.UK Announced

[tifosi]

What's the exact situation with regard to the .nz ccTLD and their proposals. From my understanding its not been decided?

Nominet seem to using them as a cause celebre and as a self-fulfilling prophesy. "NZ propose shorter ccTLD, uk make the same proposal because nz have decided to do it, .nz decide to go through with the proposal because .uk have proposed the same, .uk go with the proposal because .nz have".

Flawed logic but seems to be the case?

 

[foz]

What's the exact situation with regard to the .nz ccTLD and their proposals. From my understanding its not been decided?

Correct.

 

[foz]

Nominet seem to using them as a cause celebre and as a self-fulfilling prophesy. "NZ propose shorter ccTLD, uk make the same proposal because nz have decided to do it, .nz decide to go through with the proposal because .uk have proposed the same, .uk go with the proposal because .nz have".

According to Nominets consultation document.

Page. 18 Q. Why now.

"A significant and growing number of countries (such as New Zealand) as well as forthcoming new generic top level domains are offering a shorter suffix, either alone or alongside closed or managed second level domains, indicating a trend for shorter domain names."

Which just isn't true.

 

[Edwin]

If a Member of Nominet, this is being discussed over at forum.nominet.org.uk

Does one get automatic forum access? I've tried all the Nominet logins I can think of, but none of them get me onto their forum...

 

[foz]

Does one get automatic forum access? I've tried all the Nominet logins I can think of, but none of them get me onto their forum...

All the old URL links are dead, this is all I could find.

http://web.archive.org/web/20110718173654/http://www.nominet.org.uk/other/lists/forum/

Online Services "Your Forums" may provide a way?

 

[foz]

Before making a Contribution, you must register with the Forum in your online service account. Your user name and your member name (as shown in this list) will appear as part of your Contribution when published.

http://www.nominet.org.uk/how-participate/members-nominet/member-forum-rules

 

[Edwin]

http://www.nominet.org.uk/how-participate/members-nominet/member-forum-rules

Brilliant, thanks! I've now been able to log in.

 

[rhaigh]

For what it's worth, I think the claimed "security"
and "choice" benefits (of .uk) are a ruse and that
co.uk will be relegated to just another UK TLD, if
this is allowed to go ahead.

Those who haven't developed their .co.uk's have
the most to lose, and i'd say that under the current
plan 95% (or more) of the current value of their
.co.uk inventories could be wiped out when .uk is
released.

Businesses who have developed will, unfortunately,
be the ones most unlikely to campaign against
Nominet, as for them it is something of a "mixed
blessing"...

Yes, they will incur greater costs... Yes, they will
bear the costs of rebranding... but, ultimately,
they will "tow the line" here I think.

Why?

Well, notions of "security", and how they can play
that as a benefit for the consumer, and the fact
that .uk really IS the web identity panacea for the
UK internet, will persuade businesses to go along
with it.

The way I see it, the only ones who will protest
against this is the .co.uk investment community
(those who haven't developed their names) and
Nominet, I believe, is now ready to ignore them.

Are they ready for the 'cyberspace screams'? Yes,
I think they are, and they know that only a few
thousand investors will lose out here and they're
ready to push ahead with it regardless.

I believe the only way to stop them is to worry
them from a legal standpoint...

e.g. How can they justify releasing .uk when only
last year they sold millions of pounds worth of
.co.uk?!..

Are we to seriously believe that they didn't know
about .uk back then?...

 

[domainseller200]

How can they justify releasing .uk when only
last year they sold millions of pounds worth of
.co.uk?!..

Are we to seriously believe that they didn't know
about .uk back then?...

They 100% knew about it back then and they even have admitted this (maybe not knowingly)

In Section K (Phased Release and rights Management) of the consultation form it says in very small writing in the footer of the page :

"*With regard to any Nominet staff or officers, the qualifying date is 12 months prior to the publication of this consultation"

 

[foz]

Good post rhaigh. Welcome to Acorn.

 

[viceroy]

Welcome to Acorn Rhaigh!
Skimming over the consultation it looks like you'd have to have developed your site and have some related tm before the .uk becomes a dead cert. What's going to happen to the generics in all of this? Surely those eg. candle tm's posted earlier wouldn't apply if the .co.uk has been in use (what constitutes development? I use a number of my domains for email?).
Anyway, on another note I thought i'd give nom a quick call, one of my questions:
Q:As a registrant, I haven't been made aware of the consultation or the possible introduction of direct.uk, nor have i been made aware of the implications to my domain name if direct.uk is introduced. Why?
A: We've told all of our registrars - there are too many (around 11 mil) registrants to make everyone aware, they should check our site for updates if they're interested in their domain name.

Wow.
Surely the people hurt the most are going to be the sme's when they find out that it has all gone though, nobody told them, they've just arrived back at work after their hols and now someone else has 'their' name in .uk? I've asked around and nobody who isn't 'in the loop', so to speak, has a) any idea about direct.uk and b) hasn't been made aware of the legal and financial implications of direct.uk.
Surely, surely, they'd need to let all players know?

