They would not be where they are today without the millions of domains registered by the domaining/developing fraternity.
Exactly right.
Without the buying and selling of domains creating a market for the .co.uk/.org.uk domain, the Board of Directors of Nominet wouldn't be sat where they are today.
They actually did some good in building the brand, but they should have left the building at that point!
The current Nominet Board in their eagerness to create a 'lasting legacy' put scant thought into this proposal.
Having auctioned off 1 and 2 letter domains just a year before (Making a few mill on the way) they think it is ok to then propose a complete change of suffix? How unethical is that for starters...
Then having started a consultation I can only assume they thought they could bulldoze through - we're all left with the complete and utter mess to the UK domain space that is today.
For crying out loud - there's still no decision and do I hear the Board have swanned off to Argentina?
What a bunch of muppets.
I for one hope there are a few lawyers out there just waiting for the chance to bring action against Nominet. Precisely it is the Nominet Board who should be the target of any suit, as why should the rank and file suffer.
They are already ruining the reputation of Nominet and losing money to boot.
I know lots of people who are no longer interested in taking a punt on .co.uk domains - especially as they may becomea bit 'obslete' to all intense purposes. I know they will still exist, but if users are confused, Nominet are confused and the market looks a mess, who's going to take a punt?
I have allowed over 500 of the less valuable (but still worth a punt at £5) domains I have picked up as part of portfolios and through purchases to expire. Interestingly quite a few do get snapped up again - but a lot don't.
On an anecdotal level over the past 18 months :
I used to get 10 - 15 enquiries from overseas each month for the domains I hold - this has dried up to 0 in the past 6 months.
I used to get 30 - 40 enquiries from the UK - this has dried up to 2 a month over the past 3 months.
The actual sale price I am achiving is probably about 10 - 20 % down too.
The only way to sort this out properly is to look at a vote of confidence in the Nominet Board with a one tag, one vote system. or maybe there is an even fairer way for the masses to get fair representation?
TW