On Wed, Jan 16, 2002 at 07:28:14PM +1100, Dave Hooper wrote:
> Since when was the business world 'fair'? Fairness has nothing to do with
> it.

The auction has been presented as fair. For example, from
 http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2001121801.html ...

<  auDA is concerned to give all Australian businesses, especially small
<  businesses, an equal opportunity to secure these attractive domain
<  names. 

Equal opportunity is another word for fairness.

And furthermore, from the same page,

<   The .au domain is a public resource that auDA is managing in the  
<   interests of all Australians.

In other words, auDA is not "in the business world", and does not exist
to serve the business world. auDA exists to manage the .au namespace in
the best interests of all Australians.

<   A market-based allocation system is the
<   best option to prevent a landrush and ensure a fair and equitable
<   outcome.

Look, they even said the F word.

Even in business, fairness exists and is sometimes mandated through
legislation. The term "level playing field" is a synonym for fairness.
Holding a monopoly is an unfair business practice which is also against
the law.

So you can't claim that "fairness has nothing to do with it", because
it obviously does.

Nick.