On Tue, 11 Jun 2002 10:25:52 +1000, Ian Johnston wrote:

> Skeeve makes some important points.
>
> In other words, and taking Skeeve's points further:
>
> auDA as an industry regulator is funded by fees payable by the
> monopoly registry operator, which is dependent upon auDA for an
> adequate supply of well priced domain name licences at the wholesale
> level.  There are co-dependencies between auDA, the monopoly registry
> operator and the supply chain of registrars and their resellers of
> retail domain name services.
>
> These co-dependencies are complex and pervasive, and might change
> under the new regulatory scheme and competition model.  There are
> relationships between entities in the supply chain and directors on
> the auDA Board.
>
> I'm not suggesting that there is anything sinister in these
> co-dependencies and relationships, but that we ought to cognisant of
> the implications for the domain name supply industry and its
> governance.
>
> I'd appreciate it if anyone could assist me to better understand the
> significance of these co-dependencies and relationships for
> governance - at an abstract or conceptual level, not at a personal
> level.  For example, is auDA, the industry regulator, part of the
> supply chain?

Hi Ian

I'd say that it is auDA's Constitution which establishes the "co-dependencies
and relationships for governance" (in your words).  That document is found at:

http://www.auda.org.au/about/constitution.html

The "objects" of auDA are described in Clause 3.

In relation to your question "is auDA, the industry regulator, part of the
supply chain?", the answer must be "no" because of Clause 9.3.  This describes
the "classes" of membership as follows:

"auDA consists of the following classes of Members

*    Supply Class Members;
*    Demand Class Members; and
*    Representative Association Class Members."

Hope this helps.

Regards
Patrick Corliss
________________________________________________________
I'm on the Board of auDA (the .au country code). Anything I write is my
personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of any body
with which I am associated.  Please also note IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer).