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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN class=628041018-06042010> I
wanted to share </SPAN>the following proposal <SPAN
class=628041018-06042010> posted on ICANN's website </SPAN>from
Verisign for a domain name "exchange service." <SPAN
class=628041018-06042010> See </SPAN></FONT></FONT><A
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004
href="http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004"><U
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004><FONT
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004><FONT
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004 face=Arial><SPAN lang=EN
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004>http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004</SPAN></FONT></FONT></U><FONT
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004><FONT
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004></FONT></FONT></A><A
title=http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004
href="http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/#201004"></A><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=ecx942592415-06042010><SPAN lang=EN></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff>It appears the Verisign is trying to
legitimize another form of domain name tasting by allowing the taster to
"exchange" domain names every 30 days. This idea caters to short term
speculators who just want to game domain names rather than buy domain names to
run legitimate businesses. It's probably not quite as profitable as the 5 day
AGP period, but still opens up the door for brand abuse. It's probably their
strategy to deal with new gTLDs and <SPAN class=628041018-06042010> it
</SPAN>drives more traffic under a legitimized version of
tasting. <SPAN class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Verisign claims they met with some
members of the IPC (does anyone know who?) about this proposal and in order to
address trademark concerns, they propose the following<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN> (see my comments following in
brackets): <SPAN class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> " </SPAN>Some members of the Intellectual
Property constituency and certain registrars whose primary business is brand
management have raised concerns similar to those raised in the development of
policy concerning the use of the Add Grace Period ("AGP").<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> "</SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>To address those issues the Domain
Name Exchange Service will:<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Allow domain names to be exchanged
no sooner than thirty (30) days following initial registration or a prior
exchange [30 Days still allows domain name speculating at a fraction of the cost
of buying one domain name for a year -- you essentially get a chance to try 12
domain names over the year for the price of one]<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Not allow a grace period following
an exchange. [No "grace" period just means someone has to pay up front -- but
again for the price of one domain name registration -- you get to taste multiple
different names a year]<SPAN class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Publish a report that lists the
domain names exchanged as part of a registration. [The burden and costs
associated with monitoring this list will fall on the trademark owner]<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Create a WHOIS/WHOWAS record for
all domain names exchanged under the Domain Name Exchange Service. [ Is this
free? I'm sure they will charge for this. How do we ensure that the information
is accurate?]<SPAN class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Deploy the WHOWAS Service that was
approved by ICANN on July 16, 2009 that will further increase transparency by
providing (i) domain name registration history; and (ii) domain name exchange
activity. [Increasing "transparency" isn't the same as fixing your business
model to minimize the inevitable increase in trademark infringement]<SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=ecx942592415-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Best,<SPAN
class=628041018-06042010> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial><SPAN
class=628041018-06042010> </SPAN><BR>Sarah<BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial><BR><BR><FONT color=#000080>Sarah B. Deutsch
<BR>Vice President & Associate General Counsel <BR>Verizon Communications
<BR>Phone: 703-351-3044 <BR>Fax: 703-351-3670 </FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>