 

[foz]

Anyway, on another note I thought i'd give nom a quick call, one of my questions:
Q:As a registrant, I haven't been made aware of the consultation or the possible introduction of direct.uk, nor have i been made aware of the implications to my domain name if direct.uk is introduced. Why?
A: We've told all of our registrars - there are too many (around 11 mil) registrants to make everyone aware, they should check our site for updates if they're interested in their domain name.

The top tier Registrars are going to love direct.uk as they will be a beneficiary to the scheme. They will be voting YES please, with seconds too.

I guess one mass email to all Registrants is beyond Nominets technical ability . Imagine the pandemonium that would ensue, Nominets phone lines would be flooded!

 

[WaftyCrank]

It sounds like those who wish to protest would be best getting together, throwing some money in the pot and throwing together a legal challenge to try and halt this process from taking place. Surely that would be the most effective course of action?

 

[rhaigh]

They 100% knew about it back then and they even have admitted this (maybe not knowingly)

In Section K (Phased Release and rights Management) of the consultation form it says in very small writing in the footer of the page :

"*With regard to any Nominet staff or officers, the qualifying date is 12 months prior to the publication of this consultation"

Oh, thank you DomainSeller, I will look in to that.

I don't have any investments in .co.uk myself, but
i'd hate to see investors getting "sidelined" in this
way, just because a registry want to play a new
money-making game with new rules.. so I want to
help in whatever way I can...

Nominet seem to forget that domain investors play
an important part in the quality of experience that
web users encounter, and by ignoring their needs
it will be a detriment to the Internet "experience"
in the UK.

I think the ideal scenario for Nominet would be to
forget about .uk, and if security and choice really
are genuine considerations for them they should:

a. Introduce the security measures they've proposed
on to existing UK TLD's.

b. Introduce further domain suffix's, so as to satisfy
the "choice" element they are referring to e.g. .blah.uk,
etc..

Good post rhaigh. Welcome to Acorn.

Hey Foz, nice one, thanks a lot for that. It may
be just my imagination but there seems to be
a much higher standard of chat on this site than
on some of the other domain forums - it's good
to see!

 

[rhaigh]

Hi Viceroy, cheers, I hope you're well.

It sounds like those who wish to protest would be best getting together, throwing some money in the pot and throwing together a legal challenge to try and halt this process from taking place. Surely that would be the most effective course of action?

I agree, and it's not just .co.uk owners that could
contribute but domainers everywhere. I'm sure that
some of the big hitters, like Frank Schilling, Rick
Schwartz, etc... would also want to put some decent
money in the pot.

You could say that it's the UK Internet Entrepreneurs
Fighting Fund (or something altogether more catchy!)
and create some suitable "Don't Steal Our Investments
Nominet!" style graphic imagery to go along with it...

I believe that Nominet's "consultation" period lasts until
the end of the year, so there's enough time to get a
decent solicitor on to this and for everyone's points to
be considered or included.

This will be far more effective than having 101 people
all separately making their views known to Nominet. You
know they are just going to try to ignore you, if you are
on your own, but a legal challenge involving many parties
could have the effect of stopping them for good.

 

[websaway]

Hi Viceroy, cheers, I hope you're well.



I agree, and it's not just .co.uk owners that could
contribute but domainers everywhere. I'm sure that
some of the big hitters, like Frank Schilling, Rick
Schwartz, etc... would also want to put some decent
money in the pot.

You could say that it's the UK Internet Entrepreneurs
Fighting Fund (or something altogether more catchy!)
and create some suitable "Don't Steal Our Investments
Nominet!" style graphic imagery to go along with it...

I believe that Nominet's "consultation" period lasts until
the end of the year, so there's enough time to get a
decent solicitor on to this and for everyone's points to
be considered or included.

This will be far more effective than having 101 people
all separately making their views known to Nominet. You
know they are just going to try to ignore you, if you are
on your own, but a legal challenge involving many parties
could have the effect of stopping them for good.

Hello
Love your posts.
I believe a legal challenge is the only solution.
However I'm sure you'll understand that having just joined the forum it does look like you may be touting for legal business, I've got no problem with that but just thought I would point it out.

 

[GreyWing]

I believe a legal challenge is the only solution.

Not sure that is right we have enough members for an EGM if needed to intervene at any point.

However funny you should mention the legal route, I spoke to a legal eagle on Saturday... Started laughing when I told him...... Said crazy that Nominet could even suggest such a thing. In fact he claimed Nominet must have the most inept legal team he had ever seen if what I was telling him was genuine.

I'm double checking now and I think he is right, it's highly illegal what they are proposing with the .uk

 

[martin-s]

Illegal how?

 

[GreyWing]

Illegal how?

Getting legal advise shortly, need to double check but it could sink the whole thing if true.

Chances of it being true are 70-80% and if true Nominet will have some explaining to do, very very embarrassing.

 

[GreyWing]

The question has been posted here for people to check for themselves, very interesting if true.

http://www.that.co.uk/nominet-proposals/eu-law-v-nominet-uk-proposal.html

If this has been overlooked.....well embarrassing is not the word.