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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>I am a registrant of some .COM domain names, used for business and personal purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Verisign has a monopoly. ICANN is allowing Verisign to increase prices without <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>putting the contract for running the .COM registry out to competitive tender. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>A number of other registry companies are on record as being willing to run the .COM <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>registry at much lower prices than Verisign.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>This proposal will severely limit the degree of competition inside a market<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>and reinforce the monopoly power of an established business to command excess<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>profits. It is a fallacy to suggest that the existence of other gTLDs is an <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>alternative to using the .COM domain name. It is not an option for businesses <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>to re-brand themselves under an alternative gTLD. They have no choice but <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>to continue with their .COM domain name, and they are at the mercy of the monopoly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>of Verisign.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>I am very opposed to this contract change and price increases. This whole proposal <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>should be rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>