Domainers Association

[Ashton]

Lets discuss this, an association to help improve the image and presence of domainers within the UK.

I don't think the answer is to set rules on what we register, rather I think it would be better for a domain association to act in a pre-emptive manner. Examples like celebrity names or trademarks could be made clear that they were willing to be transferred for a small (non-extortionate) fee.

We could actively catch these domain names to prevent them being abused and provide information and help towards companies who come across squatters. This would be in a similar way to how nominet use knowthenet to educate.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[mally]

I'd be up for joining that, especially if we could get some events organised

 

[monaghan]

Wouldn't this potentially link our TAG's and risk action from Nominet?

What about public catches? Each catch request from a non-association member would have to be validated.

Good idea, but not sure how I could see it work.

 

[Ashton]

Events would be great, a sort of industry presence.

Lots of information is scattered around. Edwin for example has some great information on his site. I think it would be very beneficial to have a central not-for-profit entity that we could all refer to, and could perhaps lead sales to us.

-edit:

Good point Monaghan, however I think (at least in my mind) it would run where it was the individuals agreement to the body to agree to surrender these domains to their rightful owners, rather than the body controlling multiple tags.

I think essentially the agreement would be that as the catcher / registrant is doing a service protecting the TM holder from abusive registrations then I think it would be fair for a small, fixed charge to be in place for their service (figure in my head is low £xxx but this would depend on the tm) as they have registered / caught the domain before others.

That way their is an incentive to catch / register these domains, whilst protecting companies from extortionate squatters.

 

[Edwin]

That way their is an incentive to catch / register these domains, whilst protecting companies from extortionate squatters.

Count me OUT.

 

[foz]

The Association should not be active in domain registrations. Its a mouthpiece for a member base.

Does it have an employee(s) or a volunteer(s) structure? If the former what would the cost be to attract the right talent?

I would pay £500 per annum if it was run by a professional with media skills.

 

[Ashton]

Count me OUT.

Edwin, I said right at the start - this is a discussion. I am not even proposing I do this, there are many (such as yourself) with far more experience than I will ever have in domaining. I do feel that some sort of body would help the industry though.

So, could you discuss any ideas you have towards some kind of body and how it would run ?


You guys are asking me questions, like I am planning this, or have some kind of business idea behind it - I dont!

Let me know your thoughts, how could it work, how would it succeed, what features should it have, what should it offer its members, what should it offer business, how would it be funded, what would its status be.

 

[grantw]

The Association should not be active in domain registrations. Its a mouthpiece for a member base.

Does it have an employee(s) or a volunteer(s) structure? If the former what would the cost be to attract the right talent?

I would pay £500 per annum if it was run by a professional with media skills.

Something similar was tried before but never happened in the end:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/31/domain_name_associates/

Grant

 

[accelerator]

We could actively catch these domain names to prevent them being abused and provide information and help towards companies who come across squatters. This would be in a similar way to how nominet use knowthenet to educate.

What are your thoughts on this?

I don't think it's a good idea registering such names yourself. If you feel strongly about this, you could provide information about how to retrieve names from squatters, general help and advice etc.

Rgds

 

[Ashton]

I don't think it's a good idea registering such names yourself. If you feel strongly about this, you could provide information about how to retrieve names from squatters, general help and advice etc.

Rgds

Thinking on it more, I totally agree, those were just thoughts off the top of my head to prompt discussion.

A better solution would be to contact the TM owners when their trademark domain is expiring - I know nominet contact the domain owners, but the TM owners might not already own the domain.

Of course we can also advise about the procedures to recover a domain, how to prevent it happening again and so on.

 

[foz]

Something similar was tried before but never happened in the end:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/31/domain_name_associates/

Grant

Thanks.

Those names are familiar but don't seem to be active on the forum?

For it to work the individual heading the association shouldn't be active in the domain business (separate vested interests - perceived or real). More of an employee or advocate representing a member base.

 

[Edwin]

It has been discussed a number of times before, including at face-to-face gatherings. The consensus has always been that there would be too much disruption created by those excluded from such an organisation for it to be effective. In fact, having seen the small-minded way in which certain "domainers" behave, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest for there to be a deliberate, malicious attempt to undermine the aims of the organisation if it were ever to get off the ground.

You see, the cold harsh reality is that the organisation would have to be EXCLUSIONARY in order to represent the views that would most serve the overall "professional" domaining community, but as soon as anyone starts dividing people into the "in" group and the "out" group, that person is signing themselves up for a world of pain. And the bitterest pill to swallow is that there would need to be a whole heap of "outs" in order to keep the association focused enough and "clean" enough to be of any utility. And people hate not being "picked" for anything...

That's why I concluded that I would be far better to continue to espouse professionalism individually as far as possible, while conducting business with, trading with, and working with those who have a similar view of the industry, but to do so on an ad-hoc basis.

 

[Ashton]

More of an employee or advocate representing a member base.

Exactly, I am writing a kind of plan and will add that line

 

[Edwin]

I don't think it's a good idea registering such names yourself. If you feel strongly about this, you could provide information about how to retrieve names from squatters, general help and advice etc.

That's one example - it's not that it's a "bad idea", it should literally NEVER cross the mind of anyone in such an association to register those kinds of names. It should be taken as read, an automatic "given", that it's a bad thing to do.

The fact that it's even being discussed shows that there's a long long long way to go...

 

[Skinner]

I tried this with a well known electronics company with a name like a weapon and what did I get ? (I am a professional member of said companies association so passed it on through my rep).

Legal Threats and borderline abuse.

Part of me says if they so big and stupid they can't take action themselves they deserve to get slapped by some stupid cybersquatter but then the more sensible part of me realises this shines a poo coloured light on domainers so I'm torn on this one.

A better solution would be to contact the TM owners when their trademark domain is expiring - I know nominet contact the domain owners, but the TM owners might not already own the domain.

Of course we can also advise about the procedures to recover a domain, how to prevent it happening again and so on.

 

[Ashton]

That was in my head as kind of preventative measure, you suggest that those outside would disrupt it, that was seen in my mind as a way to prevent it.

I am not condoning abusive registrations, nor would I - I was just thinking of a way to prevent them, be it by blocking them or forewarning of them.

The financial payment would be voluntary in my head anyway, though I have completely scrapped that idea.

 

[Edwin]

I am suggesting that there are a number of relatively "volatile" individuals in the domain industry, who would categorically not make good Association members. Some of these "excluded" folks could kick up a storm of trouble. And there's little/nothing the Association could do about it, except suffer the fallout consequences.

 

[Skinner]

edit: I read Edwins post wrong.

 

[Ashton]

I am suggesting that there are a number of relatively "volatile" individuals in the domain industry, who would categorically not make good Association members. Some of these "excluded" folks could kick up a storm of trouble. And there's little/nothing the Association could do about it, except suffer the fallout consequences.

Stupid question, but am I right in thinking that because a volatile user was excluded due to not agreeing to the rules or adhering to them that they might on purpose disrupt the running of the association perhaps by false representation or by even more abuse?

Really appreciate the input.

 

[accelerator]

I am not condoning abusive registrations, nor would I - I was just thinking of a way to prevent them, be it by blocking them or forewarning of them.

The problem here is that there are potentially infiinite abusive registrations possible. A slight variation of a protected term can always be registered.

I am of the view that it's best to focus on your individual business, and leave it to the parties concerned to protect their intellectual property. It's too big, and too thankless a task, for any independent organisation.

Rgds