Subject: CPSR Proposes "Domain Name Resolutions" to Conference Concerning Domain Name Corporation
Andy Oram (andyo@ora.com)
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 14:42:29 -0400
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980630144226.007dd340@ruby.ora.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 14:42:29 -0400 To: roundtable@cni.org From: Andy Oram <andyo@ora.com> Subject: CPSR Proposes "Domain Name Resolutions" to Conference Concerning Domain Name Corporation
(Excuse the cross-postings -- feel free to redistribute)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CPSR Proposes "Domain Name Resolutions" to Conference Concerning Domain
Name Corporation
June 30, 1998
Across the spectrum, participants in the debate over domain name policy
see it as a test case for future regulation and group decision-making
about the Internet. Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
today released a paper called "Domain Name Resolutions: CPSR Proposals
for the New Corporation" on the eve of the International Forum on the
White Paper.
The CPSR paper calls for representation by public-interest groups, not
just interested stakeholders, and says that the new rules for DNS
"should not establish any procedures or rules that amount to extensions
of the rights of trademark holders."
CPSR is also participating in the conference, which will discuss the
formation and activities of a new non-profit corporation that will be
set up according to a white paper released on June 5 by the U.S.
Commerce Department and that will coordinate all administrative issues
related to the assignment of domain names and IP numbers.
The paper points out that, "creative development work may be used to
'route around' current domain name problems. However, this will not
happen if major players are focused solely on competitive advantage and
short-term commercial gain. For the good of Internet users past and
present, the new corporation should work with standards groups, ISPs,
users, and any interested parties to promote cooperative and
collaborative efforts aimed at solving these problems."
Harry Hochheiser, principal author of the paper, says, "The White paper
calls for the creation of a managing corporation that uses transparent
decision making to avoid capture from by self-interested factions. As
Internet users, it is our responsibility to stand up and be heard, and
to demand representation on the Board of the new corporation so that it
will be responsive to our needs."
The CPSR proposals include the following:
* The corporation's board should include public interest representation,
in the form of members who do not have direct financial stakes in the
issues being addressed by the corporation.
* The operations of the new corporation should be open, transparent, and
accountable.
* The new corporation should have an ombudsperson.
* The corporation should not create policy that extends the already
considerable rights of large trademark holders.
* IP number allocation should be equitable.
* The corporation should work to promote the operation of DNS as an
industry.
* The corporation should take explicit actions to minimize the adverse
effects that expansion of the domain name space could have on end users.
* The new corporation should promote cooperation and collaboration in
Internet Governance issues.
The paper is available on the Web at
http://www.cpsr.org/dns/dns_resolutions.html and builds on CPSR
submissions to the Department of Commerce
(http://www.wia.org/pub/cpsr-dnsnoi-comments.html and
http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/web/dns-ntia.html).
Contacts: Harry Hochheiser, hhochheiser@cpsr.org, (609) 497-9167
Glenn Manishin, glenn@technologylaw.com, (202) 955-6300
Harry Hochheiser
c/o Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
P.O. Box 717
Palo Alto, CA 94302-0717
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