At the risk of provoking a violent reaction ("Over my dead body!" was one
such and "What??" another), I'll float the idea again:

All of the practices we want to stamp out are centred on domain name
renewals.  We can easily stop it all cold - instantly - simply by decreeing
that *only* registrars are permitted to send out renewal notices, and then
only to their own registrants.  We could even increase the price (or margin)
for the first registration, and lower the renewal price.

As a reseller, I am well aware of the cons, so don't flame me on that.
Pros, however, include:

1	Direct mail marketing would only go to those clients who do not
already have a domain name, therefore there's no risk of "stealing" clients
from another reseller

2	It would encourage value-added services at the time of original
registration, and remove many of the confusing "not illegal" offerings

3	It would eliminate any tendency for registrars to compete with their
own resellers in the domain name space.

4	There is not much margin in renewing, and little opportunity to add
value at renewal time.  My suggestion would create more volume in renewals
(in the hands of registrars) thereby making it more efficient.

5	Many of the CoP issues that arise due to deceptive solicitations for
renewals would no longer be necessary

6	Renewals should eventually be less expensive for consumers, because
there's no need to build in reseller margins.

7	We could all concentrate on opening up new markets (new registrants)
instead of fighting over a closed market (existing registrants)

8	Problems and conflicts arising from renewal notice timing would
disappear

9	Policing, monitoring and conflict resolution would be cleaner and
simpler.

10	Renewal notices would only come from the proper registering
authority.  There would be objection to renewals that simply "look" official
- they'd all be official for real.

11	Developing new business would be less susceptible to abuse.

12	The task of educating consumers would be simpler, faster and more
economical.

As Bruce Tonkin said (I think it was Bruce) the vast majority of resellers
offer domain name services as but a small part of other bundled services,
and those bundles are where business opportunities and profitability lie for
resellers.  It's those value-added services that provide scope for
innovation and strong but healthy competition as well.

I sometimes draw an analogy between a domain name and a car number plate.
One allows your car to be used on roads, the other allows your business to
be used on the Internet.  Both have a similar significance to consumers - if
I buy a car, I don't give a damn where the number plate comes from, as long
as I have one as evidence that registration has occurred.  At renewal time,
the registration authority sends me a renewal notice - not the car dealer!

Similarly with registering a business name.  If my accountant does it, it's
a reimbursible  expense, and it's *me* that's sent a reminder to renew the
name registration - not my accountant.  I may, however, elect to ask him to
perform the service on my behalf, and pay him a fee to do so.

In other words, we already have multiple proven business models and
processes as precedents, from which to draw ideas.   They're simple,
consumers already fully understand and accept them, and they're already
comfortable with the concepts and procedures.

Why are we trying to invent a new, more complicated one?


Ron Stark
Business Park Pty Ltd
mail: ronstark§businesspark.com.au
phone: +61 (0)3 9521 0649   fax: +61 (0)3 9521 0485
mob: +61 (0)41 812 9922