[bc-gnso] Paper on Registry/Registrar separation

[Philip Sheppard]

For information - please see the link below.

The paper concludes that 
"The public interest in supporting competition does not support elimination of the current
separation of Registry and Registrar ownership. The end result would be further
consolidation of the top tier registrars, gaming of the loopholes in the reciprocity
provisions which will, in the very least, provide a "time to market" advantage for select
Registrars, among others. These changes would, in conclusion, present a severe negative
impact on competition among Registries and among Registrars and harm to end users". 

The BC has I believe not formally changed its view on R/R separation (ie against) but we did
presume the issue may be less relevant with the expansion of new TLDs and may be competition
enhancing for smaller players.  This paper argues (to my mind) persuasively against that
presumption.

Philip
________________________________

FYI.  Enclosed is a paper produced by PIR, NeuStar and Afilias on the Registry-Registrar
separation issue which reflects the dangers of the removal of the separation requirements.  

http://www.icann.org/correspondence/raad-to-dengate-thrush-08may09-en.pdf. 

Jeffrey J. Neuman, Esq.: NeuStar, Inc.
Vice President, Law & Policy