I've just downloaded the Welsh consultation form. I'm staggered by the duplicity of Nominet. And I think the way they have worded the .wales consultation compared with the .co.uk consultation opens up Nominet to the charge of discrimination against existing .co.uk registrants. Thank goodness Stephen alerted us to the .wales consultation and all that it entails. Have you seen Nominet's observation in the consultation that running .wales and .cymru could lead to 'increased risk of consumer confusion and cyber squatting". They even kindly ask them a question about this.
Now we all know that 'consumer confusion' between .uk and .co.uk will be far greater. These will be domains both designated as commercial domains. These will be domains using primarily the same language. Yet with us Nominet cannot bring themselves to utter the words 'customer confusion'. It proves that Nominet say whatever is expedient. Here are some excerpts.
Overall Registration Policies
"...There is also an increased risk of consumer confusion and cyber squatting if registrants are not given the option of registering in the alternative domain at the point of registration...."
And a Question they ask on this:
5) If we adopt option 3 what steps could Nominet take to avoid cyber squatters registering in the alternative registry befor the original registrant has a chance to do so?
Another thing. Our consultation was full of loaded questions and we had no chance of considering the form before completing it. Whereas the Welsh had the opportunity of downloading it and emailing it back. Just another co-incidence? or another blatant discrimination.
http://www.domainforwales.org.uk/content/have-your-say