and growing good practices in the field that are now fueling much of the growth online.  Legitimate generic domain names are very valuable. They create value for advertisers and for end users who prefer to type in domain names rather than search through search engines (yes there are plenty of people who do this).

Many of these large corporations missed the boat on generic domain names that are used by millions of consumers every day.  These domains are registered and operated by legitimate businesses and they show tremendous promise for the future.  The lobbyists that these corporations are employing seem happy to lump the visionaries who registered these domain names early on into the same batch as real crooks committing the crimes named above.  That approach is not productive for true long term solutions.

Trademarks should be respected but groups like the CADNA are just too extreme, putting out abusive propaganda that gives no recognition to the reasonable practices of the majority of domainers and domain name investors.  InternetCommerce.org (ICA) is doing some good work for the domain name industry.  I hope that CADNA will begin a dialogue with the ICA and find common interests rather than continuing to malign this great growth industry en masse.

CADNA should carefully consider their accusations and the things they are asking for.  The results of their actions and demands could bring the great hope of a robust global online economy to a screeching halt through over-regulation.  That would be good for no one.