CircleID

As with Verizon, there's another game in town, of course:

http://searchengineland.com/070523-083042.php

Last year, Google signed a landmark deal to become the default search engine on new Dell computers, plus to bundle Google software. Now, people are noting anew that a consequence of the deal seems to be pushing Dell users to search results dominated by Google ads, rather than editorial listings.

Yes, let's get rid of those ad-filled parking pages, so that Dell can fill them with ad filled parking pages.  Hoorah, my user experience is enhanced!

Hmmn, I was unaware that ICANN's registration policies forced you to use Dell's computers. Is there a clause in the RAA that I missed?

If I choose to buy a Dell computer and use all their shovelware, it may not be a particularly wise decision, but it's my decision.  If I land at some kited page that replaced an expired domain in a bookmark, I get whatever junk the kiter chooses.  That's not my decision.

Isn't Dell trying to have the cybersquatting treated as counterfeiting due to the industrial scale of the operation? That apparently means that the maximum penalty per offence is $1 Million.

Are there any further documents available on the case?

Dell's complaint had a typical laundry list of trademark related charges, including cybersquatting and counterfeiting.

There's one new case document, a response from the defendant, which I'll blog at http://weblog.johnlevine.com in a few minutes.