Re: [ALSC-Forum] Self-regulation and ICANN

[Esther Dyson]

You're right, there is no scarcity of potential domain names.....you can 
always add new TLDs, or in extremis put a 1 in front of every word (as they 
do with phone numbers).etc.

But there *is* a scarcity of space in people's heads, which is why 
trademarks are not *artificially* scarce, but in fact reflect the scarcity 
of attention. And because domain names get some of their value by 
association with trademarks, there *is* a scarcity (inversely related to 
value)  vis a vis domain names that matters.

Esther


At 08:39 PM 7/16/2001, Daryl Tempesta wrote:

>If there was a system to manage structure (tlds, IP,
>protocalls) instead of  means (politics) there would
>be far less clamoring for control. because you could
>add hundreds of TLDs. thus dividing power to the
>masses.
>
>Simply by adding hundreds of TLDs, representing all of
>  the groups that this body is trying to decide, they
>would eventually begin to behave like de-facto
>political party.
>
>One TLD group associated with this or that group. And
>it is starting to happen with .coop. Soon they will
>have a collective voice.
>
>Or you could continue to try to design something that
>can neither avoid political control, nor be
>successfully democratically ruled.
>
>Even the US has a balance of power and you can see it
>is hardly perfect. Power is derived by scarcity, there
>is no scarcity which isnt artificial on the internet.
>
>Just and idea.
>
>
>
>--- Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> >
> > Mikael and all stakeholders or interested parties,
> >
> >   We would agree that 100% industry self regulation
> > is pure
> > folly.  I has never worked historically in the US or
> > in any
> > other country.  A partnership with governments is
> > necessary.
> >
> > Mikael Pawlo wrote:
> >
> > > On Sun, 15 Jul 2001, Esther Dyson wrote:
> > > > Mikael, hi.   Most people do not consider the UN
> > a model of transparency or
> > > > accountability. We are trying to design
> > something that *would* work as such
> > > > a model, and that therefore would earn
> > legitimacy without inheriting it
> > > > from governments of questionable legitimacy.
> > >
> > > I find it hard to believe that ICANN could exist
> > without the co-operation
> > > or at least the acceptance of the national
> > governments, no matter how
> > > questionable their legitimacy as you put it (the
> > issue of the .kids domain
> > > is a good illustration of this and it will be most
> > interesting to follow
> > > the development in that respect). Further, most
> > governments do - in my
> > > opinion - represent their citizens. Maybe one
> > should try to improve
> > > democracy in the states lacking thereof, but
> > creating a global body of
> > > corporations, non-profit organizations,
> > individuals, governments and other
> > > constituencies is task that would make the stone
> > of Sisyphos look like a
> > > ping-pong ball.
> > >
> > > When it comes to the UN I can appreciate the
> > reluctant attitude towards
> > > it, expressed by many US citizens, but it still
> > has - at least in
> > > theory - some built-in mechanisms for
> > accountability, international
> > > representation and transparancy through it's
> > members.
> > >
> > > I am not sure the UN is the appropriate forum for
> > the ICANN function, but
> > > an international body created by governments is -
> > again in my point of
> > > view - a more reasonable road to travel than pure
> > self-regulation. The
> > > function as such might not be suitable for
> > self-regulation in the way you
> > > and others promote.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Mikael
> > >
> > >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________________
> > >
> > >   ICQ:35638414
> > mailto:mikael@pawlo.com
> > >   +46-70 421 58 25
> > http://www.pawlo.com/
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > --
> > Jeffrey A. Williams
> > Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 118k members strong!)
> > CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA
> > Development Eng.
> > Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
> > E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
> > Contact Number:  972-447-1800 x1894 or 214-244-4827
> > Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
> >
> >
>
>
>=====
>Daryl Tempesta
>HotDot.com
>288 Civic Center Dr
>Scotts Valley, 95066
>831-239-9656 (c)
>831-439-9239 (h)
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/



Esther Dyson			Always make new mistakes!
chairman, EDventure Holdings
writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
edyson@edventure.com
1 (212) 924-8800    --   fax  1 (212) 924-0240
104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
New York, NY 10011 USA
http://www.edventure.com

High-Tech Forum in Europe: 7 to 9 November, Berlin
PC FORUM: 24 to 27 March 2002, Scottsdale (Phoenix), Arizona